Camps Bay Beach’s Blue Flag, a stamp of environmental quality and safety, was temporarily lowered due to sewage contamination from a nearby toilet block.
As per the Cape Argus, Zahid Badroodien, the City’s Mayco member for water and sanitation, confirmed a sewer blockage in Camps Bay on 13 January.
‘The resulting spill was attended to on the same day, and the beach was cleaned. The spill did not reach the ocean. The cause of the blockage was foreign objects in the system, namely rags and fats,’ he said.
Also read: Cape Town surfer fatally drowns in St Francis Bay
Despite the swift response, concerns remain about the beach’s environmental health.
A former resident and admin of the ‘Bay of Sewage’ Facebook group expressed relief over the flag’s temporary lowering following reports of hazardous sewage levels on the beach.
The resident criticised the City’s handling of the ongoing sewage problems, linking them to an overburdened infrastructure and questionable approval of new developments, ‘like a 100-bed hotel on the beachfront.’
He called for an overhaul of sewage treatment methods, moving away from the outdated practice of pumping untreated effluent into the sea.
Patricia van der Ross, the City’s Mayco member for community service and health, explained that the standard procedure involved notifying Wessa (the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa) about the flag’s lowering and addressing the spill.
She explained that if contamination reaches the water, the flag remains down until water samples confirm no health risks.
Cape {town} Etc discount: Looking for things to do in the city at half the price? Let these great offers inspire you and fuel your imagination! Get them here.
In this instance, bathers weren’t barred from the water as the spill didn’t reach the ocean, and the public was informed through the lowered flag, demarcations and warning signs.
Wessa National Coordinator Tevya Lotriet acknowledged the sewage spill at Camps Bay and the subsequent lowering of the flag.
After the City’s response to clearing the blockage and contaminated sand, the flag was raised again, as there was no longer a public health risk.
‘However, that being said, we are in the process of discussing the matter with the Blue Flag International office based in Copenhagen about this specific type of situation and any potential consequences for Camp’s Bay Beach on the programme,’ Lotriet said.
Explore Cape Town and its surroundings with these incredible deals on cars for under R100 000. Find car listings here.
Also read:
Picture: Timo Wielink / Unsplash
