Question NW3109 to the Minister of Environmental Affairs
31 October 2017 - NW3109
Mileham, Mr K to ask the Minister of Environmental Affairs
(1)Whether any licences have been issued to the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality for the discharge of sewage into the ocean; if so, in each case, (a) when was each licence issued and (b) what is the expiry date of each licence; (2) has any sewage been (a) released into the ocean after the expiry date of the relevant licence and/or (b) discharged into the ocean without a license; if not, what are the further details in this regard; (3) have there been any unintended discharges of sewage into the ocean by the specified municipality in the past 18 months; if so, in each case, (a) when did the discharge occur and (b) what was the cause of the discharge; (4) What steps have been taken to mitigate the impact of the intended and unintended discharge of sewage into the ocean by the specified municipality?
Reply:
(1) The National Environmental Management: Integrated Coastal Management Act, 2008 (Act 24 of 2008) (ICM Act) came into force in 2009. Subsequently, the Municipality is required to apply for a Coastal Waters Discharge Permit (CWDP) for East Bank WWTW’s in accordance with the ICM Act irrespective of the current status of the Water Use Licence Authorisation (WULA) obtained from the Department of Water and Sanitation. Currently, the Municipality adheres to the conditions stipulated under the WULA until such time the CWDP is issued by the Department of Environmental Affairs in terms of the ICMA. Furthermore, the Buffalo City Municipality has currently submitted an application for a CWDP for Hood point Waste Water Treatment works.
(2) The Municipality is currently discharging as per the Water Use Licence Authorisation (WULA) requirements.
(3) No unintended discharges have been raised for the Department’s attention or noting, the Municipality adheres to the WUL conditions for the discharge of effluent in to the coastal waters.
(4) No unintended discharges have been raised for the DEA’s attention or noting. However, the Department has issued a compliance notice to the Municipality on 24 July 2017 to apply for a CWDP in order for the effluent impacts to be managed under ICM. The Department is currently reviewing the water quality standards for the natural marine environment and will dictate standards for compliance in each permits. Should the Department of Environmental Affairs require higher levels of treatment for the effluent in order to meet the (natural) receiving environment water quality standards, the permit holder will be instructed to implement land-based management options (such as higher levels of treatment, on site dilution, dosing, filtration, etc. The Buffalo City Municipality is currently undertaking Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the extension of existing Hood Point pipeline from the surf zone to the deep-sea as part of improvement plan for coastal water quality.
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