2011 November | Vaal Triangle Business Directory | VaalFindit - Part 2
Veilig om water te drink
Die Vaaldriehoek se kraanwater wat deur Rand Water verskaf word, is suiwer en veilig om te drink. Hoewel die gehalte van Vaaldriehoekse spruit- en rivierwater plek-plek glad nie aan die departement van waterwese en bosbou se standaarde voldoen nie, het geen gevalle van cholera weens besmette water in ons gebied, tot dusver voorgekom nie. Dit is die goeie nuus. Die slegte nuus is dat sekere watergebiede in die Vaaldriehoek steeds uiters toksies is en ernstige siektes kan veroorsaak – sonder dat watersportgeesdriftiges dit besef.
D¡t is van die feite wat verlede week deur adv. Lotter Weppener, voorsitter van Save the Vaal Environment (Save) aan lede van die Vanderbijlparkse Sakekamer genoem is na onlangse foutiewe gerugte dat daar cholera in die Vaal se waters sou wees. Die feit bly egter staan dat die Vaaldriehoek reuse-probleme ten opsigte van spruit- en rivierwater ondervind en sakelui en die toerismesektor het oor die Kersvakansie derduisende rand verloor weens potensiele vakansiegangers se kansellasies.
Hoewel die watergehalte tans baie beter is as voor die Desember-vakansie, is dit nog lank nie ideaal nie, se Weppener. Die Vaalrivier tussen die Lethabo-keerwal tot omtrent by die Riviera-hotel is skoon, maar verder af tot by die Barrage is die situasie steeds beroerd.
“Talle mense swem en baljaar nog in die water van Loch Vaal, sonder om te besef dat dit tans waarskynlik die mees toksiese watergebied in die streek is. Die sediment wat deur die jare opgebou het, sal jare neem om skoon te kom – en ook net mits skoon water daardeur spoel. Tans is dit nie die geval nie,”se Weppener.
Dit was einde verlede jaar landwyd in die nuus toe Save die Emfuleni-munisipaliteit met ‘n hofbevel moes dwing om dringende onderhoudwerk aan rioolpompe te doen. Dit was nadat groot volumes rou riool in die rivier ingestroom het. Nadat vis kort daarna by die tonne in die rivier begin vrek het, moes Emfuleni met ‘n hofbevel gedwing word om die massas dooie visse te verwyder.
‘n Kundige buitekontrakteur kon die “onoorkombare” probleem binne ses weke oplos, maar sy diens is intussen weens onbekende redes beindig en hy is met ‘n nuwe kontrakteur vervang. “Die feit dat buitekontrakteurs die probleme in ‘n relatiewe kort tyd kon vasvat, bewys dat die werk wel vinnig gedoen kon word. Dit kos belastingbetalers egter elke keer honderde duisende rand. Indien tydige en behoorlike onderhoud deur die plaaslike owerheid gedoen is, sou dit (die besoedeling) nooit gebeur het nie.”
Save se ondersoeke blyk dat daar tans geen rou riool in die Vaalrivier invloei nie, maar ‘n nuwe bekommernis is die onlangse bevinding dat die Rietspruit-suiweringswerke glad nie funksioneer nie – dalk al vir jare nie. Nadat sanitasiekundiges die afgelope dekade die munisipaliteit se diens verlaat het, was daar skynbaar niemand wat die dreigende probleem voorsien het of behoorlike onderhoud gedoen het nie. Rand Water se toetse by Rietspruit het nog so onlangs as 14 Januarie ‘n e-coli-telling van 22 000 eenhede per 100 ml water getoon. Volgens die departement van waterwese se standaarde mag dit nie hoer as 1 000 eenhede per 100 ml water wees nie.
“Siekte-veroorsakende organismes vloei dus steeds in die rivier in. Die tweede helfte van die Barrage-reservoir moet steeds as onbruikbaar vir mense beskou word,” se Weppener. Hy het beklemtoon dat die Vaaldriehoek se kraanwater nie uit die Vaalrivier kom nie, maar uit die Vaaldam, waarvan die watergehalte tans nog bo verdenking is en streng deur kundiges van Rand Water gemonitor word.
Nkutha and Kalmer on top
The ArcelorMittal Athletics Club in partnership with BASF hosted the BASF 90.6 Road Races on Saturday, October 15 at the Riverside Boulevard shopping centre. The distances varied from a 5 km development run, 10 km and 32 km race. To add some extra flair to the races the well-known SA athlete Rene Kalmer took part in the 32 km event. Not only did she win it, she completed it seven minutes min behind the first male athlete in an astonishing time of 1:56:00.
Over 500 athletes took part in the various races. Bidvests Vanderbijlpark branch took the honours as the best water point on the day. Results: 10 km: Men: 1. Deon Botha (Nedbank) 37:20; 2. Roy Kanye (Lekoa) 38:52; 3. Max Mthimkulu (Temp) 38:58. Women: 1. Christine Kalmer (Nedbank) 37:37; 2. Tersia Swanepoel (Temp) 49:39; 3. Phina Tsepetsi (Anglo) 50:43. 21 km: Men: Open: 1. Manny Mohale (Toyota) 83:05; 2. Phelhello Tsotetsi (Post Office) 83:06; 3. Moeketsi Maome (Troi Sport) 83:47. Veterans: Phelhello Tsotetsi (Post Office) 83:06. Masters: John Woodnutt (Morningside) 96:17.Grandmasters: David Jordaan (Arcelor Mittal) 1:45:22.Women: Open: 1. Jean-Marie Cooper (Nedbank) 90:01; 2. Marie Bruwer (Arcelor Mittal) 92:45; 3. Kashmira Parbhoo (Lenasia) 95:05.Veterans: Marie Bruwer (Arcelor Mittal) 92:45. Masters: Marietjie Olen (Sasol) 1:48:23. Grandmasters: Joey Louwrens (Boksburg) 2:29:14. Juniors: Jean-Marie Cooper (Nedbank) 90:01.32 km: Men: Open: 1. Vusi Nkutha (Nedbank) 1:48:56; 2. Jacob Mazibuko (Bidvest) 1:50:19; 3. Peter Muthubi (Nedbank) 1:53:39. Veterans: Jacob Mazibuko (Bidvest) 1:50:19. Masters: Daniel Molefe (Emfuleni) 2:28:14. Grandmasters: Frikkie van Eeden (GRRR) 2:53:57. Women: Open: 1. Rene Kalmer (Nedbank) 1:56:42; 2. Julanie Basson (Toyota) 2:14:38; 3.Vanessa Bowman (Kempton) 2:26:58. Veterans: Vanessa Bowman (Kempton) 2:26:58. Masters: Connie Blom (PPMK) 2:56:27. Grandmasters: Maz Moore (Breakthru Midrand) 3:34:42.
- Force. Exerting too much force on your back such as by lifting or moving heavy objects – can cause injury.
- Repetition. Repeating certain movements can lead to muscle fatigue or injury, particularly if you are stretching to the limit of your range of motion or using awkward body positioning.
- Posture. Slouching exaggerates your backs natural curves, which can lead to muscle fatigue and injury.
- Stress. Pressure at work can increase your stress level and lead to muscle tension and tightness, which can contribute to or worsen back pain. You can take steps to prevent back pain and injuries at work. For example:
- Include physical activity in your daily routine. Maintaining a healthy weight minimises stress on your back. Combine aerobic exercise such as swimming or walking with exercises that strengthens and stretches your back muscles and abdomen.
- Pay attention to posture. If you stand for long periods at work, occasionally rest one foot on a stool or small box. While you stand, hold reading material at eye level. To promote good posture when sitting, choose a chair that allows you to rest both feet flat on the floor while keeping your knees level with your hips. If the chair doesnt support your lower backs curve, place a rolled towel or small pillow behind your lower back. Remove your wallet or cell phone from your back pocket when sitting, to prevent putting pressure on your buttocks or lower back.
- Lift properly. When lifting and carrying a heavy object, lift with your knees and tighten your core muscles. Hold the object close to your body and lift it between your legs. Maintain the natural curve of your back.
- Modify repetitive tasks. Think about how you can modify repetitive tasks at work to reduce physical demands on your body. If youre on the phone most of the day, try a headset. If you work at a computer, make sure that your monitor and chair are positioned properly. Avoid unnecessary bending, twisting and reaching. Limit the time you spend carrying heavy briefcases, purses and bags. Consider using a rolling suitcase.
- Listen to your body. If you must sit or stand for a prolonged period, change your position often. Try taking a 30-second break every 15 minutes to stretch, move or relax. Or, stand up, stretch and change positions each time you answer the phone, make a call or do another routine task.
- Address stress. Stress can make you tense and prone to injury. Use positive coping mechanisms such as deep-breathing exercises, taking a walk around the block or talking about your frustrations with a trusted friend to handle stress in a healthy way.