Sampling Sites
Where are the samples collected?
At ocean beaches, water samples are collected at knee depth from the most frequently used section of the beach. At patrolled beaches this is between the flags.
At harbour beaches, samples are collected by boat from as close to the shore as possible. A sampling pole is used to collect a sample approximately 30 centimetres under the water surface. Where the beach has a netted swimming enclosure, samples are collected just outside the net.
How many sites are monitored?
Under the Beachwatch Program, water quality is monitored at 127 swimming locations, including Sydney ocean beaches, Sydney harbour beaches, Illawarra ocean beaches and Hunter ocean beaches. A further 132 sites are being monitored by local councils over summer 2010–2011 as part of the Beachwatch Partnership Program.
Sydney metropolitan ocean beaches
Water quality is monitored at 37 ocean beaches in the Sydney metropolitan area (map).
Beachwatch field officers collect water samples from 29 beaches from Palm Beach in the north to Little Bay in the South. Sutherland Council lifeguards collect water samples from eight beaches in the Sutherland Shire. Sample collection by Sutherland Council Lifeguards is quality assured by Beachwatch to ensure the data is accurate and reliable.
Sydney harbour beaches
Water quality is monitored by Beachwatch field officers at a total of 55 swimming areas, including 10 sites in Pittwater, 25 sites on Sydney Harbour, 15 sites in Botany Bay and lower Georges River and five sites in Port Hacking (map of all monitored sites)
Hunter ocean beaches
Water quality is monitored at 17 ocean beaches in the Hunter region (map) by Hunter Water Corporation. Hunter Water is required to monitor these beaches as a condition of their Environment Protection Licences for their sewage treatment plants.
Sample collection by Hunter Water is quality assured by Beachwatch to ensure the data is accurate and reliable.
Illawarra ocean beaches
Water quality is monitored at 18 beaches in the Illawarra region (map) by Sydney Water Corporation. Sydney Water is required to monitor 15 of these beaches as a condition of their Environment Protection Licences for their sewage treatment plants. Three beaches (Austinmer, Thirroul and Surf Beach Kiama) are monitored voluntarily to enable comparison with beaches which may be affected by sewage treatment plant discharges.
Sample collection by Sydney Water is quality assured by Beachwatch to ensure the data is accurate and reliable.
Beachwatch Partnership Program
During 2010-2011, water quality is being monitored at 132 swimming locations by 14 local councils.
Sample collection is quality assured by Beachwatch to ensure the data is accurate and reliable.
Page last updated: 31 January 2012
