Heritage Cases

The site is approximately 3 ha in extent and is expected to be classified as a GCB- site. It is not known since when the site has been in operation and what quantities of waste are being disposed of per day on-site. Although an EIA was commenced with in 2003, no record exists that a permit was issued by DWA or NW DEDECT. The facility has poor access controls and waste is illegally being dumped next to the access road to the landfill site. Apart from the access road (gravel), there is no other infrastructure at the landfill site. The landfill site is close to reaching its capacity as far as the disposal of waste to the surface of land is concerned. It is not recommended that the quarry adjacent to the landfill site is used for the disposal of waste. The depth of the ground water table and the stability of the quarry are uncertain. The DWA National Groundwater Database indicates that the depth of the groundwater table is between 1.88 and 6 metres in the vicinity of the landfill site. Given the fact that the quarry is excavated to a depth of approximately 5 - 6 metres relative to the surrounding area, it is expected that the quarry may be very close to the ground water table. Stagnant water was observed in the quarry and the vegetation in the quarry is indicative of saturated, wet soils. A geohydrological and geotechnical assessment for the landfill site and its surroundings were done by Khulani Groundwater Consulting in 2003. The company, however, no NW DEDECT draft BAR Coligny 2014-01 Page 5 longer exists, and the municipality has no records of these reports. A letter by DWA (2000) indicates that the landfill site (combined with pollution from the WWTW oxidation ponds) have "polluted the groundwater in the vicinity, as the production boreholes nearby previously used by the council, are no longer fit for domestic use". Waste is pushed in a U-shaped stockpile and some coverage of waste has taken place in the past. The areas where waste has been covered with topsoil are invested with weeds. The site is located 280 metres from the Taaibos Spruit and within a critical biodiversity area (CBA-T2), as declared by SANBI, as well as cited in the NW Provincial SDF and the Ditsobotla LUMs. Furthermore, the Ditsobotla Local Municipality currently has no technical expertise to operate the landfill site. Waste is not being compacted or covered on a daily basis and no monitoring of ground water or potential landfill gas is taking place. The uncovered waste and associated wind-blown litter are presenting a negative aesthetic impact at the site and its surroundings.