FIRM OFFICIAL COMMITMENT NEEDED TO PREVENT FURTHER WATER QUALITY DETERIORATION IN WILDEVOELVLEI
- by: Creating change & Little Green Fingers
- recipient: CITY OF CAPE TOWN
We, the undersigned and local community of the South Peninsula would like to bring up the problem regarding the toxicity of Wilde Voel Vlei. This, creating blue green algae that result into algae blooms especially during hot conditions and is contaminating our river, precious wetlands and shellfish at the river mouth leading into the ocean on Noordhoek/Kommetjie Beach.
What is the future plans for purifying the water and is WWTW up to date with upgrading this system? Please also find our suggestions and recommendations to improve the situation.
Together the council & community can plan Innovative long-term solutions to create a healthier eco system in the Wildevoel vlei and surroundings.
Blue Green Algae (Cyanophyceae):
High concentration of nutrients for plants, phosphates promote the growth of these so-called Blue-green algae.
Blue green algae are natural inhabitants of inland water bodies including dams, rivers and canals. Sometimes these bodies can become toxic when there are too many, which is then harmful to humans and animals.
The blooms seem to flourish during very hot conditions.
When present in high concentrations, they form blooms giving the water a pea-soup appearance. In very high concentrations the blooms float and form a thick blue green scum. This is what has been happening in Wilde Voel Vlei
How can blue green algae effect us?
Symptoms of getting in touch with toxic waters include skin rashers, eye irritations, vomiting and diarrhea, fever and pains in muscles and joints.
Animals and pets have died drinking large quantities of this toxin.
Residents were warned not to let their animals including pets go into this water.
Long term drinking this water causes liver diseases.
Toxins tend to concentrate in the liver and gut of fish and therefore we should not eat caught in these conditions. Hence the water testing showing the high levels of toxins in mussels caught at the mouth of WVV and Noordhoek/Kommetjie beach.
Is there a link to the recent dead fish washing out and the beaching of the whales almost 2 years ago?
Shellfish are contaminated according to city tests and not to be eaten. Hmm.. Cant help but wonder about the catch of the day?
For your own safety always regard Blue Green Algae as a potentially toxic and prevent all contact.
What do we want to achieve through this petition?
Little Green Fingers and the community of the surrounding area hope to join forces with WWTW and City of Cape Town to find the right solution to clean up our river & waterways and wetlands. We have specialized environmental consultants living in our valley that could come on board. If government cannot step in we will then find ways to raise the capital to make this happen.
We understand that sewage has to go somewhere and we should all take ownership of our own waste. We as residents will take responsibility and make the necessary changes to stop phosphates and other chemicals going into the system.
What do we want to achieve through this petition?
We have taken water samples which are currently being tested and once the scientist know exactly what the cause is for this algae issue, will find a solution.
How is WWTW currently doing about the phosphate issue in the treatment process and what is the long-term plan and time frame for solving the purification of this water problem all the way to the ocean.
Stripping the phosphates from liquid effluent before leaving plant has been discussed at council before.
We look forward to a reply within a month of this petition letter.
Thank you.
Awareness Campaign organised by:
Little Green Fingers Environmental Group
Liesel James 0711987875 littlegreenfingers@gmail.com
Carmen Jacobs- 082 4151652 - hello@carmenlorraine.com
Supported by:
Wally Peterson from KEAG
Patrick Dowling from WESSA
Alison Faraday from ToadNuts
Kevin James from Global Carbon Exchange
Bernard Jacobs from Resource-Ballast technology
Sign PetitionSign PetitionWhat is the future plans for purifying the water and is WWTW up to date with upgrading this system? Please also find our suggestions and recommendations to improve the situation.
Together the council & community can plan Innovative long-term solutions to create a healthier eco system in the Wildevoel vlei and surroundings.
Blue Green Algae (Cyanophyceae):
High concentration of nutrients for plants, phosphates promote the growth of these so-called Blue-green algae.
Blue green algae are natural inhabitants of inland water bodies including dams, rivers and canals. Sometimes these bodies can become toxic when there are too many, which is then harmful to humans and animals.
The blooms seem to flourish during very hot conditions.
When present in high concentrations, they form blooms giving the water a pea-soup appearance. In very high concentrations the blooms float and form a thick blue green scum. This is what has been happening in Wilde Voel Vlei
How can blue green algae effect us?
Symptoms of getting in touch with toxic waters include skin rashers, eye irritations, vomiting and diarrhea, fever and pains in muscles and joints.
Animals and pets have died drinking large quantities of this toxin.
Residents were warned not to let their animals including pets go into this water.
Long term drinking this water causes liver diseases.
Toxins tend to concentrate in the liver and gut of fish and therefore we should not eat caught in these conditions. Hence the water testing showing the high levels of toxins in mussels caught at the mouth of WVV and Noordhoek/Kommetjie beach.
Is there a link to the recent dead fish washing out and the beaching of the whales almost 2 years ago?
Shellfish are contaminated according to city tests and not to be eaten. Hmm.. Cant help but wonder about the catch of the day?
For your own safety always regard Blue Green Algae as a potentially toxic and prevent all contact.
What do we want to achieve through this petition?
Little Green Fingers and the community of the surrounding area hope to join forces with WWTW and City of Cape Town to find the right solution to clean up our river & waterways and wetlands. We have specialized environmental consultants living in our valley that could come on board. If government cannot step in we will then find ways to raise the capital to make this happen.
We understand that sewage has to go somewhere and we should all take ownership of our own waste. We as residents will take responsibility and make the necessary changes to stop phosphates and other chemicals going into the system.
What do we want to achieve through this petition?
We have taken water samples which are currently being tested and once the scientist know exactly what the cause is for this algae issue, will find a solution.
How is WWTW currently doing about the phosphate issue in the treatment process and what is the long-term plan and time frame for solving the purification of this water problem all the way to the ocean.
Stripping the phosphates from liquid effluent before leaving plant has been discussed at council before.
We look forward to a reply within a month of this petition letter.
Thank you.
Awareness Campaign organised by:
Little Green Fingers Environmental Group
Liesel James 0711987875 littlegreenfingers@gmail.com
Carmen Jacobs- 082 4151652 - hello@carmenlorraine.com
Supported by:
Wally Peterson from KEAG
Patrick Dowling from WESSA
Alison Faraday from ToadNuts
Kevin James from Global Carbon Exchange
Bernard Jacobs from Resource-Ballast technology
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