Notice Archive

PUBLIC NOTICE: Touw River cleared for swimming
Issued George Municipality, 19 January 11h15

Test results for 18 January 2022 taken at three areas along the river indicate that the Touw River is COMPLIANT at Ebb and Flow area, Lagoon and River Mouth for swimming and all water activity. Please note testing of the water quality is undertaken on a daily basis currently.

The investigation undertaken by the George Municipality requires further analysis and daily testing will continue.

Issued George MUN, 19 January

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Issued George Municipality, 18 January 10h00

Test results for 17 January 2022 taken at three areas along the river indicate that the Touw River is COMPLIANT at Ebb and Flow area, Lagoon and River Mouth for swimming and all water activity. Please note testing of the water quality is undertaken on a daily basis currently.

The investigation undertaken by the George Municipality requires further analysis and daily testing will continue.

Issued George MUN

Issued George Municipality, 17 January 10h00

Test results received have indicated that Touw River remains NON-COMPLIANT at Ebb and Flow area, Lagoon and River Mouth for Full Contact and NO SWIMMING IS ALLOWED at this stage.

Intermediate contact is allowed and therefore canoeing and water sports where you do not touch the water are permitted.

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PUBLIC NOTICE: Touw River tests non-compliant For Full Contact and NO SWIMMING IS ALLOWED at this stage Intermediate contact is allowed and therefore canoeing is allowed
Issued George Municipality, 16 January, 10h40
Test results received have indicated that Touw River remains NON-COMPLIANT at Ebb and Flow area, Lagoon and River Mouth. SWIMMING IS NOT PERMITTED at all anywhere in the Touw River. People are allowed to do canooing and water sports where you do not touch the water.

All power restored to Heather Park, Heatherlands Dormehlsdrift, Camphersdift, Denneoord, George CBD, Fernridge, Bo-Dorp and George South. Issued by George Mun 10 Jan 2022 at 18h34

Update major power outage – Langenhoven substation affecting portion of Heather Park, Heatherlands Dormehlsdrift, Camphersdift, Denneoord, George CBD, Fernridge, Bo-Dorp and George South. Electricians investigating. Issued by George Mun 10 Jan 2022 at 16h23

Update major power outage – Langenhoven substation affecting portion of Heather Park, Heatherlands Dormehlsdrift, Camphersdift, Denneoord, George CBD, Fernridge, Bo-Dorp and George South. Electricians investigating. Issued by George Mun 10 Jan 2022 at 16h23

Urgent. Major power outage – Langenhoven substation out affecting Camphersdrift, Denneoord, CBD and more areas.
Electricians on their way to investigate. Issued by George Municipality 10 January 2022 at 16h11

Urgent public notice: Gwaiing River including the River Mouth and beach area are closed currently due to an overflow at Proefplaas sewerage pump station. The overflow has occurred due to an electrical interruption. George Municipality will keep the public updated and apologise for this situation that is out of our control. Issued by George Municipality 10 January 2022

Issued George Municipality, 10 January 2022

George Municipality urgently appeal to the residents of George to USE WATER SPARINGLY and ONLY FOR BASIC NECESSITIES.  Average consumption has not reduced at all over the past 10 days and is closer to the highest averages measured in a normal month. The Annual Average Water Demand (AADD) during the year is 32 Megalitres per day. From the 15^th of December 2021, the AADD was 36 Megalitres per day, but demand is currently hovering around 38 ML per day at the moment.

Without the assistance of everyone, water balancing will have to continue indeterminately until normal balance can be achieved. We plead with the public to limit their household water consumption during peak times. Peak times are between 07h00 – 09h00 in the morning, 12h00 to 14h00 and 17h00 to 20h00.

We thank those members of the public who understand the risk and who have been cooperating thus far, but without everyone’s help, the network will take even longer to stabilise and the George bulk water distribution and storage system is recovering too slowly with excessive high water usage.

As reported in November 2021, a Budget Facility for Infrastructure funding (“BFI) has been allocated to George Municipality through the Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant managed by the Department of Water and Sanitation. The potable Water Security and Remedial Works projects will extend the water treatment capacity and will be implemented in two phases over three years (2022 – 2025): Phase 1 and 2 is an additional 20 Mℓ/day extension to the New George WTW and Phase 3 is an additional 30 Mℓ raw water balancing dam at the New George WTW.

In the interim however it remains a fine balance and with our capacity limited excessive usage means that should a pipe burst on a potable line or there is loadshedding which affects our Water Treatment Works, there will be limited drinking water available. Residents should note that although the DAM LEVEL remains at 100%, this is RAW WATER storage and not POTABLE or DRINKING WATER supply. Raw water is treated at our treatment facilities prior to distribution. The current water demand is higher than the is higher than the treatment capacity.

Report water leaks and burst pipes to 044 801 9262/66 or after hours at 044 801 6300, as soon as you notice them.

Water Quality – 7 January 2022, 12h00
Issued George Municipality

Water samples for the Touw River have returned all clear – Acceptable Limits for full contact.
Swimming and Water Sports is permitted at all areas of the Touw River including River Mouth and Lagoon within designated swimming areas.

George Municipality reported a sewerage spill at the Ebb and Flow pumpstation on the 24th December 2021. The spill was treated and testing of the river water was undertaken in three areas (upstream, lagoon and river mouth) on a daily basis to monitor the water quality for the safety of residents and visitors, as well as any possible impact on the Blue Flag Beach at Wilderness.

Testing has continued throughout the festive season and erratic results received were cause for concern. George Municipality thoroughly reviewed our Ebb and Flow Sewerage pumpstation equipment and Incident Alert System and have ruled out further failure. A comprehensive investigation of all private and business conservancy tanks has been launched.

This investigation has to date revealed a number of private homeowners who are non-complaint i.e. either allowing their conservancy tanks to overflow and/or having illegal connections thereby contaminating groundwater and stormwater which discharges into the river. Responsible homeowners have been alerted to where there are issues for rectification and action will be taken against non-compliant homeowners.

We thank those residents who have willingly allowed our officials access to their property. Legal action can and will be taken against those property owners who with no valid reason, refuse George Municipality access to their property. Our officials are wearing identifying tags and will provide the homeowner with a letter indicating reason for their requiring access. The full investigation is expected to be concluded within the next 10 days.

Residents and visitors are reminded that the potable water in Wilderness area remains completely safe as the intake from the Touw river that feeds the Wilderness Waster Treatment Works is above the waterfall with a supplementary feed to Wilderness from George.

George Municipality together with SANparks has faced queries for alleged pollution this season and are working together to address and rectify the problem. The consistent water quality testing and subsequent investigation should result in a successful solution.

The Wilderness area holds great natural beauty, diverse and fragile eco-systems and is one of the Garden Route’s largest tourism drawcard. SANparks and George Municipality are committed to protecting and retaining this natural attraction and ensuring it is safe for all residents and visitors.

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6 January 2022, 13h45

Water samples for the Touw River have returned showing non-compliance for the River.

NO SWIMMING OR WATER SPORTS PERMITTED IN THE RIVER

Swimming and Water Sports ONLY PERMITTED at River Mouth and Lagoon area between Lifeguard Flags.

We ask the residents and visitors to adhere to safe swimming rules and follow instructions of the Lifeguards in the designated areas.

George Municipality continues to investigate the cause for non-compliance and water sampling will continue to monitor water quality with updates provided.

The public are reminded that lifeguards currently remain on duty at Gwaing Beach, Herold’s Bay, Victoria Bay, Wilderness Leentjiesklip, Steps. Lagoon and Wilderness Salina’s on a full-time daily basis until 31 January 2022. They are at beaches in the George municipal area from 7 am-7 pm every day, including weekends and public holidays.

We strongly advise the public not to swim before 7am or after 7pm when lifeguards are no longer on the beach.

Wilderness – No swimming under the bridges, in the Mouth of the river due to dangerous currents and deep slopes, left of the Main Beach, at Kleinkrantz due to no lifeguards present.
Public swimming pools in Conville and Uniondale remain closed as a Covid-19 precaution.

PLEASE SWIM BETWEEN THE FLAGS AT BEACHES AND OBEY LIFEGUARD INSTRUCTIONS.

NSRI 082 990 5955
Fire 044 801 6300
Disaster Centre 044 801 6316