The City of Cape Town has released its latest coastal water quality report, tracking results up to Monday, 2 December 2024.
The data, which is delayed by a week, provides critical insights into the condition of recreational beaches across the city, flagging certain areas as potentially unsafe for swimming due to elevated enterococci levels.
Cape Town water quality report for this week: Tuesday, 10 December 2024
Since November 2024, Cape Town has expanded its water quality testing program, introducing weekly sampling at key recreational beaches to ensure transparency and safeguard public health.
These samples are evaluated against the South African Water Quality Guidelines, which stipulate a limit of 240 CFU/100mL of enterococci bacteria for safe recreational use.
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Beaches flagged as unsafe for swimming this week
The latest report reveals several coastal nodes with fluctuating water quality levels.
Here are the sites flagged as exceeding acceptable thresholds:
- Lagoon Beach (Atlantic Coast): Recorded a high of 125 CFU/100mL on Monday, 25 November 2024. Although it improved to 14 CFU/100mL by 2 December, the beach remains under scrutiny.
- Gordon’s Bay East Beach (False Bay): Exceeded acceptable levels with 136 CFU/100mL recorded on 2 December.
- Fish Hoek Beach (False Bay): Saw elevated levels mid-November, and although recent figures remain within safe limits, the area’s history of fluctuations warrants continued monitoring.
Certain popular spots like Muizenberg Pavilion and Strand Pavilion Jetty remained within acceptable levels throughout the monitoring period, maintaining their status as safe options for swimming.
Enterococci bacteria are indicators of faecal contamination and can pose health risks if levels exceed safety thresholds.
Elevated readings often stem from factors like stormwater runoff, sewer overflows, or natural processes affecting water circulation.
Recreational exposure to high levels may result in illnesses such as skin irritations, ear infections, and gastrointestinal issues.
Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis, who led the reopening of the Gugulethu public swimming pool last week, emphasised the city’s proactive approach:
“We’ve achieved excellent water quality at Cape Town’s most popular beaches ahead of this holiday season. Our beaches are safe and clean, so go out and enjoy them responsibly!” he said.
