Firm that conducted water quality test at New Brighton Beach in Gqeberha warns beachgoers to avoid contact with water
It said that it found alarmingly high levels of E.coli in the samples tested. Municipal authorities closed the beach on 14 December.
New Brighton Beach in Gqeberha. Picture: Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism
JOHANNESBURG - A public health and food safety consultancy firm in Nelson Mandela Bay warned that contaminated water was a serious public health risk.
ASC Public Health and Food Safety conducted a water quality study of the New Brighton Beach in November.
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It said that it found alarmingly high levels of E.coli in the samples tested.
Municipal authorities closed the beach on 14 December.
ASC said that the alarmingly high levels of contaminated water worsened because of the direct flow of untreated sewage water in outdated infrastructure.
The firm’s Mthokozisi Nkosi said that beachgoers in this area should avoid contact with the water.
"We would strongly recommend that people avoid it because it could be a major source of waterborne diseases such as diarrhea, dysentery and typhoid fever. And if you look at the studies, there is a strong correlation between fecal indicator bacterial levels and the incidents of gastrointestinal illnesses among swimmers."
The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality has not responded to EWN’s request for comment.
It’s unclear when the New Brighton Beach will reopen.