STATE PORT operator Portnet is forming Catchment Forums geared to examine the causes of pollution in the country's commercial ports and to co-ordinate the efforts of stakeholders in addressing pollution problems.
The Portnet initiative, which started last year, is based on the results of a Water Research Commission (WRC) report on South African port catchment systems tabled recently. The report identified the main causes of water pollution and the responsible stakeholders at each port.
The forums involve Portnet's environmental division, local authorities and industries at each port.
Discharge systems
Water quality in our country's ports is influenced by what flows into them via rivers and other discharge systems controlled by local authorities. The forums aim to address water pollution issues that affect each port but which mostly originate beyond port premises, said Thobeka Thamage, Portnet's senior environmental manager.
Earlier this month the WRC stated that a review of water quality management of South African port catchment systems showed that although there is no crisis, steps must be taken to prevent problems turning into crises.
The WRC report said that while Portnet is responsible for the maintenance and provision of basic port infrastructure, other role-players, such as land-based industries and local municipalities around ports, need to be made aware that the ports are at the receiving end of catchments.
Portnet and the WRC are jointly running a series of workshops involving all stakeholders to discuss the problems at the ports of Durban, Richards Bay, Cape Town and Saldanha Bay.
Thamage said that Portnet spends millions of rands each year to monitor water quality and provide pollution control measures.
Portnet's environmental protection efforts also involve developing closer working relationships with port leaseholders. Effective environmental management requires a joint effort between Portnet and port stakeholders. Strong partnerships are being forged with a spin-off being direct ownership of environmental responsibilities undertaken by all parties involved, added Thamage.
Our contracts with leaseholders include strengthened environmental clauses, placing the responsibility for environmental protection squarely with the port user.
This is highly relevant as most ports also suffer from air and oil pollution, with ports such as Cape Town also having to cope with increased litter levels resulting from tourist activities such as the Waterfront development.
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