Swartvlei: source of E.coli unknown

Activities such as canoeing and water skiing higher up the estuary were ongoing.

Activities such as canoeing and water skiing higher up the estuary were ongoing.

Published Oct 30, 2014

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Cape Town - SANParks will try to establish the source of E.coli at the Swartvlei estuary, the organisation said on Wednesday.

“A unanimous decision undertaken is to find the sources of reported E.coli counts at the mouth of the estuary,” spokeswoman Nandi Mgwadlamba said in a statement.

“It is important to find the source of the problem and treat that.”

The decision followed a meeting between authorities of the SA National Parks, Eden district municipality, Knysna municipality, and the Knysna Basin Project.

She said the Eden district municipality's health division had taken two water samples at the Swartvlei estuary mouth in the past two months. Analysis had revealed an E.coli count of 2419 which was above the 500 mark recommended by the department of water affairs for recreational sites.

“As the responsible authority, we have committed to take at least an additional seven samples along the system. Additional testing for E.coli will help identify the sources of pollution,” said James McCarthy of the Eden district municipality.

Mgwadlamba said sign boards warning people not to swim or dive at the site where tests were conducted were already up.

Activities such as canoeing and water skiing higher up the estuary were ongoing. - Sapa

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