Sewage pours into sea off beach

Concern at pollution discharged from Fishwater Flats outlet pipe

Pollution is pouring out of the discharge pipe from the Fishwater Flats Sewage Treatment Works into the sea off Brighton Beach, a favourite swimming spot for residents.

The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality failed to respond to questions about the discharge but the Zwartkops Conservancy, a senior NMMU marine biologist and fishermen all voiced concerns about untreated sewage sludge flowing out the pipe.

Alerted by Professor Nadine Strydom from NMMU’s zoology department, The Herald visited Brighton Beach yesterday, with conservancy spokeswoman Jenny Rump.

The onshore breeze carried an unpleasant smell and the beach was littered with debris, including a strangely large number of ear-buds which Rump explained were evidence of high tides laden with untreated sewage.

“People throw ear-buds, condoms, sanitary towels and all other sorts of things down the loo.”

The discharge pipe runs from Fishwater Flats under the beach and then out to sea beneath the dilapidated “pier” which was built to facilitate construction of the pipe.

A dark band of pollution is visible from the end of the pier and, looking down at the water from this point, a brown bubble of turbulence seems to indicate this is where the effluent is discharging.

Renier Opperman and Shawn McLeod from Algoa Park, fishing from a spot at the end of the pier, confirmed what The Herald saw.