UKZN introduces website to monitor E.coli in Durban waters
UKZN’s Environmental Fluid Mechanics Lab has launched a website with information on safety of water at popular beaches in Durban.
The website called Woz'olwandle has been launched in the wake of increasing sewage pollution along the coastline.
It is also meant to provide relief to fears of E.coli levels at Durban beaches.
"While E.coli decays rapidly in a marine environment, making it a less-than-ideal indicator, harmful pathogens from sewage pollution may still be present and threaten human and aquatic health, causing diseases including cholera, dysentery, typhoid fever, and more," the university said in a statement.
Co-director Justin Pringle says it will assist to map out the quality and safety of water.
"This model was repurposed to process several data and estimate the concentrations of E.coli at six central Durban beaches over 24 hours, using a key of three ‘smiley’ icons in green, orange, or red to indicate whether conditions are ‘good’, acceptable’, or ‘poor’.”
