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Zwartkops River still not safe for full contact recreational activities

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Persistence by Councillor Brenda Mathee from the Metro Public Health Committee has resulted in the Municipal Manager ordering that the results from the testing by the municipality of the water in the Zwartkops River be released.

The water is tested at a number of points on a regular basis.

Various factors influence the quality of the water:

  • The tide state
  • The rainfall
  • Broken sewers
  • Sewage outlets being connected to storm water pipes
  • The state of the river mouth – if it is ‘throttled’ then less cleansing salt water reaches high up into the river

The Department of Water Affairs (DWAF) Recreational water quality guidelines (1996), have the following guidelines for full contact recreation: less than 130 faecal coliforms or E.coli per 100 ml.

As you can see in the 10 March report table below – not one of the municipal sample points indicates that the water is safe for full contact recreation. i.e. swimming. By the same token one would be rather silly to go fishing at the Motherwell Canal which, at the time of testing, qualified as a gushing sh*t river.

 

Sample point Faecal coliforms/100 ml E. coli/100 ml
Upriver of Perseverance 310 90
Perseverance 210 <10
Redhouse 170 90
Motherwell s/w canal 9700 7100
Brickfields 5800 3200
Swartkops village 250 80
Settlers’ Bridge 130 10
Bulmers Drift 130 30
Niven Bridge 250 30
KwaNobuhle 1st bridge 140 10
Frans Klaasen Bridge 700 <100
Kelvin Jones WWTW 6300 4000
Despatch Bridge 660 120
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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.