The ‘no swimming’ advisory for the Kleinmond Estuary was lifted on Thursday, 10 March 2022 and the lagoon is open for recreational activities.

The Overberg District Municipality’s Health Department (ODM), who is responsible for recreational water quality for estuaries, are satisfied that the water is safe for public recreational use after re-sample results proved to be within allowable limits. Upon their instruction, the warning signage erected, were removed.

The Kleinmond Estuary was closed on 2 March 2022 after high levels of E.Coli and Enterococci were after the ODM’s water sampling programme during February 2022.

An investigation was requested by the Overstrand Municipal Manager, Dean O’Neill to find the source of the contamination and the following was found:

No spillage or malfunction was evident at the Kleinmond Tennis Courts Sewerage Pumpstation, and this was confirmed by inspecting the trends of the sump level on the telemetry system.

The Kleinmond Administration’s Operational Department then did an investigation on the sewer network for a possible source of contamination.

The Operational Department conducted line inspections of the area to determine what may have resulted in the high bacterial levels in the estuary. An overflowing manhole was discovered in the Heuningkloof area. The blockage was cleared, and flow restored. Neutralising enzymes were also distributed into the area. The water samples which were received on 10 March 2022, showed an improvement in quality and hence the decision to remove the warning signs.