A mysterious green sludge was seen flowing into the seas from Cliff road, Bantry Bay last week on Friday June 5. Many residents were concerned the unidentified liquid was polluting the water.
Sarah Chasteau Hoberman, a Facebook user, captured the incident and posted an image and a video recording of the sludge making its way into the water. “Something very strange happening in Sea Cliff road,” she said in her post on the Sea Point Community page.
Concerned community members flooded the comments section to inquire about the legality of this occurrence, and some said they had seen this happen before.
“Seen this before was told it was the tide” said one user, “sorry I cant believe that”.
“Seen it before. Building Aircon being serviced and letting fluid wash into storm water drains instead of collecting it,” said another user.
Ward Councillor Nicola Jowell says that when this has happened in the past, it has been a result of coolant from air conditioners.
“Coastal Management was there this morning and a sample taken for testing, clean up protocol done and investigation into the source of the liquid,” said Jowell on June 5.
Jowell requested that community members attempt to find the source of the liquid if they see it again in the future.
“If you see this again please can you try to see the source of the liquid as often when the coastal management team are able to get there it is not possible to see the exact source. If they can find it then the building management will be fined.”
She added, however, that the release of this liquid into the sea is illegal. “This is a huge quantity and can only come from a large building in the area. They are blatantly illegally dumping this into the stormwater system,” said Jowell.
Many are angry about the waste being pumped into the ocean, since it affects biodiversity, sea creatures, and much more. “The amount of filth pumped into the sea is huge, people are not aware of the extent. The City of Cape Town are guilty as well,” said one Facebook user.
See the video here.
Cape Town Etc. has reached out to the Ward Councillor and the Department of Environment for an update on the liquid, but we have not received a response at the time of publication.
Picture: Facebook / Sarah Chasteau Hoberman (Sea Point Community Group) Screenshot from video
