Water Quality Guidelines

DEA March 2012

“The ultimate goal in the management of coastal systems is to keep the resources suitable for all designated uses, both existing and future. this includes the ‘use’of designated areas for biodiversity protection and ecosystem functioning.”

“In order to manage coastal systems effectively so that they remain suitable for designated uses, objectives and measurable targets should be set for the different factors defining the integrity of the coastal system taking into account the requirements of designated uses…”

DEA March 2012

“The South African Water Quality Guidelines for Coastal Marine Waters was first published by the the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, in 1995, to ensure that coastal water quality is effectively manged in the interest of the public. the Department of Environmental Affairs has taken the initiative to review and update these Guidelines pertaining to recreational use. This document contains a summary of the revised guidelines for coastal waters in South Africa. The guidelines are aimed at assisting local authorities and stakeholders to better assess and manage the suitability of recreational waters…”

Second Edition, 1996

“The South African Water Quality Guidelines are used by the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry as its primary source of information and decision-support to judge the fitness for use of water and for other water quality management purposes.””The South African Water Quality Guidelines contains information on the ideal water quality for water uses and provides background information to help users of the guidelines make informed judgments about the fitness of water for use…”