2012 is the third year in a row that the famous Redhouse River Mile will be held on the Sunday’s River. For years now sailors, swimmers, rowers and other river users have been aware that they need to smear vaseline on or cover up any open sores before entering the river. I have personally seen sores on my legs take weeks to heal after sailing on the river.
What is frustrating to residents and river users alike is that the outbursts of ‘contamination’ are unpredictable by nature and subject to circumstances beyond their control. The largest sources of contamination appear to be the stormwater runoffs from Motherwell which routinely see items such as beds and dead livestock, along with the normal household refuse and plastic, taking a final slide into the water.
After high winds and large amounts of rain the stormwater runoffs are at their most frightening as mud and other floating bits looking supiciously like something that belongs in Fishwater Flats join assorted plastic bags and other detritus in a headlong rush to the river to produce the image that you see below:
Stormwater runoff into Swartkops River just above the Brickworks. Image: Philip Straton
In the above image, taken on 1 February during a rowing coaching session, you will see a catchment area to the left – surely duplicating that same catchment area on the right will help just a little bit?
I must hasten to add that the authorities do a sterling job of cleaning up on the river banks, BUT, I am unaware of any effort to curb the source of all of this cr*p that ends up in the river and along the banks.
