Exactly one year ago, an ecological and humanitarian disaster was predicted for Virginia and Meloding as unadulterated raw sewage freely flowed through streets and houses into the Sand River.
Now, a year later, the disastrous situation persists and these predictions are ringing true.
A report of the water in the Sand River, compiled by the Free State Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in September, indicates that small fish in the river have died because of high levels of bacterial infections caused by poor quality water, with parasites found in the water (also parasites caused by organic waste), and algae blooms caused by a sudden increase of the nitrogen content of the population density of certain unwanted microbes.
An overabundance of organic nitrogen-rich waste (sewage, agricultural and industrial run-off, and animal manure) in the water leads to eutrophication, which can lead to the collapse of an ecosystem.
Basically, there is an abundance of faeces in the water.
In November 2023, Vista reported the chaos in Virginia was being caused by vandalism to the main pump station that had at that stage been out of service for 18 months. Now, 30 months later, there is still no reprieve.
Hansie du Plessis, councillor for this besieged town, said at the time the municipality was well aware of the problem, yet no effort was made to fix the situation.
The Meloding Pump Station has not been operational for more than five years, and a strong sewage flow enters the river at two places. The Harmony Pump Station is out of order and sewage flows directly into the river.
Du Plessis says that now, in 2024, nothing has been done and the situation has worsened.
He said in 2023 that the residents in Queens Way, Saaiplaas, have been experiencing a constant sewage nightmare for more than five years.
He confirmed houses had been flooded to such an extent that residents became very sick. It is believed this caused the death of one of the residents. There is a large sewer dam in the veld at the crossing of Harmony Way and Queens Way.
In Welkom, residents report the total collapse of the sewer works, as raw sewage floods their homes and streets.
On Tuesday, 19 November, social media groups reported on sporadic sewage flooding in Unicorn Road, Stateway, at a prominent shopping complex, Riebeeckstad, Doorn, Koppie Alleen Road, and Toronto Road, to name a few.
