Cape Town - A sewage pump failure in Camps Bay that resulted in discharge into the ocean has forced the continued closure of the beach as water quality testing is under way.
A loose flange, used to connect pipes on pump 1, caused a failure at the station and was detected by the City.
While repairs are in the final stages, water and sanitation mayco member Zahid Badroodien said pump 2 is active and the pump station has resumed normal operations.
The City’s department of health will take water samples until it meets the National Water Quality Guidelines for safe recreational activities.
“The quick response from our team has meant that, although untenable, the impact on our environment was kept to a minimum. However, given the earlier need to discharge into the surf zone, water contact will temporarily remain restricted along stretches of the beach until water testing results are compliant.
“City Health will take water samples to test the quality until it meets the National Water Quality Guidelines for safe recreational activities.
“We appreciate the public’s co-operation during this time and will advise when water contact can resume along the affected section,” Badroodien said.
Camps Bay Ratepayers and Residents Association Chris Willemse said the incident was concerning.
“We have been advocating against the use of these pump stations for more than a decade and this is another example of the problems that they can cause. This proves that there’s no proper sewage treatment,” Willemse said. Conservation NPO, Water Quality Awareness, said there was a need to establish a Water Quality Flag System akin to the Shark Spotters programme, to warn users of the environmental health risks associated with poor recreational water quality status.
“As initially proposed at the Strand Surf Lifesaving Club in November 2022, the proposal of establishing a Water Quality Flag System has been supported by both Lifesaving Cape Town and NSRI, willing to facilitate this.
“The flag status of Blue, Green, Amber and Red are self-explanatory, based upon the CoCT Coastal Water Data Reports which are sadly showing a decline of water quality testing results from the 307km of Peninsula coastline monitored, with an increase of the results which indicates the City has stopped testing,” the organisation wrote on Facebook.