‘E. coli’ scare closes Durban’s beaches as bacteria reach critical levels

● Dangerous levels of E. coli at some of Durban’s beaches may scupper the winter vacation plans of thousands of tourists as the school holidays start.

The high levels of the harmful bacteria are being attributed to damage to the city’s wastewater treatment plants and sanitation infrastructure caused by the recent floods, resulting in sewage pollution.

The situation prompted the eThekwini municipality to shut the beaches indefinitely more than a month ago.

Water-treatment service company Talbot, which has been conducting regular tests, recently found that popular central beaches like Durban Country Club and Battery Beach were showing critical levels of E. coli.

“We are doing weekly E. coli testing at the main eThekwini beaches including Point, uShaka, South, North, Battery and Country Club beaches,” said Micole Martens, associate director of laboratories at Talbot.

“The trend shows that Battery and Country Club continue to have poor and critical water conditions for bathing or recreational activities in the surf zone.”

Talbot has teamed up with environmental group Adopt a River to regularly test beaches and rivers.

“The most recent samples were taken in the surf zone on June 21 and the results show that both Battery and Country Club remain in critical condition, with 8,146 counts per 100ml and 1,842 counts per 100ml respectively,” said Martens.

She said the ideal recreational limit for seawater was less than 130 counts per 100ml and anything over 500 was considered critical.

Municipal spokesperson Msawakhe Mayisela said: “We have made it clear that the beaches have been closed for all recreational activities. We will open the beaches once we are satisfied about water quality.”

Cameron Service, an environmental activist from The Litterboom Project, said it was “unacceptable that weeks after the Durban flooding main sewerage pipelines have still not been fixed even though it is said to have been a high priority”.

He added: “That being said, the level of E. coli was high even before the rains. Durban has always been the gem for coastal living and with the dismal management of eThekwini municipality I fear this will affect not only the environment but the start of some ongoing health challenges as surfers, paddlers and swimmers try to make use of these public spaces to their detriment.”

Rosemary Anderson, head of the Federated Hospitality Association of SA, said the state of the ocean should not deter visitors to the city.

“However, it is exceptionally disappointing that urgent intervention is not being taken by the water & sanitation department to help get the pump stations and sewerage lines urgently restored.”

Desmond D’Sa of the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance said fishermen had complained that the high E. coli levels were affecting their livelihoods.

“I’m fully aware of people suffering with stomach ailments after swimming in the ocean recently. People have been warned,” he said.