Pollution monitoring to continue

Council staff plan to continue to monitor water quality in Hardys Bay in the vicinity of Araluen Dr, Gosford Council has been told.

Earlier this year, the council confirmed elevated faecal coliform levels in the water.

In answer to a question from Cr Terri Latella, director of planning and environment Ms Colleen Worthy-Jennings told the April 5 council meeting: "Dye testing of properties within the drainage catchment area is to continue until all potential sources are eliminated.

"The owner or occupier of a residential premises that has a defective sewerage system will be issued with an order 21 under section 124 of the Local Government Act, which will require the defective sewerage system to be rectified.

"Follow-up testing of the affected drain is to continue in order to determine if the water quality is improving."

Ms Worthy-Jennings said that the sewerage network was not believed to be the source of the pollution.

"The sewer drainage lines in the area are laid below the main stormwater drains and it would b difficult for sewerage from the sewer mains to enter the stormwater system.

"The most likely source of pollution is believed to be defective private sewerage connections within the catchment area."

She said that the most likely scenario was that sewerage was entering the stormwater drain following heavy rain.

Council Agenda COR.44, 5 Apr 2011