ONRUS RIVER ESTUARY RECREATIONAL WATER QUALITY
The water is routinely sampled and laboratory tested for E.coli and enterococci, which are recognised indicators of possible faecal pollution. The fitness of the water for recreational activity is assessed, in accordance with Department of Environmental Affairs guidelines, and classified into one of the following four categories:
The current recreational water quality is classified as:
The risk of contracting gastrointestinal infection from swimming is:
For more information about recreational water quality, click here
To view a graph of E.coli and enterococci levels, click here
- ONRUS RIVER ESTUARY MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY
- ONRUS ESTUARINE MANAGEMENT PLAN VISION
- ONRUS ESTUARINE MANAGEMENT PLAN OBJECTIVES
- MAJOR CONCERN: RECREATIONAL WATER QUALITY
ONRUS RIVER ESTUARY MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY The National Estuarine Management Protocol (NEMP), allocates the responsibility for coordinating the management of the estuary to the Overstrand Municipality. With co-funding from a private source, the municipality commissioned the drafting of the Onrus River Estuarine Management Plan (EMP), which sets out a vision, objectives and strategy for looking after the estuary. Although the Onrus estuary falls wholly within the boundaries of the Overstrand Local Municipality, there is an unfortunate lack of clarity in the Integrated Coastal Management Act (ICMA) regarding delegations to local governments. Intergovernmental processes are under way to resolve the issue. As a consequence, the Onrus estuary, and all other estuaries within the Overstrand, currently has no government management authority actively coordinating estuary management activities. Civil society organisations have established the Onrus River Estuary Forum (OREF) to aid the coordination of government agencies responsible for the various estuarine management activities and to monitor the implementation of EMP. The OREF works in accordance with a constitution, guided by a code of conduct. OREF is in the process of becoming registered with the Department of Social Development as a Non-Profit Organisation, and with the SA Revenue Services as a Public Benefit Organisation. OREF currently has no funding and all its work is done voluntarily by representatives from civil society organisation. In brief, the Onrus River Estuary EMP vision and objectives are:
ONRUS ESTUARINE MANAGEMENT PLAN VISION “The Onrus Estuary is a healthy and functioning ecosystem with good water quality that is safe for recreational use, contributes positively to the local sense of place, and together with the sandy beach at the estuary mouth, is effectively managed for the benefit of future generations”
ONRUS ESTUARINE MANAGEMENT PLAN OBJECTIVES
- Enhance recreational utility of the estuary by improving biotic water quality and through appropriate management of read growth
- Improve estuary health by restoring and maintaining ecosystem functioning, improving abiotic water quality and increasing water quantity
- Retain sense of place through rehabilitation and maintenance of natural habitat
- Increase awareness and appreciation of the ecological importance, economic value and management requirements of the estuary
- Harmonious and effective governance through clearly defining institutional arrangements and facilitating improved and maintained coordination between responsible government agencies
MAJOR CONCERN: RECREATIONAL WATER QUALITY In common with many estuaries in an urban setting, the Onrus River Estuary’s ecological functions have been severely affected by anthropological influences. Eutrophication, dramatically reduced water flows, discharging of storm water and sewage system design and management problems have led to ecosystem degradation, reed infestation and poor recreational water quality. These are the major challenges that the OREF and government agencies must deal with in order for the EMP vision to be realised. The most urgent of these challenges is to restore the recreational water quality to acceptable levels for safe swimming. Currently, the indicators used to gauge the level of faecal pollution in in the estuary imply that the recreational water quality is unacceptable, according to accepted norms (Ref: DEA, 2012. South African Water Quality Guidelines for Coastal Marine Water. Volume 2: Guidelines for Recreational Use. Department of Environmental Affairs, South Africa). For an explanation of how recreational water quality is assessed, with reference to the DEA guidelines, refer to Sue Matthews’ Basic Introduction to Bacterial Indicators of Faecal Pollution. Bacteriological tests are routinely done to monitor the human health risks associated with swimming in all the estuaries in the Overstrand. A graph showing an analysis of the E.coli and Enterococci levels at the mouth of the Onrus River Estuary can be viewed by clicking here. Referring to the DEA guidelines for recreational use of coastal waters, the risk of contracting a gastrointestinal infection through recreational use of the Onrus River Estuary is greater than 8.5%. In the event of a suspected or known sewage spillage that might affect the quality of the water for recreational use, a warning will be posted on this website.
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