- Government has launched a three-pronged attack on water hyacinth that plagues the Vaal River.
- Thankfully, the government has stopped using Glyphosate to kill the plants, but is considering other herbicides.
- It has been acknowledged that the root cause of the scourge – pollution – needs to be addressed over the long term.
Arguably one of the most important water sources for Gauteng, the Vaal River, is under siege from an organic enemy. That enemy is water hyacinth, an aquatic plant that originates from South America and has no use aside from looking pretty in your garden pond.
The problem is that this plant is classified as an invasive species and for good reason. Once the plant takes root in a lake or slow moving river, it’s nearly impossible to remove.
Once water hyacinth has taken root it strangles other plants and blocks out light for plants that grow on the bed of a lake or river. The plant can also alter the chemistry of the water to the detriment of other organisms.
This week the Ministers of Water and Sanitation, Senzo Mchunu and Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Barbara Creecy presented a three-pronged approach to dealing with the invasive plant.
That approach is as follows.
The good news is that government is backtracking on the use of Glyphosate to eliminate the plant. While this herbicide would kill off the so-called water lettuce, it could also cause harm to those who use water from the Vaal River. The government is however still mulling the use of a herbicide registered with the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development to address the scourge in the immediate short term.
Over the medium term government will launch interventions to address the problem of pollution which helps water hyacinth thrive in the river.
“In the long-term the Vaal River Catchment Strategy relating to invasive alien aquatic species will be reviewed in order to implement a strategy that will holistically address the situation. Lastly, the refurbishment of the Rietspruit, Sebokeng and Leeukuil Wastewater Treatment Works will be fast tracked to reduce pollution that is also contributing to the high eutrophication of the Vaal River System,” the government bodies wrote in a statement.
The journey water takes from the Vaal to the tap of Gauteng residents is littered with stops that purify the water for human consumption. In order to avoid needing to invest further in this process, the water hyacinth needs to be removed.
The Vaal River provides water to approximately 12 million people in Gauteng and the surrounding areas.
