Beachwatch and Harbourwatch State of the Beaches 2007-08: summary
About this report
This report describes the results of Beachwatch and Harbourwatch monitoring and reporting activities at Sydney, Hunter and Illawarra ocean beaches and Sydney estuarine beaches during winter 2007 and summer 2007-2008, covering the period from 1 May 2007 to 30 April 2008.
Discussion in this report focuses on the summer 2007-2008 swimming season (1 October 2007 to 30 April 2008).
About Beachwatch and Harbourwatch
The Beachwatch program was established in 1989 and Harbourwatch in 1994. Both programs involve routine monitoring and reporting of bacterial indicator levels to determine water quality at swimming locations in the Sydney region. The State Government extended Beachwatch to the Hunter and Illawarra regions in 1996.
Measuring recreational water quality
Indicator micro-organisms
Beachwatch uses two types of indicator bacteria, faecal coliforms (also known as thermotolerant coliforms) and enterococci, to measure recreational water quality, as recommended by the National Health & Medical Research Council (NHMRC 1990) and the Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council (ANZECC 1992). These guidelines also refer to other physical and chemical parameters for the assessment of recreational water quality, such as pH, clarity and temperature. Beachwatch focuses on the use of faecal coliforms and enterococci, as these indicate the possible presence of waterborne pathogens that pose the most significant risks to human health. Results presented in this report are described in terms of faecal coliform and enterococci compliance with Beachwatch water quality criteria (Chapter 1).
This report includes an appendix describing the use of indicator micro-organisms in establishing the suitability of a waterbody for recreational use (Appendix 1). Details of recent developments in this area and references to new NHMRC guidelines and World Health Organisation documentation are also included in Chapter 1 and in Appendix 1.
The use of faecal coliforms and enterococci
Faecal coliforms are now referred to as thermotolerant coliforms, as some genera within the group are not of faecal origin. However, to be consistent with previous Beachwatch reports the terminology 'faecal coliforms' is still used in this report.
Although faecal coliforms have been the traditional organisms measured to indicate the presence of faecal contamination in water used for recreation, the use of enterococci as an additional indicator of faecal contamination in marine waters is growing in favour. Faecal coliforms are generally more abundant in sewage and easier to detect in bathing waters than are enterococci, but enterococci generally survive longer in bathing waters and may be detected after most faecal coliforms have died off (Chapter 1).
Heavy rainfall the key to beach and harbour pollution in the Hunter, Sydney and Illawarra regions
Above average rainfall levels were recorded throughout the Hunter, Sydney and Illawarra regions during 2007-2008. The total rainfall in the Sydney region for the Beachwatch reporting year (1 May 2007 - 30 April 2008) was the highest it has been since the 1998-1999 Beachwatch reporting year. For the previous five Beachwatch reporting years, average to below average rainfall was recorded in the Sydney region.
During winter 2007 much of the NSW east coast received plentiful rainfall. It was the wettest winter since 1950 in the Sydney region, with a large proportion of rain falling in June. A total of 510.6 mm of rain fell, easily exceeding the June long term average of 130.6 mm. The Hunter region recorded more than four times the average monthly rainfall during June, which caused severe flooding in the Newcastle and Central Coast regions. Similarly, significant rain fell in the Illawarra region, with Wollongong recording three times the average monthly rainfall for June in 2007.
High levels of rainfall continued into the 2007-2008 summer season. Summer 2007-2008 was the wettest summer for NSW in 24 years, and the wettest in Sydney since 2001-2002, with the highest number of rain days in 9 years. Above average rainfall fell during November 2007, December 2007 and February 2008 across the Hunter, Sydney and Illawarra regions.
Owing to the extremely wet 2007-2008 reporting year, an increase in pollution was recorded at a number of beaches due to stormwater and sewage overflows, resulting in lower compliance levels with Beachwatch water quality guidelines compared to those recorded in recent years.
Significant improvements compared to previous comparable wet years
Extremely high rainfall levels were last recorded during the 1998-1999 Beachwatch reporting year. Although more rain fell during the 1998-1999 reporting year, rainfall during summer was greatest in the 2007-2008 summer season. In the 1998-1999 summer season, 52 of the 124 sites monitored complied with the water quality guidelines for both bacterial indicators more than 80% of the time. In contrast, results from the 2007-2008 summer season show a marked improvement, with 106 of the 131 sites monitored complying with the Beachwatch water quality guidelines more than 80% of the time. This is due to long-term improvements in the management of stormwater and wastewater.
Results for 2007-2008
Of the 131 swimming locations monitored in the Sydney, Hunter and Illawarra regions, 61 complied with Beachwatch guidelines 100% of the time during summer 2007-2008. The decrease in perfect compliance levels from the previous year is primarily attributed to the above average rainfall throughout 2007 and 2008. However, despite heavy rainfall, 106 sites still recorded good results with the Beachwatch guidelines, complying more than 80% of the time for both bacterial indicators.
A total of 12 swimming sites recorded improvements in water quality for one or both indicators in the 2007-2008 summer season. Improvement in compliance was shown at six ocean beaches in the Sydney region, one ocean beach in the Hunter region, two swimming sites in Pittwater, one swimming site in Botany Bay and two swimming sites in Port Hacking.
Decreases in compliance for one or both indicators were recorded at 66 swimming sites throughout the program. The majority of swimming sites located in Lower Georges River, Botany Bay, Port Hacking, Port Jackson, North Harbour, Middle Harbour, Lower Lane Cove River, and Lower Parramatta River recorded lower compliance levels than in the previous summer season. Compliance at ocean beaches in the Hunter, Illawarra, Pittwater, Waverley and Sutherland council regions showed little change in compliance from the previous summer season. Ocean beach sites in the Warringah, Manly and Randwick City council regions showed a mixture of results, with compliance levels improving, decreasing or showing little to no change.
Sydney metropolitan ocean beaches
Sydney's cleanest beaches during summer 2007-2008 were Palm, Whale, Avalon, Bilgola, Newport, Bungan, Mona Vale, Warriewood, Turimetta, North Narrabeen, Dee Why and South Curl Curl in Sydney's north, the city beaches of Bondi and Tamarama, Clovelly and Maroubra and the southern beaches of Greenhills, Wanda, Elouera, North Cronulla, South Cronulla, Shelly Beach (Sutherland) and Oak Park.
Thirty-three of the 37 metropolitan ocean swimming locations complied at least 80% of the time with Beachwatch guidelines for both bacterial indicators (faecal coliforms and enterococci). This is similar to the results from the previous summer (2006-2007) when 34 of 37 beaches complied more than 80% of the time.
The beaches with a compliance of less than 80% were Birdwood Park at Narrabeen Lagoon (71% for enterococci), Coogee Beach (74% for enterococci), Malabar Beach (29% for enterococci) and Boat Harbour (65% for enterococci).
Details - chapter 3:
Hunter region ocean beaches
The good news from previous summer seasons continued for the Hunter region beaches during summer 2007-2008. Once again they were among the cleanest group of beaches monitored under the Sydney, Hunter and Illawarra Beachwatch program.
The Hunter's cleanest beaches were Zenith, Box, Fingal, One Mile, South Stockton, Nobbys, Newcastle, Bar, Merewether, Glenrock Lagoon, Dudley, Redhead, Blacksmiths, Swansea Heads Little and Caves Beach. These 15 beaches complied 100% with Beachwatch swimming water quality guidelines for both bacterial indicators.
Burwood North and Burwood South beaches both complied 97% of the time for faecal coliforms and 100% of the time for enterococci.
Details - Chapter 3:
Illawarra region ocean beaches
Thirteen of the 18 beaches in the Illawarra monitored for both faecal coliforms and enterococci recorded 100% compliance with Beachwatch water quality guidelines during the 2007-2008 summer season. These beaches were Austinmer, Thirroul, Woonona, North Wollongong, Wollongong City, Coniston, Fishermans, Port Kembla, Warilla, Shellharbour, Boyd's Jones, Bombo and Werri.
This result is lower than the number of beaches complying 100% of the time for both bacterial indicators in the previous summer season. In the 2006-2007 summer season a record 17 of 18 beaches complied 100% of the time with both faecal coliform and enterococci guidelines.
Bulli, Bellambi and Corrimal beaches performed very well, achieving more than 80% compliance for each indicator. Entrance Lagoon Beach was monitored for the first time as part of the Beachwatch Program. The site recorded 90% compliance with faecal coliform guidelines and 57% compliance with enterococci guidelines. Sampling ceased at Lake Illawarra in October 2007.
Details - Chapter 3:
Sydney metropolitan harbour and bay swimming sites
Ten of the 59 harbour swimming sites complied 100% with Beachwatch criteria for faecal coliforms and enterococci during the 2007-2008 summer season. This result is significantly lower than the results from the previous summer season (when 43 of 59 beaches complied 100% of the time for both bacterial indicators). It is also the lowest number of harbour and bay swimming sites complying 100% of the time for both criteria since the 1999-2000 summer season. Thirty-nine of the 59 harbour swimming sites complied at least 80% of the time with Beachwatch guidelines for both bacterial indicators (faecal coliforms and enterococci).
Harbour swimming sites that complied 100% of the time with both bacterial indicators during summer 2007-2008 were:
Details - Chapter 4
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Pittwater (08483bwar084pittwtr.pdf, 827 KB)
Actions to improve beach and harbour water quality
Stormwater
Funding for sustainability projects is provided under the NSW Government's Environmental Trust $80 million Urban Sustainability Program. Grant funding is targeted at local councils working with the community and business to protect and improve the urban environment. Some funded projects have specifically addressed urban water management issues, including stormwater management, reducing urban runoff and improving water quality.
In 2007, the Environmental Trust approved five projects through the Urban Waterways funding stream, totalling more than $2.8 million. The projects implemented include initiatives such as stormwater reuse schemes, implementation of water-sensitive urban design, and activities to restore streams and creeks in various local government areas, improving local water quality and overall catchment health.
In 2008, $30 million in grant funding was made available through the Urban Sustainability Major Projects and Urban Waterways Initiative for up to 3 years. The priority catchment areas for the Urban Waterways funding stream are the Cooks River, Georges River, Hawkesbury Nepean River, Central Coast/Lower Hunter catchments and Sydney Harbour.
In addition, the NSW Government has developed a state-wide Diffuse Source Water Pollution (DSWP) Strategy to reduce diffuse source pollution inputs into all NSW surface and ground waters. Diffuse source water pollution is the contamination of water bodies by pollutants (such as pathogens, chemicals and salinity) from urban and rural land use activities in the catchment. The DSWP Strategy will contribute towards the NSW water quality objectives, and state-wide natural resource management targets listed in the State Plan. The DSWP Strategy will bring together Catchment Management Authorities (CMAs), relevant NSW government agencies and local councils to jointly manage and address these issues.
Sydney Water has completed the $19.4 million Stormwater Environmental Improvement Program (SEIP) which commenced in 2000. The program has improved stormwater quality across 26 sites in the Sydney area. A number of stormwater quality improvement devices were installed such as litter booms, sediment traps and gross pollutant traps and a wetland at Woollahra Golf Club. The banks of Finlaysons Creek, Wentworthville were also stabilised to control erosion. Various education and monitoring projects were also implemented. The program is expected to prevent 750 cubic metres of litter and 950 cubic metres of sediment from entering the waterways.
Sydney Water now removes litter and sediment (using 64 stormwater quality improvement devices) from nearly 46% of stormwater runoff in its stormwater infrastructure, targeting litter and sediment hotspots in its area of operation.
Previous funding for stormwater projects was provided under the NSW Government's Urban Stormwater Program. Between 1997 and 2006, a total of $82 million in seed funding was provided to address stormwater quality hotspots and to give the stormwater industry and stormwater managers an opportunity to develop new ways of addressing poor stormwater quality and ameliorating its impact on receiving waters.
The major outcomes of the Urban Stormwater Program included numerous stormwater project grants to councils totalling $67 million, and additional contributions of $40 million by councils, stormwater harvesting projects, and the construction of almost 100 artificial wetlands. Other results included an independent evaluation of the $7 million Urban Stormwater Education Program, which showed that one person in five has changed their behaviour to reduce stormwater pollution as a result of the program. As of June 2007 an estimated 29,000 tonnes of pollution has been prevented from entering our waterways as a result of the urban stormwater program's activities.
The Urban Stormwater Program has proven to be a successful, integrated, state-wide program that has made a difference to stormwater quality. It has raised the community's knowledge of stormwater pollution, shown people how to make a difference, improved attitudes and changed the behaviour of people in NSW.
Actions to reduce sewage overflows
Sydney Water is required by DECC Environment Protection Licence conditions to manage sewerage treatment systems efficiently, in order to protect and minimise harm to the environment and public health. The licence conditions require that the frequency and volume of sewage treatment plant bypasses and sewage overflows are reduced.
Northside Storage Tunnel
The Northside Storage Tunnel has been constructed to capture wet weather overflows from the four major overflow sites at Lane Cove, Quakers Hat Bay, Tunks Park and Scotts Creek. The Tunnel was designed to reduce the number of overflows at the four major wet weather overflow points from more than 150 to less than 20 in an average 10-year period. Since coming on-line the Tunnel has prevented more than 33 billion litres of diluted sewage from entering Sydney Harbour (Sydney Water 2008a).
SewerFix
SewerFix is Sydney Water's 20-year program for maintaining and improving the sewer system. Key works include:
Actions to upgrade Sydney's cliff-face sewage outfalls
The State Government's upgrade of the Cronulla Sewage Treatment Plant was opened in April 2001. The upgrade involved the addition of secondary biological treatment, tertiary sand filtration, ultraviolet disinfection and chlorination of recycled water. The treatment scheme allows for use of the treated wastewater by local industry, thereby reducing the volume of discharge from the plant, and saving potable water. The capacity of the plant was also increased (Sydney Water 2001).
Pipelines were constructed under Port Hacking to connect residents of Bundeena and Maianbar to the Cronulla Sewage Treatment Plant. A total of 1,251 properties in the Bundeena and Maianbar areas are now connected to the sewerage system. An unknown number of properties in the Bundeena and Maianbar area may still rely on on-site systems such as septic tanks.
Actions to upgrade Sydney ocean outfall sewage treatment plants
Works as part of the $95 million Bondi Sewage Treatment Plant Reliability Improvement and Modernisation Program (RIAMP) were completed in January 2007. The program ensures that plant reliability and performance are maintained to meet environmental protection licence conditions set by DECC and provide a safe working environment.
At North Head Sewage Treatment Plant many projects are in progress, and a number have been completed. This includes a recycled water plant, a biosolids management facility, the construction of a cogeneration plant and a new odour management facility. The planning and implementation of the reliability and renewals projects are in progress, with construction taking place during 2007 to 2009. The projects will improve the reliability, operability and maintainability of various plant processes.
At Warriewood Sewage Treatment Plant a project to reduce odour emissions from the plant is under way and is due to be completed by September 2008.
Sydney Water is developing a portfolio of Renewable Energy Generation Projects throughout its operations, utilising both cogeneration and hydro-electricity generation. Cogeneration plants have been approved for Bondi and Warriewood sewage treatment plants. Cogeneration is already in place at both Cronulla and Malabar sewage treatment plants. Similarly, a hydro-electricity generation plant is planned for North Head Sewage Treatment Plant in the near future. Together these plants reduce Sydney Water's reliance on black power and will reduce greenhouse gas emissions from its operations.
Actions to upgrade Hunter region sewage treatment and transport systems
Hunter Water Corporation is currently preparing detailed studies called Upgrade Management Plans for each of its reticulation systems relating to its Wastewater Treatment Works. The upgrades and actions from these plans are focused on improving the overall system performance during wet weather periods and will cater for new growth in each catchment.
Upgrade works being undertaken or planned as part of these upgrade management plans include those in the coastal areas of Lake Macquarie, Newcastle and Port Stephens. Significant work is programmed for the Newcastle System wastewater catchment draining to Burwood Beach Wastewater Treatment Plant, including works to improve wet weather system performance in Mayfield, Adamstown and New Lambton over the next five years.
The Newcastle wastewater transportation system is being upgraded to include a wet weather pumping system. This system will operate during heavy rainfall to transfer flows from the wastewater transportation system directly to the Burwood Beach wastewater treatment plant. New pumping stations and larger pipes will enable the wastewater system to manage larger flows that occur in heavy rainfall. The section of pipeline below Merewether Hills has been constructed by using 'directional drilling'. The pipe is laid deep beneath the surface to avoid the need for pumping stations and reduce the energy requirements of the system. Design work on the remainder of the wet weather pumping station is in its final stages, with work expected to commence in 2008 (Hunter Water 2006).
Design work to upgrade the Burwood Beach Wastewater Treatment Plant has commenced and is due to be completed in mid 2010. The upgrade will improve plant reliability and provide capacity for growth.
Actions to upgrade the Illawarra region sewage treatment and transport systems
The Illawarra Wastewater Strategy has been commissioned to deliver water quality improvements at a number of Illawarra beaches, particularly those near the Bellambi, Wollongong and Port Kembla sewage treatment plants.
The Strategy has ended dry weather discharge from the Bellambi and Port Kembla treatment plants and, through water recycling, it reduces total ocean discharge and saves about 7.3 billion litres of fresh water each year.
The Illawarra Wastewater Strategy involved:
The Strategy is now largely commissioned.
Other components of the Illawarra Wastewater Strategy included the amplification of the Shellharbour Sewage Treatment Plant to meet the demands of population growth within the Albion Park and Shellharbour areas up to 2025. Works included the construction of additional grit and primary tanks to allow for increased flows, improvements in sewage treatment processes and modifications to the ocean outfall to improve effluent dispersion. The amplified sewage treatment plant and the ocean outfall works were completed in 2006.
Details - Chapter 2:
Beachwatch quality assurance program
The Beachwatch quality assurance (QA) program is undertaken to ensure that the data collected and presented are accurate and reliable. This includes QA of field sampling, microbiological analysis of beach water samples and reporting to the community. Results indicate that Beachwatch samples are collected according to established protocols, the microbiological data are reliable, and Beachwatch information reported to the community is both accurate and timely.
Details - Chapter 5:
New recreational water quality guidelines
In June 2005 the National Health and Medical Research Council released new guidelines for managing risks in recreational waters. These were subsequently withdrawn due to inconsistencies within the document and a revised document was released for public comment in late 2006. The revised guidelines were endorsed by NHMRC in February 2008.
The new guidelines are largely based on the World Health Organization guidelines (WHO 2003) and supersede the NHMRC (1990) and ANZECC (1992) guidelines on which the Beachwatch guidelines are based. The new guidelines represent a major revision of the previous documents by advocating a preventative approach to the management of recreational waters, focusing on assessing and managing hazards in a risk management framework. Under the new guidelines, recreational water quality at swimming sites is no longer reported as percent compliance based on microbial data but graded from 'very poor' to 'very good' using a classification matrix based on sanitary inspection and microbial assessment categories. This approach provides information on possible sources of pollution and numerical data on the likely level of faecal pollution.
The NHMRC 2008 guidelines are currently under consideration by the NSW Government. The new guidelines are not mandatory but are provided as a tool for State and Territory Governments to develop relevant programs. Once these new guidelines have been assessed, Beachwatch will review its monitoring and reporting protocols on the basis of these guidelines.
Appendixes
There are three appendixes to this report:
- Appendix 1 describes the use of indicator micro-organisms in establishing the suitability of a body of water for recreational use.
- Appendix 2 presents the detailed results of the microbiological quality assurance program.
- Appendix 3 is intended to point the reader towards other information sources relating to bacterial pollution of waterways used for recreation and human health risks.
A list of references, a glossary and a beach index are also provided at the end of this report.
Details:
About this report
The format and structure of Beachwatch and Harbourwatch State of the Beaches 2006-2007 may have been adapted for web delivery.
For technical information about this report contact:
Beachwatch, Department of Environment and Climate Change NSW
59-61 Goulburn Street, Sydney
PO Box A290, Sydney South NSW 1232
Phone: (02) 9995 5344
Fax: (02) 9995 5913
Email: Beachwatch@environment.nsw.gov.au
Web: www.environment.nsw.gov.au/beach
Published by:
Department of Environment and Climate Change NSW
59-61 Goulburn Street, Sydney
PO Box A290, Sydney South NSW 1232
Phone: (02) 9995 5000 (switchboard)
Phone: 131 555 (environment information and publications requests)
Phone: 1300 361 967 (national parks information and publications requests)
Fax: (02) 9995 5999
TTY: (02) 9211 4723
Email: info@environment.nsw.gov.au
Website: www.environment.nsw.gov.au
The Department of Environment and Climate Change is pleased to allow this material to be reproduced in whole or part, provided the meaning is unchanged and its source, publisher and authorship are acknowledged.
ISSN 1441-4147
DECC 2008/483
October 2008
Disclaimer: The EPA has compiled the information in this publication in good faith, exercising all due care and attention. No representation is made as to its accuracy, completeness or suitability for any particular purpose. Readers should seek appropriate advice as to the suitability of the information for their particular needs.
Copyright: Beachwatch and Harbourwatch State of the Beaches 2006-2007 is copyright, however the Department of Environment and Climate Change is pleased to allow this material to be reproduced in whole or part, provided the meaning is unchanged and its source, publisher and authorship are acknowledged.
Page last updated: 26 February 2011
