Publications
Partners
Durban - Quality of the water at Midmar Dam is of great concern with the annual Midmar Mile taking place this weekend where thousands of swimmers will be competing.
Wayne Riddin, the race director, tasked a safety team with assessing the risks of the water in the dam.
A call was made to the Dusi Umgeni Conservation Trust (DUCT) with assistance from the KwaZulu-Natal Canoe Union (KNCU), Umgeni Water and the Department of Water Affairs who knows the environmental releases from dams on the uMngeni River.
"Not much can be concluded from a single sample as the presence of bacteria is variable in any naturally occurring body of water. For this reason a number of samples were taken," David Still, chairman of DUCT, said.
A series of water samples were done and it was taken to the Umgeni Water laboratories for testing.
The independent test results showed that low levels of nutrients were detected in the water which is not indicative of a health threat.
Riddin offered to drink a glass of water from Midmar Dam to show his faith in the quality of the water where swimmers will take part in the world largest swimming event this weekend.
