The Rietvlei Water Area within the Table Bay Nature Reserve has been closed to the public since 17 March 2017, following an outbreak of a blue-green algal bloom. The City continued to monitor the water quality over the past three months by conducting daily visual observations, as well as collecting and analysing water samples each week.

The critical parameters that were being evaluated during this time included blue-green algae (Cyanophyceae) cell counts, chlorophyll-a levels, as well as microcystin toxin levels. All of these parameters continued to exceed the World Health Organisation (WHO) standards for recreational waters where the possibility of ingesting contaminated water existed.

Thanks to some rainfall, the recent results have continued to present a decreasing trend in all levels, including the blue-green algae cell counts, chlorophyll-a levels, and microcystin toxin levels. During this time, no green, blue-green, white or brown foam, scum or mats floating on the surface of the water were observed.

While this trend confirmed that the Rietvlei Water Area could be reopened to the public, the City wants to advise that the situation could change at any time – and if so, we will immediately notify the public accordingly.

We want to encourage residents and visitors to please report any slight changes to the water, such as scum formations at Rietvlei, to help the City act as swiftly as possible.

The City will continue to monitor the water quality. As stated above, we will notify the public should water conditions deteriorate to levels outside of the general guidelines.

The City apologises for any inconvenience caused by the prolonged closure which was done in the interest of the safety of the general public. We also want to reiterate that the City does not encourage the consumption of fish caught from any of the water bodies under our management.