Municipality closes six Durban beaches due to high E. coli levels
Following bouts of heavy rain in Durban, the water quality at six Durban beaches was tested by the eThekwini Municiplaity, with Adopt-A-River and Talbot, and the results revealed critical E. coli levels which have been deemed the water unsafe to swim in.
SIX beaches across Durban’s coastline have been deemed unsafe to bathe in following the joint sampling of beach water quality by the eThekwini Municipality with non-profit organisation Adopt-A-River and its independent partner, Talbot.
The water quality at uShaka Beach, Point Beach, South Beach, North Beach, Battery Beach and Country Club Beach was tested, and the E. coli levels at each of these beaches exceeded the levels that are safe for swimming.
According to the municipality, the joint sampling was done on December 7. “These results show levels of E. coli that are higher than normal. This is after several days of heavy rainfall in Durban, which washes pollution from rivers, streams and stormwater systems into the ocean. This has been linked to the latest ‘poor’ beach water-quality results.”
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All six beaches fell into the ‘poor’ and ‘critical’ categories as per the water-testing criteria. The municipality explained that the pollution from rivers and streams flows into the ocean after bouts of heavy rain.
“It is common to have poor water quality when heavy rains continue to batter the city. This results in pollution, including foreign objects, washing from rivers and streams, as well as other water sources, into the ocean,” said the municipality.
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The municipality went on to say in a recently released statement that the joint sampling with independent laboratories is done once a week, but it is in addition to the City’s regular monitoring and routine weekly testing across all its 23 bathing beaches.
“The beaches with ‘poor’ water quality have been closed while re-sampling and monitoring of the beaches continue. The repairs and maintenance of sanitation infrastructure are also ongoing. Significant improvement has been made since the extensive flood damage,” said the municipality.
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