The responsibility for sewage spills in estuaries and along the coast was transferred to the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) through the Integrated Coastal Management Act (Act No. 24 of 2008) (ICMA).
The discharge of any effluent into the coastal environment from a land-based process must be authorised by the DFFE.
Any discharge of land-based effluent to the coastal environment from an activity triggering any of the Listing Notices in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations under the NEMA, is subject to the applicable environmental authorisation by the DFFE and / or a Coastal Water Discharge Permit (CWDP).
A sewage spill in the estuary or along the coast should be reported to the DFFE, KZN EDTEA and the Local Municipality as well as DWS since collaboration between these groups is required.
What information to report and the procedure for reporting.
- Name and contact details of person reporting
- Date and time of observation
- Details of observation
- Location or relative position
- Source /cause of pollution
- Weather and sea conditions
