A report compiled by the City of Cape Town detailing the areas across the coast with the best and worst water quality has been released and the results might surprise you.
Water quality recorded over five years from January 1, 2015 up to December 31, 2019 features in the report along with accounts of over 10 000 bacterial sample tests taken over roughly 307km of coastline.
As of 2020 the water quality report will now become a yearly check in, offering comprehensive feedback on the water conditions across the Cape’s coastal areas.
Four areas were highlighted as having the worst water quality of all coastal areas, namely Lagoon Beach, Three Anchor Bay, central False Bay and Macassar to Gordon’s Bay.
It was noted that areas with storm water drains or located nearer river mouths have significantly lower water quality than other areas.
“The City is determined to improve coastal water quality in areas with chronic problems, and will implement interventions to see an incremental improvement of the water quality along the False Bay coast in particular. Working together with industry and residents, we are committed to addressing the multiple sources of coastal and inland pollution. This is in line with the newly launched Cape Town Water Strategy’s vision of transitioning to a Water Sensitive City over the next 20 years,” said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Alderman Marian Niewoudt in a statement.
To combat the poor water conditions in these areas, the City has vowed to crack down on illicit discharges through robust enforcement operations, major upgrades at Waste Water Treatment Works and improvements of operations and infrastructure to ensure no more overflows and blockages occur.
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