Visitors are advised that the main bathing area at Fish Hoek Beach has been closed until further notice. Picture: Henk Kruger/African News Agency (ANA).
The City closed the main bathing area at Fish Hoek Beach between the lifeguard station and Jager Walk on Monday January 2, due to a sewer overflow.
The City said the temporary closure was a precautionary measure and that a pipe blockage which had caused the overflow, has since been cleared.
“Items such as plastics and materials were removed from the sewer pipe. The public is reminded to not dump illegally, and rather dispose of their waste using available solid waste services or take recyclables to the City's drop-off facilities,” the City said in a media statement.
The beach was previously closed on Sunday December 18, also as a precautionary measure due to a blocked sewer pipe and reopened again on the next day.
“The City's Environmental Health Service has received water sampling results from Fish Hoek Beach, taken after the sewer spill, and can confirm that the results show that the water quality is within the minimum requirement for recreational activities as determined by the National Water Quality Guidelines,” the City had said at that time.
It said its jet truck had been dispatched to help reduce the impact of the overflow.
The City said its officials are monitoring the situation closely.
“City Health will be taking water samples on a daily basis for water quality testing until such time as the levels are within the minimum requirement for recreational activities as determined by the National Water Quality Guidelines.”
The members of the public are advised to avoid contact with the water in this section as the water could result in potential gastro-intestinal issues.
Health warning signs have been erected to inform the public of the situation.