A cargo net designed to trap solid waste from entering the Knysna estuary was piloted recently and really put to the test with heavy rains.
Knysna, South Africa (22 November 2018) – Nandi Mgwadlamba shared an exciting video on the SANParks – Garden Route Facebook group of the new cargo nets designed to trap solid waste before it reaches the Knysna Estuary.
The pilot project was implemented to keep the waterway clean, especially when it rains heavily.
“Cargo net designed to trap solid waste from entering the Knysna Estuary is being piloted today. Scott Ronaldson from SANParks, Shaun Maree from the Knysna Municipality with Randell Bouwers approached Mark Williams from Watermark Marine about the concept and the rest is history… If the net withstands predicted rainfall of 40mm, it will have passed the test!”
Some places had over 65mm of rainfall. This isn’t the first time waterway innovations have been featured on Good Things Guy, in Australia, nets are used to catch little coming from large water drains and in Durban, two men used 2-litre drink bottles to build water booms to trap litter.
People love the idea and are hopeful it will be used all over the garden route to protect waterways.
“Very cool idea. Awesome way to ensure plastic and other waste do not enter precious water systems.” – Candice Hoffmann
“Brilliant! I’ll donate if it means every one of these inlets into the estuaries along the Garden Route can get a net such as this.” – Alida Viljoen
“Great work! Amazing work and great forward thinking. Now you just need to maintain and empty the nets regularly!” – Dave Lyons-Lewis
The video isn’t available to share here as it is on a closed group but you can watch the net in action here.
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This is very impressive. If plastic bottles and water sachets are trapped before it gets to the ocean, going to the public beaches will be more fun.Australia has also started doing this. I wish my country Nigeria will adopt same too.