Surveys monitoring the sea and beaches in the vicinity of Durban, South Africa: A case study

A microbiological surveillance programme was initiated in Durban, South Afr ica, to provide an objective assessment of changes in the local seawater qu ality before and after the commissioning of two submarine outfalls in 1969 and has been ongoing until the present day. A classification system includi ng Escherichia coli I, helminthic parasite ova, pathogenic staphylococci, s almonellae, shigellae, and salinity was used. This system, functioning as a n audit, has proved useful in detecting problem areas which may have passed unnoticed in the routine E coli I assessments performed by the Durban Muni cipality. The salient features that have manifested themselves are (a) alte rations in the seawater quality have been shown to be invariably a conseque nce of changes effected upon the shore or meteorological events and (b) tha t measuring more than one indicator of water quality, plus the use of salin ity as a physical parameter for assessing the dilution or impairment of pri stine seawater, has proved valuable. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd on behalf of the IAWQ. All rights reserved.