Erosion concerns at Blue Lagoon

THE April floods of 2022 left widespread damage across Durban and surrounds. While the City has taken steps to repair damaged infrastructure, one area where damage has yet to be repaired is Blue Lagoon, where the floods also led to the worsening contamination of the uMngeni River with a rise of E. coli levels.

In August last year, the situation came to a head when hundreds of dead fish were found floating between Athlone Bridge and the uMngeni River mouth at Blue Lagoon. The floods also saw a change to the shape of the estuary mouth at Blue Lagoon and subsequently affected the Beachwood Mangroves Nature Reserve. Part of the promenade walkway under Ellis Brown Viaduct Bridge was also damaged with heavy rocks being displaced as well as damage occurring to the concrete slabbing.

Also read: WATCH: What a water-testing kit reveals about the Umbilo River

Fisherman Sohail Mahbeer said debris was washing up into the cracked paving, attracting rats to the area.

“When the tide comes in, a lot of the debris from the river gets stuck because of the pathway being broken here. Normally, it would wash out if the path was fixed, but because it’s been broken, from the time we had the floods, all the debris is piling up. There are milk bottles, pieces of rags and clothes that just stay here – the municipality doesn’t really pick up [the debris],” he said.

Mahbeer said he visits the area twice a week to fish.
“It’s a hobby for me. It’s a hobby where you want to relax – not see all this debris. We also lose money because our equipment gets stuck in all the debris in the water. The rat problem is very bad because of all the dirt. There are massive rats going around here all the time,” he added.

Mahbeer fishes recreationally and says he would not feel comfortable eating the fish he catches due to the contamination in the water.
“There are a lot of small fish. Big fish seem to have died off over the years. I catch and release,” he said.

Also read: Mayor shares progress report after 2022 floods

Riverbank erosion

Janet Simpkins, founder of the non-profit organisation (NPO) and environmental body, Adopt-a-River, said the estuary mouth has changed, and water flow has been redirected, causing erosion to the edge of the walkway along Blue Lagoon. This has led to the collapse of concrete slabbing and in some cases, the removal of rocks used to protect the walkway.

“There is now more force from the sea at that particular point – rather than flowing through a wider river mouth, water is concentrated through a narrower space. It needs to be looked at carefully by an engineer so the riverbanks don’t erode further. We are always going to find waste, and it’s always found its way into the rocks. We have a never-ending flow of plastic coming down the uMngeni River. Unfortunately, E. coli levels are still very high – still at an unacceptable level, which is an environmental concern on its own,” she said.

The eThekwini Municipality was not available for comment at the time of going to press.

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