Sampling of water in the Msundusi River had been intensified ahead of this week's Dusi Canoe Marathon to ensure that the water quality remained safe for participants, Umgeni Water said on Monday.
At present the water quality is said to be acceptable for the event.
Umgeni Water spokesperson Shami Harichunder said on Monday that the water utility was working closely with other key stakeholders - including the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, the Msunduzi Municipality, the Catchment Management Forum, the canoeing fraternity and the Dusi Umgeni Conservation Trust - to ensure that the water was safe.
Harichunder said Umgeni Water monitored the Msundusi River and its tributaries at several points in the Pietermaritzburg area weekly.
Any likely pollution was immediately communicated to interested parties, including the municipality's water and sanitation section which investigated and dealt with such problems.
"In the run-up to this year's Dusi Canoe Marathon... water sampling conducted by Umgeni Water has been intensified. Additional water samples have been taken and increased communication has been taking place with stakeholders," he said.
"The water quality in the Msundusi River varies from excellent coming over Henley Dam, becoming somewhat contaminated through Edendale, but improves through Camps Drift. Remedial work is taking place in the Baynespruit, Slangspruit and Dorpspruit catchments where sewage contamination has been detected. At the moment the main river quality is acceptable for canoeing purposes," he said.
Heavy rain could cause problems affecting the water quality. This could be caused by run-off from pit latrines, blocking and surcharging of sewers directly to the river, and rubbish being washed into the river.
However, measures had been put in place to deal with these problems should they occur.