Critically high E. Coli levels persist at Durban beaches

Reading Time: < 1 minute

The Institute for Water and Wastewater Technology (IWWT) has expressed concern over the critically high levels of E. coli bacteria in Durban beaches.

According to the Institute’s Director, Professor Faizal Bux, 11 of the 14 beaches tested along the Durban coastline presented extremely high levels of the bacteria.

The affected beaches include Ballito Tidal Pool, Westbrook Beach, Umdloti Beach, Glenashley Beach, Virginia Beach, Umgeni River, Umgeni River Mouth, Laguna Beach, Country Club Beach, Bay of Plenty, and Addington Beach.

Professor Bux attributes these high levels to inadequate maintenance of sewage pump station infrastructure.

Bux says, “We tested the beach water last week on Wednesday, the third of July, during the holiday season. We tested beaches all the way from the north of Durban up to Ushaka, and when we tested, we found that 11 out of the 14 beaches had critical levels of E. coli.”

Durban beaches flagged with critical levels of E. coli