Hartbeespoort Dam (also known as Haarties) was built in 1923. It is situated in the North West Province of Southern Africa. It is situated in a valley near Magaliesberg mountain range and Witwatersberg mountain range. The dam's main source of water comes from the Crocodile River and brings with it waste from three Metropolitan areas, namely Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni and Tshwane. Daily 600 million litres of Waste Water flow into the dam including fertilizers, litter, sewer spillages, washing powders and many other pollutants.
All of the chemicals flowing into the dam intensify the amount of blue-green algae, now known as cyanobacteria that grows within the dam. This algae grows on the surface of the water and rots away in the sunlight, causing a vile smell that puts people off.
Eutrophic water has major effects on fish species. The increase of algae reduces the amount of sunlight that reaches the species below the surface which in turn lessens the amount of oxygen within the water. When oxygen levels lower, the fish and other animals living in that body of water start to suffocate, leading to death.
What is the cause of all this pollution? What are we doing about it? Will the problem be solved?
Read more about the issue here...
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