Southern Sydney Beaches
Water Quality during April 2013
Issued 14 May 2013
Heavy rainfall impacted the water quality at Sydney's southern beaches during April, with only four of the 28 beaches suitable for swimming on all sampling occasions. The best performing beaches were:
- Ocean beaches: Greenhills, Shelly Beach and Oak Park
- Botany Bay: Monterey Baths
Elevated enterococci levels exceeded the safe swimming limit of 40 cfu/100mL in one or more samples at the following locations:
- Ocean beaches: Boat Harbour, Wanda, Elouera, North Cronulla and South Cronulla
- Botany Bay: Congwong Bay, Frenchmans Bay, Kyeemagh Baths, Yarra Bay, Foreshores Beach, Brighton Le Sands Baths, Ramsgate Baths, Sandringham Baths, Dolls Point Baths and Silver Beach
- Lower Georges River: Oatley Bay Baths, Carss Point Baths, Como Baths and Jewfish Bay Baths
- Port Hacking: Jibbon Beach, Horderns Beach, Gunamatta Bay Baths, Gymea Bay Baths and Lilli Pilli Baths.
Rainfall during April was 199.8 mm, well above the historical average of 127.2 mm. Rain fell over 16 days, with the heaviest falls recorded on 3-5 and 20 April.
Three wet weather bypasses were reported from Cronulla Wastewater Treatment Plant during April:
- A bypass of secondary biological treatment and tertiary filtration on 3 April
- A bypass of secondary biological treatment and tertiary filtration on 20 April
- 0.2 ML bypassed secondary biological treatment and tertiary clarification on 23 April when flows exceeded plant hydraulics due to maintenance on the secondary clarifier which reduced plant capacity from 1980 L/s to 1480 L/s (3.35ML was fully treated during the event).
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 checking 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: 16 May 2013
