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Help needed to remove Benoni hyacinth

July 3 2012 at 08:06pm
By SAPA

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iol news pic water hyacinth

INLSA

File picture: Water hyacinth carpets the top end of a local dam. The Ekurhuleni metropolitan municipality is calling on Alphen Park residents in Benoni to assist in the removal of the hyacinth plant from the Homestead Lake. Picture: Bart Fokkens

Johannesburg - The Ekurhuleni metropolitan municipality is calling on Alphen Park residents in Benoni to assist in the removal of the hyacinth plant from the Homestead Lake.

Project manager for the municipality, Christopher Mthombeni, said in a statement on Tuesday that the machine used to drain the plant from the water may spew some of the plant onto residents' properties.

“Residents whose properties are situated on the banks of the lake can assist by transporting the hyacinth, found on their properties, to a central collection spot,” said Mthombeni.

“The spots that have been identified include an open piece of land between the Scouts Club and the Sailing Club, as well as the park just on the shore of the lake on Homestead Street.”

He said locals should not transport the plant to landfill sites themselves as they would be billed for dumping the plant.

The toxic hyacinth has been troubling Benoni waters for several years.

It contains oxalic acid which can cause irritation to people with sensitive skin. Efforts to remove the plant began in November last year and the municipality reports it has removed over 34 414 tons since then.

“The rehabilitation of lakes, dams and pans is one of the Ekurhuleni metro's priorities and an amount of R8 million has been allocated towards this task on the capital budget for this financial year,” said the municipality. - Sapa


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