‘How many spills in the past year and how much product was spilled this time?’ This is what Caroline Marx asked on the Facebook group ReThinkTheStink after a product spill from Astron Energy’s Milnerton Refinery leaked from Koeberg Road into the Table Bay waterways last month, affecting local birds and wildlife.
Also read: Fuel spill in Milnerton threatens wildlife at Table View Nature Reserve
‘The booms currently in place to retain the petrochemical spill are inadequate and the wildlife in the Table Bay Nature Reserve is being affected,’ says Marx. ‘While City nature conservation officers are searching for affected wildlife to be taken to Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) for cleaning and rehabilitation, all three birds taken by community members yesterday died. There may be more affected wildlife in the thick reed beds in the reserve, one of Cape Town’s RAMSAR recognised wetlands.’
In a statement released by Astron Energy on 29 April, the company states that it is doing everything it can to prevent any further damage to the sensitive ecosystem. ‘We are obviously concerned by any impact the spill may have had on local wild- and birdlife. We have completed the clean up of the area that the spill occurred in. We continue to monitor the area and hired an external specialist to assist with any other remediation activities associated with the residual diesel in the conservancy.’
‘We are liaising with representatives from the City of Cape Town and the relevant environmental agencies and non-governmental organisations where appropriate, to minimize the impact to the environment.’
However, the ReThinkTheStink group took videos of the area to show the aftermath of the spill:
Video: Caroline Marx / Facebook
‘This is the third product spill in a few years, each time the community is assured it has all been cleaned up and that the traces of petrochemicals in nearby stormwater drains are not related to the spills,’ says Marx.
Several members of the ReThinkTheStink group further spoke out against Astron’s response to the spill. Stuart Hofmeyr snapped a photo of two sandbags stuffed in a storm drain, adding that ‘now any leakage from the Astron valve into the stormwater channel will be contained by two sandbags.’
On 26 April, SANCCOB responded to birdlife affected by the spill. ‘The reported leak took place in Koeberg Road into the Table Bay waterways that runs through Rietvlei Wetland Reserve and joins with Milnerton Lagoon, on Tuesday, 19 April. SANCCOB was made aware two days later, on 20 April, when an oiled Common Moorhen was admitted. The bird presented with severe neurological behaviour, likely caused by the fume inhalation, and unfortunately, needed to be euthanised. SANCCOB has since met with representatives from Table Bay Nature Reserve, City of Cape Town Biodiversity Management and Water Pollution, and Astron Energy.’
‘Thus far, two Common Moorhens and three Red-knobbed Coot have died after being brought to SANCCOB. The damage caused to the ecosystem and the effects on other wildlife have not yet been fully evaluated but are likely to be far greater than the death of the birds reported to date. EnviroServ has placed booms in Diep River to contain the spilled diesel and SANCCOB deploys teams twice daily to identify and rescue affected wildlife, with Table Bay Nature Reserve Rangers also carrying out regular searches on a daily basis.’
‘Whilst clean-up operations and measures were implemented to contain the spilled diesel on Tuesday, these were not fully effective as diesel still moved further downstream. To address this, EnviroServ duplicated booms, placed additional booms to cover a larger area, and placed peat along the booms to absorb the spilled diesel. The City of Cape Town is collecting water samples to be analysed, taken from Diep River to the estuary and lagoon.’
Nicky Stander, SANCCOB’s head of conservation, says the recent spill by Astron highlights its lack of preparedness relating to wildlife response. ‘Far too often, we observe industry overlooking their obligation to effectively plan and prepare for pollution impacts on sensitive wildlife. The Astron Energy plant operates in the vicinity of rich biodiversity and sensitive ecosystems which have been polluted by diesel fuel. SANCCOB strongly advocates for responsible international best practice by ensuring a comprehensive wildlife contingency plan to ensure a rapid response by identified stakeholders.’
‘Diesel fuel has been proven to be fatal to water birds and seabirds due to the toxic nature of the product. Rapid rescue of affected birds may provide a window of opportunity to successfully stabilise individuals although the prognosis will remain guarded. However, in this case, the affected water birds had prolonged exposure to diesel fuel, both internally and externally, which undoubtedly caused severe complications to the respiratory and central nervous systems.’
‘The remediation of impacted waterways is concerning; diesel spilled in the ocean can quickly break up due to wave and wind action; however, these waterways have relatively little movement. The diesel product will also make its way into the reed and soil systems; these hydrocarbons are harmful to aquatic species that depend on these habitats.’
Sightings of the diesel-affected birds can be reported to SANCCOB Cape Town in Table View on 021 557 6155, or after hours (emergency) on 078 628 3731.
SANCCOB adds that people should not attempt to catch or wash affected birds themselves without appropriate personal protective equipment. ‘Diesel is toxic to human health. Diesel fuel is a clear or slightly coloured liquid, therefore affected wildlife will not present with the typical black tar substance that one may expect to see. Fur or feathers may look wet or waxy.’
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City cleaning up suspected oil spill exposed at St James Beach
Picture: SANCCOB saves seabirds / Facebook