Africa-Press – Eswatini. This is the caution issued by the Eswatini Environment Authority (EEA), following that residents living along the banks of the Mkhondvo River have raised concerns about a mysterious change in the colour of the water. The residents said normally, the river’s water was clear, but for the past three weeks, it exhibited a greenish hue from its normal appearance, causing uneasiness among residents. The residents feared that the river might be contaminated or affected by some sort of chemical or environmental issue. The river, a vital artery of life, provides a lifeline for thousands of people within the Shiselweni Region and beyond, as its waters sustain countless households, farms and serve as a haven for local wildlife. The Assegaai River enters Eswatini through the Mahamba Gorge, where it becomes Mkhondvo. The river confluence with Lusutfu River at Sidvokodvo.
Contamination
Explaining about the river’s contamination, Buseleni resident under Nkwene Constituency, Anna Tsela, said they noticed the musky green colour three weeks ago, raising concerns about possible contamination. Tsela said the normally clear riverbed was visibly discoloured; prompting suspicions that something may have been dumped into the waterway. According to Tsela, more residents detailed their suspicions about the river, as it was something unusual and they did not have answers on what caused it. She explained that whispers rippled through the community, whereby many residents raised fears of consuming the water, some alleging that they heard talks, that fertiliser, which had accumulated over the years, had caused the discoloration.
Fear
“There’s no way I’m letting my family drink that!” she declared, her voice echoing the growing fear in the community. Tsela stated that the stagnant water level did not explain the unsettling hue. She said they hesitantly cupped their hands to drink, only to be met with a strangely sweet taste, unlike anything they had ever experienced from the river before. According to Tsela, the familiar, refreshing river water had been replaced by an unsettling sweetness, leaving them wary and parched. “We have relied on the river for decades and we have never seen such. I tried to taste the water and there is some sweetness which is not normal. Other residents have complained about the same sweetness. This has been happening for almost three weeks now,” she said.
Adding, Tsela mentioned that some residents’ fishing rods remain unused as they were afraid to even consume the fish found in the river. The resident said they made attempts to engage EEA to report the unfamiliar situation of the river. She said officers from EEA came and took samples and advised them not to consume the water until they brought a report on their test results. “Even though we depend on the river, we have decided not to use the water while we wait for EEA. “They promised to give us answers on what contributed to the green colour,” she said. Bongani Mdluli, a resident of Nkwene, said he used to bath in the river when returning from work, but these days, he had refrained from doing so, due to the green colour. “I don’t trust the water anymore,” Mdluli said.
Upstream
He alleged that upstream, they were dumping some waste, as this was the first time they witnessed such changes in the river. He explained that on normal days, the water was crystal clear, but after a good downpour, the stream turned into a murky mud mess. “We will wait for answers from EEA before we continue using the water. For us, alternative sources of water are far, but we will not risk consuming water with some substances we don’t know,” he said. Following these complaints, this publication visited the river last Thursday and confirmed the presence of some greenish tint in the water. The cause of this discoloration remains unknown, and it is unclear if it poses any environmental or health risks. Meanwhile, EEA issued public advisory, urging citizens to avoid using water from the river for consumption purposes. Citing concerns about potential contamination, EEA stressed a precautionary approach until the water quality testing was completed.
Seeking to quell the rising tide of worry, the Acting Director of Environmental Assessment and Compliance, Ndumiso Magagula, assured the public that they were taking swift action, as water samples had already been collected from various points along the Mkhondvo River’s course and testing was currently underway. Magagula confirmed that they received complaints from Nkwene residents two weeks ago, about an unfamiliar colour in the river. According to Magagula, upon getting the complaints, they rushed to investigate and found that the water had discoloration, which was not something that should be seen in water.
Explained
He explained that this meant that there was something in the water. “We collected water samples from various points and sent them to the laboratory to determine the cause, because we can not tell by mere looking. We expect the results to be back sometime this week as the laboratory gave us two weeks,” Magagula said. He explained that the exact status of the river remained unclear until they received the results, but the authority advised the public to exercise extreme caution and avoid consuming the river’s water until they had answers. Adding, Magagula advised the public that whenever they saw something which was foreign in the water they consumed, they should always practice precautioun. He said the residents would be updated, as further information became available but in the meantime, they should seek alternative water sources for consumption purposes. He added that at the moment, the river was posing danger to its tributaries.
Substances
“We don’t know what has been poured in the river, but whatever substances it is, it poses a danger not only to Mkhondvo but also to other rivers,” he said. Magagula elaborated that from an environmental perspective, people should avoid consuming water from the river until such a time they knew what caused the water to be green. Furthermore, he warned against attempts to boil the water, because currently, they did not know what had turned the water green. “These days we are affected by Masta 900 as a country and boiling water with Masta 900 wouldn’t kill the poison. Without knowing what causes the water to turn green, they should avoid using it, particularly for consumption and even being in contact with such,” Magagula warned.
For More News And Analysis About Eswatini Follow Africa-Press
