Cape Town - Rietvlei has been indefinitely closed for recreational use at the Table Bay Nature Reserve owing to pollution.
This is to allow for the testing of water quality, the City said Sunday.
“The City of Cape Town would like to advise that all those who make use of the Rietvlei for recreational activities, this waterbody will be subject to temporary closure for all recreational use.
This is due to results of sampling which indicate the water quality has deteriorated below levels deemed safe for intermedia recreational contact,” the City said.
The vlei would remain closed for recreational purposes until testing confirmed the water was safe to use again.
“The cause of the pollution is currently unclear but is being thoroughly investigated.The City regrets any inconvenience associated with the closure of the vlei.”
Rietvlei offers a number of recreational activities, including picnic areas, water sports and nature watching.
The Rietvlei Wetland is in the floodplain of the Diep River between Milnerton and Table View that drains into Table Bay via the Milnerton Lagoon.
The wetland offers a variety of habitats, including a permanent freshwater lake, shallow marshes that flood in winter, reed beds, a river, and an estuarine lagoon with salt marshes that is open to the sea.
Cape Times