Evaluating Nahoon Beach and Canal Waters in Eastern Cape, South Africa: A Public Health Concern

Abstract

Contamination of water resources by pathogens due to ever increasing anthropogenic activities and the related disease burden remains a major concern of water quality globally. This study evaluated the physicochemical and microbiological quality indices of Nahoon Beach and its canal waters in South Africa over a period of 12 months (September 2014 to August 2015). Water samples were collected biweekly from 6 sampling points (3 on the beach and 3 on the canal) and analyzed using standard methods. The physicochemical qualities of the beach and canal waters ranged as follows: turbidity 3.3-99.9 NTU, temperature 15-25ºC, pH 7-10, electrical conductivity 30.0-741.7 µS/cm, and total dissolved solids 19-546 mg/l. As for microbial counts of the water samples, Escherichia coli counts ranged in the order of 10 1-10 3 CFU/100 ml while Enterococcus counts varied in the order of 10 1-10 2 CFU/100 ml. This study underscores the need for the protection of recreational water resources to safeguard public health.

Faecal bacterial contamination of rivers: Evolution, suitability, and health risk implications for recreational use

“…In the understanding of our methodology is restricted to a microbiological limit of quantification (1 MPN•100 mL −1 and 2419.6 MPN•100 mL −1 ) and that could be exceeded, it should be noted that our results (Figure 2) agree with previous data in the regions. In addition, Abia et al (2016) and Ebomah et al (2019) reported similar values of E. coli in water samples of rivers, which have been linked to health risks for recreational water…”

“…Moreover, Sunger and Haas (2015) predicted a health risk of 5.2 × 10 -2 to 10 -3 for recreational water use in the rivers of Philadelphia (USA). Some studies have exhibited an increased health risk (0.28-0.52) for aquatic recreational activities in South Africa (Ebomah et al, 2019). The variation in estimated health risk depends on the data and model employed.…”

Occurrence and Risk Assessment of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers in Surface Water and Sediment of Nahoon River Estuary, South Africa

“…Final e uents discharged at Bats Cave into the Indian Ocean, in the middle of Eastern beach and Nahoon, and by the East Bank Reclamation Works, East London, South Africa, can cause the e uents to disperse onto both shores by wave action (Cotiyane et al, 2017;Ebomah et al, 2019;Momba et al, 2006). A report also showed that the e uent was discharged in Nahoon River due to an electrical fault (Osode, 2007).…”