City confirms Hout Bay beach water quality meets national water guidelines
A post has been making the rounds on social media that the beach has been closed.
Picture: Ostariyanov/123rf.com
Lester Kiewit interviews Gregg Oelofse, City of Cape Town’s Coastal Manager.
Listen below.
On Monday (7 October 2024), Dr. Jo Barnes from the University of Stellenbosch alerted CapeTalk to the alarming levels of contaminants found in the Disa River, which flows into Hout Bay beach.
Her team's research highlights the significant pollution affecting this waterway.
RELATED: Cape Town, be warned! Raw sewage is contaminating Hout Bay Beach
Oelofse notes that once the Disa River reaches the lower Hout Bay Valley, it becomes heavily polluted – a situation that has persisted for some time.
He explains that while this level of pollution is typical for urban rivers, the sea assimilates the water rapidly.
"While the river is polluted, the two corners of the beach where people do swim and recreate, the water quality actually meets the National Water guidelines."
- Gregg Oelofse, Coastal Manager – City of Cape Town
As a rule of thumb, Oelofse says that if there's an urban river, such as the Disa River, it's recommended not to swim at the river mouth and to swim at least 150 metres each side of the river.
Although not confirmed by the City, a post has been making the rounds on social media sharing that the beach has been closed.
Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview.