Cape Town - The City of Cape Town has closed parts of the Zeekoevlei to the public until further notice, as E coli levels have “exceeded the allowable standard”.
The city is investigating possible mitigation measures “as a matter of urgency – and additional warning signage has been erected on the vlei bank (picnic area), at the mouth of the Big Lotus River (Fisherman’s Walk), near Klip Road, and at the entrance of the Ottery Traffic Department”.
The Zeekoevlei Civic Association was advised by the City of Cape Town’s health directorate on Tuesday night that the city’s scientific services department had warned that, during routine sampling, “a marked increase in the E coli count was observed”.
“This led them to inform our department that no recreational activity must be allowed at Zeekoevlei. This includes full and immediate contact with the water. (No swimming, diving, waterskiing, angling, canoeing, paddling and wading.)”
Richard Cammell, the chairman of the Zeekoevlei Civic Association, said yesterday: “We are extremely concerned that the water sampling took place on September 18, and yet this warning was only issued yesterday.”
“Nature conservation were only officially notified today (Wednesday). Had they been notified, the river could have been diverted to the sewerage works via the Springfield diversion point.
“So scientific services does tests and then doesn’t tell anyone.
“I believe there are at least 23 official bodies/clubs that use this facility, not 12, and it has the most visitors of any of the city’s reserves.”
Another resident, who signed his name only as “James”, was as critical, and said community members believed the city’s action was: “Too little too late, as far as I am concerned.”
“How long have we been at risk without them telling us? My children swim in the vlei, and my dogs drink the water in it.
“Until there is adequate sewerage for the formal and informal settlements in the catchment, not only will the vlei be vulnerable to this type of pollution, but people upstream will continue to live in vile conditions, affecting their own health and those of the downstream catchment.
“Sewers are blocked largely because people upstream do not have access to sufficient levels of waste management – from where their sewage goes to where their litter goes to where their washing and cooking water goes.
“Until these issues are addressed, pollution plugs such as we have received in the last 2.5 weeks will continue to threaten not only the vlei, but also these communities.”
Cape Argus