International Day of Action for Rivers: Take a Stand for Clean Waterways!
WaterCAN celebrates International Day of Action for Rivers but demands a future with healthy, flowing rivers.
Image: Twitter
Today (March 14th) marks the International Day of Action For Rivers – a pivotal day to spotlight the urgent need for collective action in safeguarding our precious waterways. At WaterCAN, we echo the global call to save, celebrate, and raise awareness about the critical role rivers play in sustaining life.
However, our message goes beyond celebration—it’s a clarion call for immediate and decisive action.
“Rivers are the lifeblood of our planet, yet they are under siege from pollution and neglect. The theme ‘Water for All’ underscores the imperative to recognise rivers as national treasures, deserving protection from the rampant dumping of waste and sewage,” says Dr. Ferrial Adam, Executive Manager for WaterCAN.
Alarmingly, every day an unfathomable 2 million tonnes of sewage, industrial – and agricultural waste contaminate rivers worldwide. In South Africa, the situation is dire, with more than 50,000 litres of sewage flowing into our rivers every second. The recent Green Drop report paints a grim picture, revealing that 67.6% of wastewater treatment works fail to adequately clean raw sewage, posing severe health risks to communities.
“The presence of raw sewage in our rivers is not just an environmental catastrophe—it’s a public health emergency. It serves as a stark reminder of the broader pollution crisis, laden with pathogens, antibiotics, and industrial toxins,” Dr. Adam adds.
The repercussions extend beyond human health, with up to 60% of river ecosystems now under threat. Invasive species like hyacinth and water lettuce proliferate, choking our waterways and decimating aquatic life, something clearly illustrated by the water lettuce crisis in the Vaal river that recently dominated news headlines.
“It’s unacceptable that our rivers, once sources of vitality, are now synonymous with contamination and neglect,” Dr. Adam asserts. “We cannot stand idly by as our rivers become unfit even for swimming, not to mentioned angering the livelihoods of the 10% of our population reliant on them for daily water needs because of pollution.”
For International Day of Action for Rivers, we’ve observed passionate activists across the country taking a bold stance by renaming their rivers to reflect the grim reality of their conditions. From the transformation of the Jukskei river into the Jukskuit, the Emmerentia Dam into the Volkak Spruit, the Umbilo River to Umpoolo, the Bosmanspruit as the Esgondini River (meaning hole), to the Umgeni River renamed to Umkaki, these symbolic gestures underscore the deep frustrations felt by citizen activists in the face of relentless pollution infiltrating our waterways.
WaterCAN calls for urgent intervention, targeting key wastewater treatment works in municipalities like the City of Johannesburg, Mogale City, Emfuleni, eThekwini, Sol Plaatje and beyond. However, government efforts alone are insufficient. Dr. Adam emphasises the importance of mobilising a national network of water activists, empowering citizens to hold authorities accountable for their actions.
“Our citizen scientist program empowers ordinary individuals to monitor and test rivers countrywide, we currently have over a thousand people testing country wide.” Dr. Adam explains. “Unfortunately, the results often reveal a grim reality—one of watersources plagued by contamination and neglect.”
Dr. Adam says the time for complacency is over. WaterCAN urges individuals to reflect on their own impact on rivers, while advocating for the strict enforcement of directives against river pollution. The Department of Sanitation has issued directives to various municipal managers to stop the flow of sewerage into rivers. It should be noted that this is actually a criminal offense, and one where municipal managers could either be fined or imprisoned.” Last year, WaterCAN laid criminal charges against the City of Johannesburg’s municipal manager, Floyd Brink, for the ongoing pollution at Goudkoppies and Bushkoppies Waste Water Treatment works, which flows into the Klipriver and then into the Vaal river system.
“Until we witness tangible consequences for those responsible for polluting our rivers, this cycle of destruction will persist. On this International Day of Action For Rivers, let us unite in solidarity, pledging to defend and preserve our rivers for generations to come, ” Dr. Adam concludes.
Above: Seen at the Umgeni River.
Source – Twitter
Above: Seen at the Umbilo River.
Source – Twitter
Above: Seen at the Jukskei River.
Source – Twitter
Above: Seen at Bosmanspruit.
Source – Twitter
Above: Seen at Emmerentia Dam.
Source – Twitter
About WaterCAN:
WaterCAN is a dedicated environmental organisation committed to preserving and protecting South Africa’s water resources. With a mission to promote responsible water management and raise awareness about water quality, the organisation empowers communities to become proactive stewards of their local water sources. If you would like to support our work, kindly Donate Here.
