Race on to fix eThekwini E. coli crisis as bumper festive season predicted for North Coast

While the eThekwini Metro attempts to fast-track repairs to wastewater treatment works and pump stations to reopen its E-coli contaminated beaches ahead of the festive season, the North Coast tourism economy stands to benefit in the short term as holidaymakers shift their attention to local destinations.

Damaged during the April and May floods, a number of wastewater treatment works and pump stations within the eThekwini Metro have largely been responsible for the contamination and closure of the metro’s beaches owing to high levels of E. coli.

National treasury has allocated R184-million for repairs through the disaster relief fund, but according to eThekwini mayor, Mxolisi Kaunda, this was inadequate.

At a media briefing last Thursday, he said R160-million alone was needed for the repair of pump stations, while more than R300-million was required to get damaged water treatment works fully operational.

To avoid delays, Kaunda said the metro had reprioritised its own budget to fast-track urgent repairs.

For several months eThekwini beaches have been closed and reopened on an on-and-off basis because of high levels of E. coli.

At Blackburn, thousands of litres of sewage continue to spew out from a manhole at the sewage pump station, contaminating the Ohlanga River and Umhlanga Lagoon.

Beaches impacted have included Umkomaas in the south, all the way up to the Tongaat River mouth in the north.

Laguna, eThekwini main beach, Westbrook, Bronze, Umhlanga main, Umdloti, Isipingo, Reunion, Pipeline, Toti main, Warner, Baggies, Winklespruit, Garvies and Ansteys beaches remain closed to the public for all water-related activities.

Mayor Kaunda said work to repair sanitation infrastructure was about to start following the R184-million allocation.

At the Umdloti pump station and water works, Smart Village precinct manager Vicky Schnetler said progress had been made with clearing the pump station of sand that it had been flooded with.

“Pumps are being put in and will hopefully be operational come Wednesday, October 12.”

iLembe Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Tourism CEO, Cobus Oelofse, said while the North Coast may benefit in the short term, the regrettable situation would negatively impact the wider provincial economy and KZN’s reputation as a preferred tourist destination.

Cancellations south of the Tongaat River were putting hospitality jobs at risk, he said, with a number of establishments having cleaning and maintenance staff on short-time already in affected areas such as Westbrook and Umdloti.

“While the situation may benefit us, holidaymakers unable to find accommodation in Ballito and further north will need to make day trips to our beaches, which, of course, won’t be helped by the ongoing closure of the M4 across the Tongaat River,” Oelofse said.

Predictions from operators and letting agents on the North Coast were that it would be a similar festive season compared to last year, with longer stays already booked up and limited short stays still available.

Meanwhile, repair of the oThongathi water treatment works has reached 75%, with the plant expected to come into operation in the first week of November.

A tie-in between Mamba Ridge and Hazelmere Waterworks via the Avondale Reservoir pipeline continues feeding some two million litres of water a day to parts of Tongaat.

MORE ON THIS

• eThekwini closes southern beaches again
• Beaches from Umdloti to Westbrook closed amid E.coli outbreak
• Durban’s beaches remain closed due to high E. coli levels

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