The City closed Hout Bay Beach this week, after a sewage spill, then reopened it, claiming, puzzlingly, that it had been closed in error and that the water quality was fine while tests by an epidemiologist say otherwise.
The beach was closed as a “precautionary measure” on Tuesday October 8 until testing confirmed water quality was acceptable, said ward councillor Roberto Quintas.
“A pump station failure saw effluent entering the river system. This led to concerns around safety for bathers and beach goers. As a precautionary measure, the beach signage was erected,” he said.
The mouth of the river and lagoon area had been worst affected, he added.
Mayoral committee member for water and sanitation Zahid Badroodien confirmed that a rag had “blocked the suction at the Disa River pump station” on Thursday October 3, causing a sewage overflow into the Disa River.
“After removing the rag, the pumps resumed effective operation on Friday October 4. The Hout Bay pump station at the marine outfall was operational last week,“ he said.
However, mayoral committee member for spatial planning and environment Eddie Andrews said the beach had been closed in error.
“Hout Bay Beach has not been closed to users. A temporary water pollution sign was installed in error by the duty lifeguard who had misunderstood an instruction. This sign has since been removed.”
He said the City’s weekly monitoring of water conditions at sampling points on both the Chapman’s Peak side and Mariner’s Wharf side of Hout Bay Beach had found the water quality met national guidelines.
“Water sampling is ongoing and is done weekly. For the month of September, all samples showed good results for the Chapman’s Peak and Mariners Wharf side of the beach where people swim,” he said.
But, last year, a City coastal water quality report noted Hout Bay had one of the most polluted beaches on the Atlantic coastline, with the beach being rated “poor” for a second year in row (“Hout Bay’s pollution shame,” October 13 2023).
And this week, Eyewitness News reported that Stellenbosch University epidemiologist Dr Jo Barnes ran tests and found alarming levels of 8 million E. coli per 100 ml of water in the Disa River, which flows into Hout Bay Beach.
On Facebook, surfer Adam Collins, said: “You can see the poo floating in the water in certain areas, and the smell is really bad. We’re heading towards summer and this is a popular spot. Hopefully they can get this sorted because lots of people can get sick of this.”
Hout Bay ocean activist Paul Jacobsen said the City continuously denied water safety issues.
“Dr Barnes recently confirmed that the water is incredibly contaminated, and it’s irresponsible for the City not to put up massive signs. The problem is that people and toddlers are still playing at the mouth of the Disa River, and there’s no warning signs there. No-one knows the dangers of swimming in this water.
“The City should protect swimmers and recreational divers and advise them that they swim at their own risk, and its dangerous for their health.”
Dr Cleeve Robertson, CEO of the National Sea Rescue Institute, said the City was ignoring the health risks in light of Dr Barnes’s recent findings and should caution the public.
“We try to propagate this idea that our beaches are Blue Flag status and pristine, and it’s not the truth. People in Hout Bay and Camps Bay are swimming in very polluted environments, and they should not be swimming there, particularly children. People can get very sick.
“It’s the City’s responsibility to quantify the health risks and prove that the ocean is safe,“ he said.
Friends of the Rivers of Hout Bay member Jackie Whales said: “I think water quality tests immediately after a (pump) failure would be a good precaution to ensure the safety of our swimmers and beach goers. We intend to ask the City to implement this.”
