Southern Sydney Beaches
Water Quality during April 2012
Issued 14 May 2012
As a result of heavy rainfall, water quality was variable at most of Sydney’s southern beaches during April, with only two of the 28 sites suitable for swimming on all sampling occasions. The best performing beaches were:
· Ocean beaches: Greenhills
· Port Hacking: Jibbon Beach.
Elevated enterococci levels exceeded the safe swimming limit of 40 cfu/100mL in one or more of the five samples at the following locations:
· Ocean beaches: Boat Harbour, Wanda, Elouera, North Cronulla, South Cronulla, Shelly Beach and Oak Park
· Botany Bay: Congwong Bay, Yarra Bay, Frenchmans Bay, Foreshores Beach, Kyeemagh Baths, Brighton Le Sands Baths, Monterey Baths, Ramsgate Baths, Dolls Point Baths, Sandringham Baths and Silver Beach
· Lower Georges River: Oatley Bay Baths, Carss Point Baths, Jewfish Bay Baths and Como Baths
· Port Hacking: Gunamatta Bay Baths, Lilli Pilli Baths, Gymea Bay Baths and Horderns Beach.
Rainfall during April was above the long-term average, with 148.2 mm recorded at Observatory Hill. Most rain fell between 17 and 19 April, causing flash flooding across the city, particularly in the coastal suburbs.
A wet weather bypass of secondary biological treatment and tertiary filtration was reported at Cronulla Wastewater Treatment Plant on 18 April. The event ran for 1 day and 6 hours.
Rainfall triggered wet weather sewage overflows into Botany Bay (directly or via the Cooks River, Mill Pond Creek or Woolooware Bay) on 17 and 18 April, and into the lower Georges River (directly or via Oatley Bay or Salt Pan Creek) on 18 and 19 April.
Beachwatch recommends that swimming be avoided for one day after heavy rainfall at ocean beaches and for up to three days after rainfall at harbour beaches.
Before heading to the beach, particularly after it has been raining, check pollution levels by phoning the Beachwatch telephone information line on Freecall 1800 036 677, check the Beachwatch website at www.environment.nsw.gov.au/beach or follow us on Twitter @BeachwatchNSW.
When at the beach, look for signs of stormwater pollution such as discoloured water, or litter in the water or on the tide line before entering the water.View: Enterococci monthly summary graph
Page last updated: 14 May 2012
