Nahoon Beach was closed yesterday morning after sewage streamed into the sea near Bat’s Cave at the weekend.
The fast-flowing spillage even caused parts of a dune through which it flowed to collapse, before gushing out onto the beach and into the ocean.
Buffalo City Metro (BCM) spokesman Thandy Matebese said vandalism was suspected. He said engineers were working on it.
He said a failure had occurred on the non-return valve of a chamber at the city pump station pumping main and that BCM was investigating the cause.
“Affected beaches will be closed as a precautionary measure and the required water tests will be undertaken to ensure water quality standards are met for water users,” he said.
When the Daily Dispatch visited Nahoon Beach yesterday afternoon, it was business as usual with surfers in the water, people strolling on the beach and swimming flags in place.
Save Nahoon activist Kevin Harris inspected the site where the spill had caused dune slumping, but said sewage was no longer flowing yesterday afternoon.
“There is a massive valley through the reserve due to the spill,” said Harris.
“With the Easterly flow, most of it will go to Eastern Beach.
“The pipes have also been undermined and workers are trying to restore support under the main outfall pipe that takes the sewage out to sea.”
He said the spill had washed “tons of sand” onto the beach near Bat’s Cave. — barbarah@dispatch.co.za
Beach forced to close after sewage torrent
The fast-flowing spillage even caused parts of a dune through which it flowed to collapse, before gushing out onto the beach and into the ocean.
Buffalo City Metro (BCM) spokesman Thandy Matebese said vandalism was suspected. He said engineers were working on it.
He said a failure had occurred on the non-return valve of a chamber at the city pump station pumping main and that BCM was investigating the cause.
“Affected beaches will be closed as a precautionary measure and the required water tests will be undertaken to ensure water quality standards are met for water users,” he said.
When the Daily Dispatch visited Nahoon Beach yesterday afternoon, it was business as usual with surfers in the water, people strolling on the beach and swimming flags in place.
Save Nahoon activist Kevin Harris inspected the site where the spill had caused dune slumping, but said sewage was no longer flowing yesterday afternoon.
“There is a massive valley through the reserve due to the spill,” said Harris.
“With the Easterly flow, most of it will go to Eastern Beach.
“The pipes have also been undermined and workers are trying to restore support under the main outfall pipe that takes the sewage out to sea.”
He said the spill had washed “tons of sand” onto the beach near Bat’s Cave. — barbarah@dispatch.co.za
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