The Crocodile River

Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) Monitoring Forum says nearly every one of our rivers are polluted to the point where the only organisms left in the water, are those associated with sewage.
Forum spokesperson Trevor Brough said the forum is working to address the ecological disaster that is looming throughout the Crocodile River catchment area.
The Crocodile River catchment includes Krugersdorp and Muldersdrift, and extends throughout the Northside and beyond, to the Hartbeespoort Dam and beyond.
The forum was started with the aim of monitoring and reporting on the effects of acid mine drainage but has since widened its scope to include other water pollution, specifically incidents of sewage spillage and chemical pollution of rivers and streams.
Brough has been doing regular site visits all along local springs including the Bloubankspruit, the Muldersdrift-se-loop and others, conducting water tests, and even taking Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) representatives among others along with him.
“Our efforts are making an impact, and we are seeing interest from the officials and scientists to do something about this. Unfortunately, we are not seeing any real interest from the authorities at ground level.”
The Roodepoort Northsider has previously reported on the devastating effect the massive sewage spillage from this facility has on residents and businesses.
“This water is used for irrigation, it is consumed by livestock, and it supports a large number of businesses in the tourism industry,” says Brough.
“Our tests indicate that the water along the Bloubankspruit, into the Crocodile River, all the way to the Hartbeespoort Dam is unsafe for both humans and livestock.
“If something is not done about this quickly, the consequences could be dire. We are talking about the destruction of the entire ecosystem along the river, the demise of many businesses and the loss of dignity for thousands of people.
He said the pollution not only affects business owners but also people who flock to tourist destinations such as Hartbeespoort Dam and others along the Crocodile River.