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The Knysna Municipality is facing several concerns over water safety in and around the coastal holiday town.
It came to light recently that not only have E.coli levels in the Swartvlei Estuary exceeded acceptable levels, but that Knysna residents’ have also created a situation where untreated water could end up in the municipal supply.
Municipal manager Lauren Waring said readings taken by the Eden district health department had shown high levels of E.coli in the estuary and that they were working with the department to find a possible cause.
"Acceptable levels for recreational areas are between 0 - 500 to 100ml [consentration], and the last reading was more than 2419 per 100ml. We have been doing regular inspections at buildings on the water's edge to make sure there is no sewerage contamination, and Eden's team is investigating possible contamination points higher up river,” Waring said.
Spokesman for the Garden Route National Park Nandi Mgwadlamba said the E. coli-counts had been high for the last three readings.
"In the interim we have agreed to put up signboards to alert swimmers not to swim in certain areas should there be no change in the sample readings," Mgwadlamba said.
Waring said it was highly unlikely that the problem would be solved without creating water flow. "Standing water has a natural tendency to become contaminated quickly, even without people swimming and using it, or living in close proximity. The warmer weather we are experiencing will only add to the problem. I want to urge the public to be cautious, and rather make use of the beaches in the area until the readings come down to within the acceptable levels. "
In the meantime residents with alternative water sources including rain water tanks and boreholes have been urged to register these sources on the municipality’s database after it came to light that some were connecting their tanks and boreholes to their household supply. "While many residents mainly use these alternative sources to water the garden and wash their cars, some residents have taken it a step further, connecting these sources to their household supply," Louise Hart, chairman for the planning, infrastructure and development committee said.
"This water is mainly used in washing machines, dishwashers and bathrooms. But there is a possibility that this untreated water may enter the municipal supply, mixing with and compromising the potable water supplied by the municipality.”
She added that the municipality’s water by-law was clear on the matter and prohibited residents from doing so.
"We are mandated to supply treated, potable water that meets specific standards for consumption to our consumers and when water from spikes, boreholes or rainwater tanks enters our system, it pollutes this water. An easy and practical way to avoid this situation is for residents who make use of these alternative sources to implement a dual system where the two supply systems function independently."
