DID YOU KNOW?

Polluted rivers and streams can be sources for water-borne diseases such as Cholera, Giardiasis, Typhoid and other enteric diseases? See how it happens…

PROBLEM STATEMENT

Community members use rivers and streams as illegal waste dump sites leaving scattered pollution agents like plastic, paper, glass, baby diapers, into and on the banks of rivers and streams. This affects the flow of rivers and streams and adversely impacts water quality and quantity to downstream populations of flora and fauna including humans.

Impact of illegal dumping on rivers and streams

  • Aquatic species get threatened
  • Water becomes unsafe for human use and costly to treat.
  • Endangers the habitats of aquatic life
  • Increased rate of diseases in communities
  • Degrades quality of water and health of rivers and streams
  • Reduces water availability and compromises supply to needy communities and industry
  • Impacts the ecological and hydrological processes negatively

What can you and I do?

  • Safely dispose our waste at designated dumping sites like municipal landfills and skip bins near us.
  • Turn our waste into our wealth – recycle our waste and earn an income from it.
  • Re-use of non-recycling material like plastic is another way to prevent river pollution.
  • Immediately STOP dumping garbage, nappies, bottles and other waste at the stream near you
  • Adopt my river and my stream as my buddy for life
    Your waste is your wealth, recycle and keep it in your wallet


Project held in conjuction with:

Lower Komati Sub-Catchment
Name of organization: Bomkhaya Environmental Club

Upper Komati Sub-Catchment
Name of organization: Ekulindeni Youth Enviro – Club

Usuthu Sub-Catchment
Name of organization: Indandekho Agricultural Primary Co-Operative Limited

www.iucma.co.za