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Collapse Issue 480 - 14 Oct 2019Issue 480 - 14 Oct 2019
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Beach water quality remains stable, says report

The water quality at beaches around the Peninsula has remained stable compared to last year, according to a NSW Government "State of the Beaches" Beachwatch report.

Umina and Ocean beaches and the Pearl Beach rockpool were all classified as "good", while Killcare beach was classified as "very good".

The "estuarine" baths at Woy Woy and Pretty Beach remained "poor".

The report which summarises 32 swimming sites on the Central Coast stated: "In general, estuarine, lake and lagoon swimming sites did not perform as well as ocean beaches and ocean baths, due to lower levels of flushing increasing the time needed to disperse and dilute pollution inputs, taking longer to recover from stormwater events.

"As a general precaution, swimming should be avoided during and for at least one day after heavy rain at ocean beaches, and for up to three days in estuarine areas, or if there are signs of stormwater pollution such as discoloured water or floating debris."

The report commented that: "Microbial water quality at Woy Woy Baths was often elevated during dry and wet weather conditions."

The report showed 55 per cent of dry weather samples showed water suitable for swimming, compared to Killcare Beach where 96 per cent of dry weather samples had water suitable for swimming.

"Woy Woy Baths is a netted swimming area located in Woy Woy channel in Brisbane Water.

"The Beach Suitability Grade of Poor indicates microbial water quality is susceptible to faecal pollution, particularly after rainfall and occasionally during dry weather conditions, with several potential sources of faecal contamination including Brisbane Water and stormwater.

"Enterococci levels increased with increasing rainfall, often exceeding the safe swimming limit after little or no rain, and usually after 20mm or more of rainfall.

"The site has been monitored since 2004."

A similar netted swimming enclosure at Pretty Beach Baths suffered similar water quality problems, according to the report.

"The Beach Suitability Grade of Poor indicates microbial water quality is susceptible to faecal pollution, particularly after rainfall and occasionally during dry weather conditions, with several potential sources of faecal contamination including stormwater.

"Enterococci levels increased with increasing rainfall, occasionally exceeding the safe swimming limit in response to little or no rain, and frequently after 10mm or more of rainfall.

"The site has been monitored since 2004."

The report showed 77 per cent of dry weather samples showed water suitable for swimming.

It stated that the bacterial levels at these estuarine baths "continued to increase significantly in response to increasing rainfall" and "may be impacted by several significant potential sources of faecal contamination including stormwater and other sources within Brisbane Water, and have low levels of flushing.

"Swimming at the estuarine beaches is not recommended during and for up to three days following rainfall or if there are any signs of stormwater such as discoloured water or floating debris."

On the other hand, the report said that the Pearl Beach Rockpool was mostly suitable for swimming after little or no rain, with elevated levels of enterococci mostly recorded following heavy rainfall.

"Pearl Beach Rockpool is a constructed ocean pool at the southern end of Pearl Beach.

"The Beach Suitability Grade of Good indicates microbial water quality is considered suitable for swimming most of the time but may be susceptible to pollution after rain, with several potential sources of faecal contamination including stormwater.

"Enterococci levels increased with increasing rainfall, occasionally exceeding the safe swimming limit in response to little rain, and usually after 20mm or more of rainfall."

The site has been monitored since 2004.

The report described Killcare Beach as "a south-facing beach backed by vegetated dunes".

"It is patrolled over the summer swimming season.

"The Beach Suitability Grade of Very Good indicates microbial water quality is considered suitable for swimming almost all of the time, with few potential sources of minor faecal contamination.

"Enterococci levels increased slightly with increasing rainfall, occasionally exceeding the safe swimming limit in response to five millimetres or more of rain."

The site has been monitored since 2006.

Umina Beach and Ocean Beach were both described as "patrolled during the summer swimming season".

"The Beach Suitability Grade of Good indicates microbial water quality is considered suitable for swimming most of the time but may be susceptible to pollution after rain, with several potential sources of faecal contamination including stormwater.

"Enterococci levels generally increased with increasing rainfall, occasionally exceeding the safe swimming limit after light rain, and regularly after 20mm or more of rainfall.

Umina Beach has been monitored since 2004, while Ocean Beach has been monitored since 2011.

The report said that stormwater pollution in urban areas often arose from sewage leakages, overflows or sewer chokes when the sewerage system failed.

"Sewage overflows can occur in wet weather when the network has exceeded capacity due to rainwater entering the system.

"The mix of sewage and rainwater discharges from designated overflow points and drains to waterways, usually via the stormwater system.

"Overflows from the sewerage system can also occur in dry weather due to mechanical failure or power outage."

Central Coast Council has welcomed the report, saying it showed 94 per cent of the region's ocean beaches received a good or very good quality rating.

Mayor Cr Lisa Matthews said the report showed Central Coast beaches to be in good ondition overall.

The council said water quality at Killcare Beach, Pearl Beach rockpool and Pretty Beach baths had improved over the past year, although the report itself did not state this.

Council acting director Mr Brett Sherar said the results also allowed Council to pinpoint areas for improvement.

"Despite improvements within the estuarine sites, we acknowledge that these sites also fall within the poor category.

"Due to the nature of water movement in our estuaries, these sites are not as well flushed as the ocean beaches, meaning the time taken to recover, especially after rainfall, is longer than for open ocean beaches," he said.





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