The North Coast of KwaZulu-Natal is ready and raring to welcome holidaymakers this festive season. And yes – the water is safe.
Shyam Misra, CEO of the Siza Water Company further confirmed that the water and sanitation infrastructure is in good shape. ‘We serve about 80 000 people on the North Coast, which expands to up to 200 000 people for five to six weeks of the year during holiday peak seasons. We have infrastructure that allows capacity to manage this service delivery and the ability to quickly respond to maintenance issues as they arise,’ he commented.
Picture: Getaway gallery
‘We look forward to welcoming our regular visitors as well as those who may not have visited for some time due to the pandemic,’ said Jade Harding of the Ballito Urban Improvement Precinct (BUIP). ‘There has been so much exciting change in the area in the past few years and we have been focused on ensuring that we are ready to extend a warm and pristine welcome. Great news is that three of our beaches have been accorded Blue Flag status for the 2022-2023 season, and this is evidence of the exceptional quality the North Coast delivers.’
The Blue Flag beaches are the popular Blythedale, Thompson’s Bay, and Willard Beaches. Not only are the beaches subject to stringent weekly water quality testing by the independent and accredited laboratory testing run by BN Kirk, but the area also boasts one of the few private suppliers of water and sanitation services through the Siza Water Company.
READ: Spend your festive season along the sunny iLembe-North Coast
Picture: Juanita Swart from Unsplash
‘Our Blue Flag beaches are certainly points of pride, but it is important to know that all of our beaches are consistently tested to ensure ideal rated water quality for swimming, surfing, and fishing. Regular water sampling undertaken by the UIP is enabled in partnership with a number of North Coast living estates,’ added Harding.
Picture: Martie Bloem from Unsplash
The Ballito UIP is a private-sector partnership that works in close partnership with the KwaDukuza Municipality to bring out the best that the area has to offer. Thierry Leclezio from the Ballito UIP explained, ‘We start preparing for the season in August/September to get things in order, coordinating with the municipality to ensure that the beaches are tidy, that we have the necessary security in place, and that any special maintenance projects are complete. There is a big engine driving this whole thing and a really collaborative approach.’
Everyone involved in making the region a wonderful destination is working together to ensure the best possible experience for everyone who makes it their destination.
Follow us on social media for more travel news, inspiration, and guides. You can also tag us to be featured.
TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
ALSO READ: Happy wallet, happy holidays: Seychelles on a budget
