Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-j824f Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-19T13:20:35.973Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

An appraisal of sewage pollution along a section of the Natal coast

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 May 2009

D. J. Livingstone
Affiliation:
National Institute for Water Research of the South African Council for Scientific and Industrial Research
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

A bacteriological survey was made on the distribution and occurrence of coliforms and pathogenic indicators of pollution within the surf-zone and near-shore waters along a section of the Natal Coast, prior to the use of submarine outfalls. The distance covered measured approximately 47 miles. The waters sampled and assessed ranged from ‘clean’ beaches to heavily polluted areas; a single short run off an Eastern Cape coastal region was included for comparative purposes. In all cases, the bacteriological picture was related to sanitary features on the shore. The method is based on Escherichia coli I counts, parasite units, staphylococci, salmonellas and salinity, and provides an objective approach to the assessment of any future changes in water quality consequent on development.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1969

References

REFERENCES

American Public Health Association, American Water Works Association and Water Pollution Control Federation (1960). Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Waste Water, 11th edn.New York: American Public Health Association, Inc.Google Scholar
Anon (1956). An Investigation of the Efficacy of Submarine Outfall Disposal of Sewage and Sludge, Publication no. 14. California: State Water Pollution Control Board.Google Scholar
Brand, P. A. J., Kemp, P. H., Pretorius, S. J. & Schoonbee, H. J. (1967). Water quality and abatement of pollution in Natal rivers. Natal Town and Regional Planning Report, Vol xiii, pt. 1 et seq.Google Scholar
Coetzee, O. J. & Fourie, N. A. (1965). The efficiency of conventional sewage purification works, stabilization ponds and maturation ponds with respect to the survival of pathogenic bacteria and indicator organisms. J. Proc. Inst. Sew. Purif. pt 3.Google Scholar
Difco Laboratories (1953). Difco Manual of Dehydrated Culture Media and Reagents for Microbiological and Clinical Laboratory Products, 9th ed. (reprinted 1963). Detroit: Difco Laboratories.Google Scholar
Difco Laboratories (1962). Difco Supplementary Literature. Detroit: Difco Laboratories.Google Scholar
Livingstone, D. J. (1965). An improved method for isolating salmonellae from polluted waters. Publ. Hlth, Johannesburg 65, 87.Google Scholar
McKee, S. E. & Wolf, H. W. (1963). Water Quality Criteria. Publication 3—A. California: State Water Quality Control Board.Google Scholar
Ministry of Health (1956). The bacteriological examination of water supplies. Rep. publ. Hlth med. Subj., Lond. no. 71.Google Scholar
Moore, B. (1954 a). A survey of beach pollution at a seaside resort. J. Hyg., Camb. 52, 71.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Moore, B. (1954 b). Sewage contamination of coastal bathing waters. Bull. Hyg., Lond. 29, 689.Google Scholar
Oliff, W. D., Berrisford, C. D., Turner, W. D., Ballard, J. A. & McWilliam, D. C. (1967 a). The ecology and chemistry of sandy beaches and nearshore submarine sediments of Natal. I. Pollution criteria for sandy beaches in Natal. Water Res. 1, 115.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Oliff, W. D., Berrisford, C. D., Turner, W. D., Ballard, J. A. & McWilliam, D. C. (1967 b). The ecology and chemistry of sandy beaches and nearshore submarine sediments of Natal. II. Pollution criteria for nearshore sediments of the Natal coast. Water Res. 1, 131.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stander, G. J., Oliff, W. D. & Livingstone, D. J. (1967). Problems in using the sea as part of a waste disposal system.Conference Paper no. 3.The Institute of Water Pollution Control:Annual Conference, June, 1967.Google Scholar
Taylor, E. W. (1958). The Examination of Waters and Water Supplies (Thresh, Beale and Suckling), 7th ed.London: J. A. Churchill Ltd.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
The Oxoid Division (1961). The Oxoid Manual of Culture Media, including Ingredients and and other Laboratory Services. 2nd ed.London: The Oxoid Division of Oxo Ltd.Google Scholar
Wilson, G. S. & Miles, A. A. (1964). Topley and Wilson's Principles of Bacteriology and Immunity, 5th ed.London: Edward Arnold Ltd.Google Scholar
Yotakis, L. (1959). The bacteriology of bathing beaches and the counting of Esch. coli and Strep. faecalis in sea-water (Trans.). Int. J. prophyl. Med. Soc. Hyg., Wien 3, 159.Google Scholar