Water quality in Zandvlei "best its been in the last 10 years"

Lester Kiewit speaks to Kyron Wright, Reserve Supervisor at Zandvlei about reports that water quality is improving in Zandvlei, following years of declining standards.

Following a recent meeting at the Zandvlei Protect Areas Advisory Committee, it was heard that the water quality at Zandvlei "has improved greatly in recent months."

In fact, the meeting recorded that "it's probably the best its been in the last 10 years." 

"Zandvlei is the only functioning estuary on the False Bay coastline."

- Kyron Wright, Reserve Supervisor - Zandvlei

90% of Cape Town rivers flow into Zandvlei but it sits in an "urban catchment" which affects the water quality.

"Historically, Zandvlei sits in an urban catchment so the water quality is rarely an indicator in terms of the health of the catchment. 90% of the rivers in Cape Town flow into Zandvlei. We've gone from intense urban pressures from water quality, nutrient and e-coli levels, litter, and solid waste comes down the rivers and affects the vlei - 10 to 12 years ago, this was all culminating featuring on the break of the vlei."

- Kyron Wright, Reserve Supervisor - Zandvlei

To save the vlei, several interventions were put in place to get the vlei to "the best it's been in 10 years." 

Wright says, this success is attributed to "managing the mouth of the river better, collaboration and public pressure."

"There's no one magic silver bullet action being taken but we've become much better at managing the mouth of the estuary like knowing when to open and close it, leading to greater sea water exposure with the ocean."

- Kyron Wright, Reserve Supervisor - Zandvlei

"Our salinity profile has been increasing drastically over the last 10 years. Through collaboration with our Protective Area Advisory Committee, we lowered the veer at the estuary which allows for more sea water in and out."

- Kyron Wright, Reserve Supervisor - Zandvlei

"Political backing, public pressure and the attention that water systems has been receiving on a variety of platforms has catapulted our collaboration too."

- Kyron Wright, Reserve Supervisor - Zandvlei

Since these changes were made, the estuary has seen changes in:

• Hydrochemistry: salinity levels, dissolved oxygen, stability and water clarity 
• Bio indicators: bird and fish populations, sand form populations have returned

"Currently, our ecological indicators are looking really good. Plants, aquatic birds and fish populations are returning to the vlei."

- Kyron Wright, Reserve Supervisor - Zandvlei

The improvement in water quality is a sign to "keep going" and keep it at "the best its ever been."

"When we say the water quality is the best it's been in 10 years, it's not a chance to pat ourselves on the back, it's a sign to keep going, there's so more we need to do."

- Kyron Wright, Reserve Supervisor - Zandvlei

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview.