KNYSNA NEWS - A bleak and tainted picture of Knysna's E. coli levels, estuary and deteriorating infrastructure has been painted by DA mayoral candidate Levael Davis and ChooseCx Ward 10 councillor candidate Andrew Stuart.
However, while the figures and concerns raised point to challenges facing the municipality, the Knysna Infrastructure Group (KIG) says significant remedial work has already been undertaken in collaboration with the municipality.
ChooseCx raises sewer concerns
Stuart, in a recent social media post, highlighted municipal water quality reports, infrastructure documents, a Western Cape Government engineering assessment and the 2026/27 municipal budget.
He noted that the recreational guideline used in municipal reports is 500 E. coli per 100ml. Figures he cited included March readings of 45 600 at Salt River, 35 600 at the railway station, 9 300 at Costa Sarda, 5 800 at Bongani and 5 700 at Long Street.
The railway station reading reached 99 000 in April, while Bongani recorded 19 500 in May. Stuart said July testing continued to show non-compliant readings at several locations.
He also cited a September 2025 Western Cape Government engineering assessment of 67 sewer pump stations.
According to the assessment, 11 were fully functional, 32 operational but without required backup pumps, and 24 non-functional.
Of 136 pumps identified as required, 56 were functional, 28 non-functional and 50 had been removed, while two could not be assessed.
Stuart questioned whether municipal allocations, including R15m for wastewater treatment works refurbishment, R30m for pump station upgrades and R11.6m for the CBD sewer system, would be sufficient.
KIG highlights work undertaken
KIG founder and chairperson Eugene Vermaak provided a contrasting account, saying numerous matters had been addressed since September 2025.
More than 200 sewer network and pump station interventions had been undertaken since November 2025. Vermaak said KIG spent R333 714.72 on pump repairs between February and August, with 21 pump stations repaired or replaced.
He said KIG and the municipality had repaired more than 50 pump stations since November, excluding municipal work through alternative suppliers.
KIG has also spent R1 012 596 on the Estuary Charter since November 2025, according to Vermaak. He further said that KIG and municipal technical staff work together daily, responding to pump station failures and vandalism and checking critical stations to prevent overflows.
Vermaak acknowledged that infrastructure challenges remain, with sustainable funding an ongoing obstacle. Immediate priorities include rehabilitating a sewerage line near the dump site, electrical work at the Simola no 9 pump station and measures to protect water quality in the Salt River channel.
DA says report shows estuary in crisis
Davis said after relentless DA pressure, the municipality finally released the September 2026 estuary report, which he says showed the estuary is in crisis.
Davis said the total E. coli count across all sites have more than doubled from 49 227 in July to 101 987 in September, and called it a public health and economic emergency.
Compared with September 2025, six of eight recreational sites have deteriorated. Costa Sarda exploded to 26 900/100ml from 170/100ml, Green Hole - where children swim - rose to 1 010/100ml from 40/100ml, Salt River remains nearly 20 times the safe limit at 9 500/100ml, Crabs Creek increased to 135/100ml from 4/100ml, the Heads to 70/100ml from 29/100ml and Belvidere to 16/100ml from 8/100ml.
Only Lake Brenton and Bollard Bay have improved
At the culverts, none are compliant. Bongani surged to 46 000/100ml from 7 200/100ml last year, Queen Street stands at 10 000/100ml, Long Street at 4 100/100ml, angling association at 2 100/100ml, the railway station at 1 430/100ml and Bigai at 690/100ml.
Davis said the pollution threatens tourism, fishing, swimming and the Chukka Festival (water polo), the town's third largest tourism event.
The DA's 5P (5 pledges) plan proposes a zero-discharge policy, monthly public testing, a two-year estuary recovery programme, an independent pipe assessment, rapid response teams, a 30-day pump station audit and 24/7 Scada monitoring.
Knysna Municipality was approached for comment on 7 September, but response from the Acting Director of Infrastructure Services, Mpumelelo Nzuzo, is still being awaited.
The competing positions highlight documented infrastructure concerns alongside remedial work already under way.
Ultimately, the effectiveness of these interventions will be measured by sustained pump-station functionality, fewer wastewater failures and improved E. coli readings in the Knysna Estuary.
‘We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news’
