The Institute for Water and Wastewater Technology (IWWT) at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) conducted water quality tests at some of Durban’s popular beach destinations on Wednesday, 05 April 2023. The results from the six beaches under evaluation were varied, with one Durban beach showing critical levels of E.coli in the water that was sampled.
Professor Faizal Bux, Director of the Institute for Water and Wastewater Technology at DUT, confirmed that four beaches, Addington, Bay of Plenty, Umhlanga and Virginia had acceptable levels of E.coli in the water and tested as “Ideal.”
The water quality at Laguna Beach was “Poor” and the IWWT advises beachgoers at Laguna to swim and surf with caution.
The situation at Glenashley beach is much more serious, with the water quality being rated as “Critical” and the advice from the scientists at the IWWT is that Glenashley beach should not be used for recreational purposes.
The map and table below shows the location of the beaches that were part of the IWWT water quality tests and provides a table of the water quality interpretation.
Interpretation of results
Samples were obtained and analysed on the 05 April 2023. Microbiological water quality results are as follows:
|
Water quality |
Beaches |
Interpretation |
|
IDEAL
|
Umhlanga, Virginia, Bay of plenty, Addington
|
Acceptable levels for recreational purposes E.g. swimming, surfing etc. |
|
POOR
|
Laguna
|
Acceptable levels for recreational purposes with caution E.g. swimming, surfing etc. |
|
CRITICAL |
Glenashley |
Should not be used for recreational purposes |
Alan Khan
