Pollution of Sand River by Wastewater Treatment Works in the Bushbuckridge Local Municipality, South Africa

Pollution of water sources is a global issue that primarily affects rural communities that rely on these water sources for domestic purposes on a daily basis. The study’s goal was to determine if the effluent from the Bushbuckridge Municipality’s Waste Water Treatment Works (WWTWs) contributes to the pollution of the Sand River Catchment. The investigation was conducted at two WWTWs, Dwarsloop and Thulamahashe. A questionnaire was used to collect information from participants. Water samples were collected monthly from the treatment plant and Sand River for the determination of physico-chemical parameters and coliform counts. The study found that the WWTWs were the main sources of the pollution of the Sand River Catchment. The WWTWs are confronting unprecedented mechanical and technical challenges. The WWTWs have experienced numerous system failures due to aging systems and pressure on deteriorating facilities, resulting in raw wastewater discharges into catchments. Furthermore, the study revealed that factors such as population growth, poor operation and maintenance of WWTWs, poor budgeting, and a lack of well-trained personnel contributed to WWTW failure. The effluent quality in both WWTWs met the National Water Act of South Africa’s effluent discharge standards for pH (ranged from 6.90 to 9.30), EC (ranged from 20.80 to 87.50 mS/m), ammonia (ranged from 7.22 to 86.80 mg/L as N), nitrate/nitrite (ranged from 0.10 to 0.73 mg/L as N), and ortho-phosphate (ranged from 0.01 to 6.50 mg/L as P). While COD levels in both WWTWs (ranging from 25.00 to 149.00 mg/L) were over the limit during some months of the study period. The study also discovered that E. coli counts were low upstream but high in both the WWTWs point of discharge and downstream for both catchments. The study, therefore, established a connection between wastewater treatment plants and water quality parameters as well as poor water quality linked to the condition of the WWTWs. The study recommends that effective measures be implemented to address the challenges.