Water quality criteria for the South African coastal zone

Abstract

Water quality criteria reflecting the needs of the South African coastal zone are presented for beneficial uses encompassing maintenance of ecosystems, recreation, ocean migration, edible and non-edible resources, desalination, mineral exploitation, industrial purposes and miscellaneous uses. The following criteria are identified and applied to each beneficial use, as appropriate: aesthet ics/physical hazards, conservative properties, nutrients, toxic inorganic and organic materials, microbiological parameters, tainting, and radioactivity. Special attention is given to South African needs by discussing in detail the role played by toxic inorganic and organic materials, the significance of effluent discharges, and the relevance to coastal engineering of mixing zones.