POOR maintenance of the sewerage pipeline in eShowe has been identified as the cause of the Mpushini River being polluted with blood last month.
Environmental officials have been investigating the incident after being alerted to the problem by eShowe residents.
In its report, uThungulu district officials ruled out the eShowe District Hospital as the source of contamination.
It also confirmed the report in the Zululand Observer, where it was reported that the eShowe Meat Company is legally allowed to dispose of its treated liquid waste through the system and can therefore not be held responsible.
Blockages in the system have led to the sewer overflowing, which in turn causes the effluent and blood to contaminate the river.
The department says maintenance operations and inspections will be conducted regularly to monitor overflows.
This is the second time that uThungulu have been found not to be maintaining the sewer line, the last time being in 2010 when the Department of Water Affairs issued a directive to the district municipality to clean up its act.
