The last water quality reading in the Pietermaritzburg area was:

Sample Site	11/12/2012	18/12/2012	24/12/2012	02/01/2013	08/01/2013	15/01/2013	22//01/2013	29//01/2013	05//0/2013	11//0/2013
Camps Drift Bridge	15530	24190	-	24190	20100	5000	11200	17330	15530	24190
Dusi above Darvill WWW	14140	19860	1900	12030	13000	7700	4610	5170	7270	12030
Campbell's Farm takeout	29100	8900	2900	6100	26100	6700	13700	6900	6800	8600

Current readings

Date	River	Area	E.coli level	Water Quality Rating
11/02/2013	uMsunduzi	Camps Drift bridge	24190
		Campbell's Farm t/o	8600

                        

Paddling is defined as a secondary contact sport and internationally the accepted safe level is 2 000 E.coli per 100ml. However, on the uMsundusi and uMngeni Rivers paddlers often paddle with higher E.coli levels without suffering any ill effects. In years when the quality of the Dusi has been 10 000 or lower, the incidence of “Dusi guts” during events such as the Dusi Canoe Marathon has been low. In years when it has been high (in the 20 000 to 100 000 range) due to major storms, the incidence of “Dusi guts” has been high (up to 50% of the paddlers being affected).