* Overstrand Ward 11
READ AND WEEP!
KLEIN RIVER ESTUARY WATER TEST RESULTS
On 03.02.11 Stanford Jetty recorded 840 and the Yacht Club recorded 1150 Enterococcus /100ml
World Health Organisation states anything above 185/100ml is a high risk health hazard.
South Africa has the same standards.
(read further below pictures - taken 27 Feb 2011)
ENTEROCOCCUS
Enterococcus is a genus of lactic acid bacteria of the phylum Firmicutes. Enterococci are Gram-positive cocci that often occur in pairs (diplococci) or short chains and are difficult to distinguish from Streptococci on physical characteristics alone.[1] Two species are common commensal organisms in the intestines of humans: E. faecalis (90-95%) and E. faecium (5-10%). There are rare clusters of infections with other species including E. casseliflavus, E. raffinosus.[1]
In bodies of water, the acceptable level of contamination is very low, for example in the state of Hawaii, with among the strictest tolerances in the United States, the limit for water off its beaches is 7 colony-forming units per 100 ml of water, above which the state may post warnings to stay out of the ocean. In 2004, Enterococcus spp. took the place of fecal coliform as the new federal standard for water quality at public beaches. It is believed to provide a higher correlation than fecal coliform with many of the human pathogens often found in city sewage.
Pictures showing algae blooms and decomposing algae evidence of excessive nitrate and phosphate run-off from agriculture up stream on the Klein River.
Global Standard agreements
Internationally, the use of ‘single’ target values for microbiological indicator/s to classify recreational waters as either ‘safe’ or ‘unsafe’ is no longer considered appropriate. Rather, an approach of applying a range of target values for appropriate microbiological indicators, corresponding to different levels of risk, is used. This approach has been adopted by the World Health Organisation, New Zealand and the European Union. It supports the principle of informed personal choice and allows for setting achievable improvement targets for high-risk areas.185 (90 percentile)
Action (Red) Mode: single sample count > 280 enterococci/100 ml
· Increase sampling to daily (using 2nd sample to confirm problem)
· Consult sanitary inspection checklist to assist with problem identification
· Conduct a sanitary survey to confirm source of contamination and take action appropriate
mitigation measures
· Inform public through media/signage of health risk
NB: On 03.02.11 Stanford Jetty recorded 840 and the Yacht Club recorded 1150 Enterococci /100ml
