The Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (Wessa) announced recently that three of KwaZulu Natal North Coast’s most popular beaches, Blythedale, Thompson’s Bay and Willard Beach, have been awarded Blue Flag status.
With water and sanitation services causing concern across the country and eThekwini suffering from sustained periods of beach closure, the North Coast has prioritised sustained water safety for visitors and residents, a major priority for the community.
Not only are the beaches subject to stringent weekly water quality testing, but the area also boasts one of just two private suppliers of water and sanitation services in South Africa.
Safe beaches
The Ballito Urban Improvement Precinct (UIP), supported by local residential estates, oversees a weekly water-quality testing regime across eight beaches and four tidal pools in the region.
Consistent testing is important, to provide assurance that the beaches are safe, but also to identify issues early on and quickly resolve them, according to Jade Harding of the Ballito UIP.
He noted that the independent and accredited laboratory testing run by BN Kirk aimed to ensure ‘ideal’-rated water quality for swimming, surfing and other ocean activities. “‘Ideal’ is the highest ranking a beach can receive and relates to the level of colony-forming units (CFUs) per 100ml. E.coli is a well-known example of a CFU.” ‘Ideal’ levels are classified as less than 250 CFUs per 100ml, while ‘Acceptable’ is between 250 and 500, ‘Poor’ is over 500, with ‘Critical’ levels exceeding 2 900.
All the beaches on the northern coastline currently rank in the ‘ideal’ category and, as such, are safe for in-water activities. Although rainfall, sea currents, strong winds, and high seas can cause test results to vary, the trend is what is most critical. The testing programme is run independently, and the results are available publicly through the Ballito UIP. This aligns with global best practice and World Health Organization guidance.
Proactive Partnership
The North Coast’s record of beach, water and sanitation safety is the result of a proactive private sector that works in partnership with the KwaDukuza and Ilembe Municipalities.
Ballito UIP is a private-sector partnership that works in close partnership with the KwaDukuza Municipality to bring out the best that the area has to offer.
Everyone involved was working to ensure the best possible festive season experience for residents and holidaymakers alike, said Harding.
