In Cape Town, Lagoon beach near Milnerton — a popular tourist area — remains closed for bathing due to “chronic coastal water quality problems”.
The city is in a long-running dispute over pollution accompanied by a foul stench emanating from the Milnerton lagoon.
Environmental protection nonprofit #ReThinkTheStink and the Milnerton Central Residents Association this week said independent water tests by an accredited company revealed high levels of E. coli in the Diep River catchment area, apparently from the Potsdam sewage works. The pollution then enters the lagoon, causing fish to die and a collapse of the ecosystem.
Tests done on November 4 showed treated effluent containing 750,000 E. coli colony-forming units (cfu) per 100ml (the licence requirement is under 1,000 cfu/100ml) were being discharged into the Diep River at an estimated rate of more than 36-million litres a day — equivalent to 18 Olympic-size swimming pools. Holiday accommodation venues near the beach are overwhelmed by the stench.
According to Talbot, the ideal recreational limit of E. coli for seawater is under 130 counts per 100ml and anything over 500 is considered critical.
City officials will meet the community on November 30 to discuss interventions at Milnerton lagoon, which, they told the Sunday Times, was in an “ecologically poor state, caused by pollution entering the system from various sources, including agricultural discharge and pesticides; greywater discharge; pump station failures caused by load-shedding; misuse of the sewerage system; treated effluent from Potsdam wastewater treatment works; unplanned urban development; illegal sewer connections to the stormwater system; and unauthorised industrial discharges.”
The wastewater plant is being upgraded.
Businessman Jason Smith, who runs several short-term accommodation establishments, is worried. “We regularly have guests who think that we have a problem with our plumbing in the unit and we have to explain to them that it is the whole area.
“I know several people who have had guests cancel bookings because of the stench ... If you can’t swim here, of course it affects tourism. The signs here, which tell people not to swim, are ineffective. You need sewage guards like you need beach guards.”
Cape Town tour operator Matt Weisse agreed. “We don’t do water sports any more. Tourism has declined. You can see the restaurant behind me is empty.”
Michelle Maartens, a medical doctor, said residents were affected. “I am noticing people who have problems with their eyes and sinuses — and these are just from smelling the fumes. There is hydrogen sulphide in this water which contaminates the air.”
Signs warn beachgoers not to swim at Lagoon beach — one of four coastal spots the city regards as being chronically polluted and is taking steps to address — yet this week children were photographed frolicking in the waves there.
Lagoon beach is just 15km from where the international kite surfing contest, Red Bull King of the Air, is scheduled to begin on Thursday.
The other areas affected are Central False Bay; Macassar to Gordon’s Bay; and Three Anchor Bay in Sea Point.
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