Beachwatch Summer Season Report 1990-91 · 2016. 11. 21. · BEACHW ATCH 1990-91 SUMMER SEASON REPORT Beachwatch is a service that investigates and reports the quality of water at

Summer Season Report 1990-91

CONTENTS

Page

Executive Summary I

Introduction 3

Structure and Function of the Beachwatch program 5

Beachwatch operations 7

Assessment of Beach Pollution 9

Beach Pollution Assesment Guidelines 9 Helicopter Surveillance 15

Collection and Analysis of Water and Sand Samples 15

Water sampling for Bacteria 15 NSW Dept Health Guidelines: Criteria for Bathing Waters 16 Beach Grease Sampling 18 Fluorescence Testing 20

The Accuracy of Sewage Pollution Indicators 21

Deep Ocean Outfalls 23

Results and discussion of the Beachwatch program, Summer 1990-1991 25

Bacteriological Results 25 Visual Assessments 41 Grease Analysis 50 Comparison between Grease and Visual Assessment 50 Comparison between Beachwatch and Grease Program

Bacteriological Results 50 Fluorescence Testing 79 Beach User Numbers 79

APPENDIXES

Appendix 1. Sample Daily Report Appendix 2. Recipients of the daily report Appendix 3. Beachwatch Press Releases, Summer 1990-1991

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85 86 87

BEACHW ATCH 1990-91 SUMMER SEASON REPORT

Beachwatch is a service that investigates and reports the quality of water at the ocean bathing beaches of Sydney. The pollutants of primary concern are those that can affect human health by recreational exposure including swimming and surfing. The service also reports on the presence of materials on the sand and in the water that affect the amenity of the beach such as oil, grease, stormwater trash and profuse weed.

Information on beach pollution at thirty four coastal beaches is reported daily to the media and to beach superintendents. There is also an automatic telephone information service through which the public can access daily beach condition reports.

The application of scientific methods of sampling and analysis produces relevant data which is collected and processed to determine long term trends in pollution. All information developed within Beachwatch is available to the public.

The principal source of beach pollution that is of concern to Beach watch is the ocean discharge of primary treated sewage. Most of the sewage of Sydney is disposed of in this manner, and the quantity exceeds a billion litres per day. During periods of rain, stormwater also contributes to beach pollution. The quality of stormwater is severely degraded during episodes of intense rain when untreated sewage overflows into the stormwater system. During these infrequent events, the stormwater system can become the principal vehicle of beach pollutants.

In September of 1990, one ofthe major sources of sewage pollution, the ocean outfall at Malabar, was diverted into an undersea tunnel that terminates in a line of diffusers. The deep ocean outfall moves the source of pollution thousands of metres out and deep under the sea, and dilutes the effluent through high velocity diffusers. The beaches in the region previously impacted by effluent from the Malabar cliff face outfall became much cleaner on most days.

At later dates, two more deep ocean outfalls were commissioned, and now almost all of the sewage of Sydney is discharged off the coast and at depth. Data collected in the short period since all three outfalls have been on line allows for the forecast that most of the Sydney beaches will be clean enough for residents and tourists to enjoy swimming and surfing on most days. Information to be reported by Beachwatch, based on the program planned for next summer, will show whether the deep ocean outfall system operates as planned during all meteorological and ocean current conditions.

INTRODUCTION

Beach watch provides the public with it rlaily assessment of pollution levels at Sydney's ocean beaches, and compiles data necessary to quantify sewage contamination and measure changes brought about by improvements to sewage treatment and ocean disposal of sewage.

In the past, the disposal of primary treated sewage at Sydney's three major shoreline cliff-face sewage outfalls has been the main cause of beach pollution. The three major primary sewage treatment plants are located at Malabar, Bondi and North Head. The average dry weather flow, in megalitres per day (ML!day), for each of these sewage treatment works is:

Malabar Bondi North Head

640 ML!day 165 ML!day 390 ML!day

This constitutes more than a million tonnes of primary treated sewage per day.

Prior to the start of this summer season the first major change in Sydney's sewage disposal to the ocean took place. On the 20th September 1990, the deep water ocean outfall at Malabar came on line. Later, on 19th December 1990, the North Head deep ocean outfall was commissioned.

A smaller primary treatment plant (Cronulla) located on the Kurnell Peninsula has an average dry weather flow of 45 ML!day. A further three very much smaller outfalls discharge untreated domestic and commercial sewage on the cliff-face at Vaucluse. Because of their small discharge volumes (typically a total of 4 ML!day) the Vaucluse outfalls' contribution to the sewage contamination of Sydney's ocean beaches is probably small. A small secondary sewage treatment plant at Warriewood discharges 16.5 ML!day (average dry weather flow) of higher quality secondary treated effluent from Turimetta Head. Outfall locations are shown on Map 1.

Effluent from the sewage treatment plants pollutes Sydney's ocean beaches when ocean currents and surface winds drive floating sewage materials and/or sewage plumes back to the shore. The degree of pollution on the beach or in the surf varies. Beach conditions can range from very clean to highly polluted, depending on the complex interaction of oceanographic and meteorological processes. Generally, the frequency and degree of pollution affecting beaches decreases with increasing distance from the three major ocean outfall points. This generality is especially valid for cliff face outfalls.

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Stormwater drainage is another significant source of beach pollution. Most beaches have one or more urban stormwater drains discharging onto the beach or directly into shoreline waters. The quality of the water carried by these stormwater drains varies. Commonly, during and after wet weather, stormwater is contaminated with significant concentrations of faecal bacteria from animal faeces and, at times and in some areas, sewer overflows, and with high levels of suspended solids. Stormwater drains also carry urban litter such as plastic wrappers and natural litter such as leaves and twigs onto the beaches.

The estuaries of Port Jackson, Broken Bay, Botany Bay and Port Hacking also pollute nearshore waters, affecting the water quality of Sydney's ocean beaches, particularly during wet spells.

STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF THE BEACHWATCH PROGRAM

Beachwatch was formed on October 7th 1989, to provide the public with a credible and reliable source of information on the quality of ocean beaches and bathing water.

The history of Beachwatch is detailed in the two previous Beachwatch reports. The present structure is the Beachwatch Management Board, which is responsible to the Minister for the Environment for the efficient management of the Beach watch service, the Beachwatch Manager's Office, and several contractors.

The members of the Board during the summer of 1990-91 were:

Dr. Neil Shepherd Mr. Graham Cassidy Mr. John Chalk

(Chair), Director, Ministry for the Environment. President, Australian Professional Surfing Association. Master Plumber.

Dr. Warwick Forrest Ms. Dawn Fraser

Deputy Director, State Pollution Control Commission. Member for Balmain. Councillor, Warringah Shire Council. Mr. Mark Hummerston

Dr. Mike Kingsford Mr. Jim Longley

Lecturer, School of Biological Sciences, U of Sydney. Member for Pittwater.

Mr. Mike Petrie Mr. Gus Staunton Mr. Kirk Wilcox

Surf & Snow reporter for TV, radio and print media. National Executive Director, SLSA. Journalist.

The terms of reference of the Board are that they are accountable to the Minister for the Environment for:

1) Management of the Beachwatch Program including staff budget and contractors;

2) Provision of reports to the public including daily Beachwatch reports, monthly summary reports and comprehensive winter and summer reports;

3) Ensuring collection and analysis of Beachwatch program data to provide a sound basis for information on beach conditions;

4) Oversighting research carried out on behalf of the Board into improved monitoring techniques;

5) Liaison with Government Agencies and other bodies involved 111 ocean pollution and beach research;

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6) If requested by the Minister, provide advice on the expansion of the Beachwatch Service to encompass recreational bathing in the major enclosed waterways near Sydney;

7) Provision of sound advice and information to the Minister on the functioning of the program and community reaction to the program;

8) The Beachwatch Board, on behalf of the community, shall be able to report to the Minister on all matters associated with pollution of coastal and near coastal waters it considers relevant.

The Beachwatch Board is supported by a Beachwatch Manager. The Beachwatch Manager's Office (staff of 3) is located at the State Pollution Control Commission's (SPCC) office at Bankstown, Sydney. The SPCC provides accommodation and administrative services to Beachwatch which are charged to the Beachwatch budget.

The Beachwatch Manager, Mr Joseph T. Donnelly, was appointed on 25 February 1991.

The functions of the Beachwatch Manager's Office are:

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Report to the Beachwatch Management Board Supervise contractors Analyse pollution measurement data Report to the media on trends in beach conditions Publish comprehensive Summer and Winter Season Reports Prepare pollution data for individuals and agencies Assure high standards of measurements and reporting Survey beaches while sampling sand and water Investigate new methods of determining pollution Build and maintain computer data bases on pollution Prepare budgets and manage financial matters Carry out instructions of the Management Board

Beachwatch contracted five councils (Warringah, Manly, Waverley, Randwick and Sutherland) to conduct daily beach pollution assessments and regular water quality sampling. Beachwatch also contracted the Surf Life Saving Association of Australia Helicopter Rescue Service (SLSA HRS)1 to co-ordinate the daily public reporting component of Beachwatch and to conduct twice daily aerial surveillance of the sewage outfall plumes and other pollution sources. Several laboratories were contracted to provide analytical services.

1Now reorganised as SLSA Helicopters Pty Ltd

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The functions of the Beach watch contractors are:

Councils

* Observe and report visible pollution * Sample surf water four days per week * Report pollution incidents

Aerial Observation Service

* Report sewage plumes * Report water condition and clarity * Observe and photograph pollution incidents * Observe surfacing events of deep ocean outfalls * Sample water on occasions of extraordinary pollution

Coordination service

* *

Laboratories

* *

Prepare and distribute daily reports Enter beach pollution data into data bases Receive observations of pollution from individuals Survey the beaches with field officers daily

Analyse surf water samples for bacterial contamination Analyse sand for "grease" concentration

BEACHW ATCH OPERATIONS

Beachwatch is divided into two operational components. The first component is the daily visual assessment of beach pollution, and observation of sewage plume behaviour, which forms the basis for the daily Beachwatch Report. The second operational component is the collection of water and sand samples. Water samples are analysed for faecal bacteria and fluorescence; sand samples are analysed for grease content.

Data from both components are used to assess the degree and temporal characteristics of contamination at each beach, particularly those characteristics that are likely to alter after the commissioning of the deep ocean outfalls.

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The following paragraphs explain in detail how both components of the Beach watch program are performed.

DAILY VISUAL ASSESSMENT

Council Beach Inspectors are employed year-round by the coastal councils to maintain beaches, provide rescue services, advise and educate the public on beach safety, erect signs warning of dangerous surf, or close the beach where necessary. Inspectors also provide reports on surf conditions to local media organisations. Under contract, the councils direct the Beach Inspectors to carry out pollution monitoring tasks for the Beachwatch program.

Beach Inspectors assess their beaches twice each day in the summer, by 6:30a.m. and again by 11:30 a.m., applying the Beach Pollution Assessment Guidelines. All patrolled beaches (those that have Beach Inspectors in attendance) from Palm beach to South Cronulla, together with Malabar and Little Bay, are inspected for pollution. Altogether, a total of 34 beaches are inspected.

Council Co-ordinators from each of the five councils summarise the Beach Inspectors' reports and fax this information to the Beachwatch Co-ordination Centre at La Perouse. Together with sewage plume observations from the helicopter surveillance flights, this information forms the basis of a media message informing the public about the degree of pollution of Sydney's beaches, and recommending the cleanest beaches for swimming. During the summer season, an early report is released at 7.30 a.m. and a second report at midday (Appendix 1).

The media message is relayed to 47 media organisations and interest groups (listed in Appendix 2) and recorded on a public information telephone service called the Beachwatch Information Line (901 7996).

Council Beach Inspectors issue update reports to the Co-ordination Centre if conditions change significantly after the late morning report. In these cases the media message and recorded telephone information are updated and re-issued.

Monthly Media Reports

At the end of each month, the Beachwatch Manager's office releases a report to the media summarising beach conditions during that month. This report shows the number of clean days and the number of days on which the various levels of both sewage and stormwater pollution occurred (see Appendix 3).

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ASSESSMENT OF BEACH POLLUTION LEVELS

To obtain objective results from the twice daily visual assessments of beach pollution by Council Beach Inspectors, the State Pollution Control Commission (SPCC) developed a methodology document and guidelines for the assessment of beach pollution. The assessment guidelines are used by the Council Beach Inspectors to assess sewage pollution on the beach, sewage pollution in the water and stormwater pollution on the beach. During the summer season, the Scientific Officer from the Beachwatch Manager's Office and the Beachwatch Coordination Centre field staff, assisted the Inspectors in using the assessment guidelines.· Checks were made frequently to ensure that reporting of pollution on the various beaches is consistent with the assessment methodology. Overall, the consistency of assessment was high.

The following paragraphs reproduce the current guidelines as used by the Council Beach Inspectors to categorise the conditions present on their beaches.

Beach Pollution Assessment Guidelines

Assessing Beach Pollution

The best place to begin the assessment of beach pollution is along the most recent high tide mark. Sewage pollution and other debris are pushed up and concentrated on the high tide mark. Walk along the high tide line and assess whether there are any sewage related items. Close inspection will be needed to identify small particles of sewage grease.

Definition-Sewage derived items: grease particles or balls, floatable litter discharged at

outfalls, including .condoms, sanitary napkins, cotton buds, plastic remnants.

Pick an area of the beach along the most recent high tide mark that is typical of the sewage you have found on the beach.

DO NOT A VOID POLLUTION by choosing an area that is cleaner than tha rest of the beach.

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Mark off a one metre length of that tide mark and look closely at what is there. The amount of visible sewage items on the beach will determine the level of pollution you should report to Beachwatch.

If 'old' grease from previous days is present do not use it to make your assessment. Old grease should be reported in the comments section of the Beachwatch Pollution Assessment form. Noticeably higher levels of sewage pollution on an isolated section of the beach, not representative of conditions on the beach generally should also be reported in 'comments', eg. "medium sewage pollution in the southern corner, but low levels elsewhere". If there is no evidence of sewage pollution on the high tide mark (the beach may have been raked), you will need to look carefully for grease along the new wave marks on the wet sand.

The level of sewage pollution may be classified as:

* CLEAN (NIL or TRACE) *LOW *MEDIUM * IDGH

These categories provide all Beach Inspectors and Field Officers with a uniform standard for assessing and reporting beach pollution.

In this classification scheme, sewage derived litter such as condoms and sanitary napkins should be considered along with large items of beach grease.

Sewage Pollution on the Beach

CLEAN is separated into two categories - NIL and TRACE.

NIL

TRACE

NIL should only be reported where there is no evidence of sewage related items on the beach or in the water.

The category TRACE has been added as a 'buffer zone'. TRACE is used when you find a scattered sewage related items that are not consistent with conditions on the day. A few items could be left over from previous days. If reporting TRACE you must be satisfied that the beach is otherwise clean.

Remember beaches assessed as either NIL or TRACE will be reported to the media and the public as CLEAN beaches.

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LOW LOW is reported when there is a consistent small amount of sewage pollution on the beach. It is often hard to see, and easy to walk over without noticing it. If minor amounts of sewage derived items are found consistently along the beach the pollution level must be classified as low.

Numerical Indicators along a 1 metre length of tide line

MEDIUM

* Granular size beach grease; maximum 50 items. * Small size beach grease (2-S)mm); maximum 10 items. * Large lumps of beach grease(! em or larger) ; maximum 2

items.

Report MEDIUM when there is a consistent amount of sewage derived items along the beach or along the tide mark. If the adjacent numerical indicators are consistent with what you see on the beach then the sewage pollution level is MEDIUM.


IDGH

* * *

Granular size beach grease; between 50 and 100 items. Small size beach grease (2-5 mm); between 10 and 20 items. Large lumps of beach grease (1 em or larger); between 3 and 5 items.

IDGH levels of sewage pollution are probably the easiest levels to assess. When sewage pollution is extensive and the high tide mark is whitened by tiny grease particles, or the beach is littered with larger lumps of sewage grease, IDGH levels are reported.

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* Granular size beach grease; more than 100 items. * Small size beach grease (2-5 mm); more than 20 items. * Large lumps of beach grease (1 em or larger);more than 5

items.

Sewage Pollution in the Water

Sewage pollution in the water is difficult to assess. .

1. Grease on the Wet Sand

The most reliable indicator of sewage pollution in the water is the presence of 'fresh' grease particles on new wave marks. The amount of grease present along the new wave lines on the wet sand will not appear as great as it will later when all the grease is pushed up and concentrated along the next high tide line.

2. Sewage Odour

Another indicator of sewage pollution in the water is odour. You must be sure that the odour is coming from the surf and not some other source.

When basing an assessment of sewage pollution in the water on odour you should consider the presence or absence of grease on the new wave lines.

Sewage odour may be classified as either slight or strong. For example, a beach with a slight sewage odour should be given a LOW rating unless a higher reading is indicated by grease on the new wave lines.

Similarly, if a strong sewage odour from the water is apparent a MEDIUM or IllGH pollution rating should be given - depending on the amount of grease on the new wave lines.

3. Discolouration

Discolouration or turbidity in the absence of other indicators is not sufficiently reliable to confirm the presence of sewage.

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Other agents which may give rise to discolouration or turbidity are storm water, suspended sediments, algae and sewage. A big swell, particularly when accompanied by choppy seas, will often result in turbid or discoloured water. For this reason an assessment of sewage pollution in beach waters should not be based on turbidity or discolouration.

The numerical indicators used to assess sewage pollution on the beach apply only to grease accumulated along the high tide mark and cannot be used when assessing grease on new wave lines. ·

When using grease on new wave lines and sewage odour as indicators, classify the amount of sewage pollution in the water as follows:

CLEAN

LOW

MEDIUM

illGH

report CLEAN if there is no sign of any grease.

report LOW if on close inspection, a small amount of grease is being washed ashore.

report MEDIUM if, on close inspection, a small amount of grease is being washed ashore and the water has a sewage odour.

report illGH if a lot of easily visible grease is being washed ashore. Sewage odour may or may not be present.

Assessment of Stormwater Pollution

Stormwater runoff will affect most beaches during and after periods of rain, particularly after thunderstorms.

Leaves, twigs and street litter, carried to the beach in stormwater drains, are later washed up on the sand .It is a very common event and quite natural for a small amount of natural debris (leaves, twigs and other organic matter) to be washed up on beaches.

Stormwater runoff may also cause discolouration of beach water.

Stormwater litter is often mixed up with marine debris such as seaweed, and other marine plant and animal remains. Marine debris is quite natural and should not be confused with pollution. When reporting stormwater pollution, that is, litter or discoloured water, do not confuse it with marine debris.

Sewage grease and sewage derived litter may also become attached to seaweed and stormwater litter. Take care to distinguish between storm water pollution and sewage pollution so as to avoid overestimating the level of sewage pollution.

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Classify the amount of stormwater pollution on the beach or in the water as follows:

CLEAN (NIL) Report NIL when there are no signs of stormwater effects.

CLEAN(TRACE) Report TRACE if there is a small amount of stormwater litter which would not inconvenience beach usage.

LOW

MEDIUM

IllGH

Report LOW levels when stormwater litter is noticeable but unlikely to affect beach usage.

Report MEDIUM levels when stormwater litter and/or discolouration of the surf waters significantly detract from the appearance of the beach and is likely to discourage beach users.

Report IllGH levels when storm water significantly discolours the surf and/or when large amounts of stormwater litter and debris make conditions unpleasant for beach users.

New copies of the Guidelines in booklet form, with photographs of different levels of pollution, have been released.

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Helicopter Surveillance

During the second summer season of Beachwatch, SLSA Helicopters operated helicopter surveillance flights of the coastal beaches and the sewage outfalls. This involves flying from South Cronulla to Palm Beach along the coast and returning via the deep ocean outfall discharge points. Aerial observation of the beaches enables an overall assessment of beach conditions and detection of such phenomena as rafts of algae, stormwater, areas of floating litter and oil slicks. If oil slicks are sighted, the helicopter crew reports to the Maritime Services Board, which is responsible for clean-up operations. The helicopter crew also attempts, if possible, to discover the source of the oil.

In addition, the helicopter reports on the position of the Ocean Reference Station and various spar buoys. The Ocean Reference Station is owned by the Water Board and consists of a buoy carrying current meters, a thermistor string to measure temperature and an anemometer to measure wind speed and direction. The spar buoys are part of a project measuring bioaccumulation of metals and other contaminants in oysters.

The fundamental role of the helicopter surveillance flights, however, is to report the locations and flow patterns of the coastal sewage plumes, and the occasions when the deep ocean outfall plumes surface. The behaviour of the plumes and their proximity to the beaches can be more clearly assessed from the air than from shoreline observations. Sewage plumes are plotted on maps by the observers. Aerial surveillance maps and the report form are attached.

COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS OF WATER AND SAND SAMPLES

Water Sampling for Bacteria

Dt1ring the summer of 1990-91, water samples were taken on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, at all 34 Sydney beaches. One sample was taken from the north, centre and south of each beach. The samples were analysed for faecal coli forms and faecal streptococci using standard methods.

A bacteriological sampling program was designed to collect sufficient data to:

i) characterise the degree of faecal bacterial contamination at beaches along the Sydney coast,

ii) identify trends in bacterial contamination before and after the change to deep ocean outfalls,

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Faecal coliforms and faecal streptococci are found in the guts of warm blooded animals and humans, and are not normal inhabitants of fresh or marine waters. Therefore their presence is an indication of contamination by faeces or sewage, and of the possible presence of pathogenic organisms which may cause disease in people who ingest the water.

The NSW Department of Health has issued guidelines, the Bacteriological Criteria for Bathing Waters.

New South Wales Department of Health Guidelines: Criteria for Bathing Waters

The Water Quality Advisory Committee has considered at length the suitability of estuarine enclosures and ocean beaches for bathing purposes. The Committee could not find any epidemiological evidence to support a bacteriological standard for bathing water. However, experimental evidence and theoretical considerations support the adoption of an arbitrary bacteriological standard until epidemiological research provides a better basis for assessing the hazard.

The following guidelines were prepared by the Committee and have been adopted by the Commission in respect of the quality of water considered suitable for bathing purposes.

Water should be considered to be unsuitable for bathing where the faecal coliform count, calculated as the geometric mean of the numbers of organisms in 3 water samples taken at one time from the area being examined, exceeds 300/100 mL or the number of faecal coliforms in any single sample exceeds 2000/100 mL.

Waters which may be subject to pollution should be sampled and tested over a period of time to determine the level of contamination and contamination pattern. Where regular contamination occurs, the water should be considered unsuitable for bathing at any time. Where intermittent contamination occurs the pattern of contamination should be established if possible, and temporary closure of the area to bathing should be based upon that contamination pattern (e.g. after rainfall in the catchment area exceeding a specific figure).

The criteria should apply to all bathing waters liable to faecal contamination. They do not apply to fully enclosed swimming pools and spa pools, for which chemical criteria have been established.

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Water Sampling for Bacterial Analysis2

1. Containers

Use sterilesample bottles with secure screw lid.

2. Size of Sample

The volume of the samples should be sufficient to carry out. all tests required. The minimum container size should be 250 mL (preferably 500 mL).

3. Sample Location

Take three water samples per beach. A single water sample should be taken at each of three locations (north, mid and south).

4. Identifying Data

Each sample should be individually marked with the appropriate information. Beach name and sample site (north, mid or south) is required plus any additional information that may be relevant.

5. Sampling Procedure

Take samples by holding the bottle near its base and plunging it, neck downward, below the surface. Turn bottle until neck points slightly upward and mouth is directed toward the current. If there is no current, create a current artificially by pushing the bottle forward horizontally in a direction away from the hand. Samples should be taken whilst standing in water approximately I m deep. Leave a I em air space in the bottle before securing lid firmly.

6. Preservation and Storage

Samples must be stored in eskies with freezer blocks or ice to ensure samples are held at a temperature below 10°C. Samples should be transported as soon as possible after collection to the laboratory.

2Adapted from Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater. 17th Edition, 1989.

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Beach Grease Sampling

Beachwatch, in conjunction with the Beaches and Bathing Water Quality section of the SPCC Marine Waters Branch, has been monitoring the grease content of sand at 13 selected beaches as an indicator of beach pollution.

The objective of this monitoring is to:

* characterise the degree of grease contamination at beaches along the Sydney coast

* identify trends in grease contamination before and after commissioning of the extended ocean outfalls

Grease is one component of the New South Wales Department of Health Guidelines Criteria for Bathing Waters, which state in part:

In addition to the bacteriological condition of the water, it should be aesthetically satisfactory (no visible fat, faecal matter or other debris from sewage).

The test for oil and grease defines it as any material recovered as a substance soluble in trichlorotrifluoroethane. It includes other material extracted by the solvent from an acidified sample (such as sulfur compounds, certain organic dyes and chlorophyll) and not volatilised during the test. 3 Hydrocarbons from urban runoff and marine oil spills will contribute to the mass of grease.

Oil and grease material in sewage comes from a variety of sources, industrial, domestic and commercial. The organic fraction is chiefly C16+C18 fatty acids from animal fats and vegetable oils, and sewage grease can also contain large amounts of mineral oils.

Grease makes up most of the floatable material in sewage and as such forms a surface layer which can be transported by winds and surface currents. This layer may move in combination with the body of the sewage plume, or may separate and behave as an independent water body.

As part of the assessment of the performance of the deepwater outfalls a sampling procedure was designed to measure the grease content of beach sands. Grease may be distributed through the sand, or as discrete particles on the surface, or both.

3Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, 17th Edition 1 1989.

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Because the grease content of sand is generally not uniform along a beach, a random sampling method was developed. Sand samples from a 0.1 m2 area of sand were collected and analysed for grease content. At each site where sand was sampled, visual assessments (as per the Beach Pollution Assessment Guidelines) of the level of sewage contamination of the beach were taken together with water samples for bacterial analysis.

Beach Grease and Water Sampling Procedure

The PROCEDURE for sampling is

(1) Choose three random numbers less than the pacing length of the defined beach .. These numbers will represent the number of paces from the starting point of the beach.

(2) From the starting point on the beach take the number of paces equal to the smallest random number chosen.

(3) Place the quadrate on the high tide mark and scrape sand to approximately 1 em depth from the entire quadrate ensuring all grease is collected.

(4) Place sand sample in sample bag labelled with the beach number, replicate number and date, fasten with elastic band.

* If the beach has been mechanically raked and the high tide mark has been obliterated or disturbed along the whole beach, take every sample at the most prominent recent wave mark where grease and/or debris has accumulated.

* If any one sample is unable to be taken due to the high tide mark being disturbed, take two paces further along the beach and sample. Repeat with two further steps if necessary.

(5) At each location one water sample must be taken. Fill a labelled jar with water by dipping the jar into the water to a depth of 30cm whilst standing in water about lm deep.

(6) Proceed the number of paces to reach the next random number and sample as above.

(7) At each location estimate the amount of visible grease particles in the quadrate as NIL, TRACES, LOW, MEDIUM or HIGH and mark on sampling sheet.

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(8) Complete the sampling sheet prior to leaving the beach.

(9) An overall assessment of the beach pollution level can be taken using the visual assessment methods.

One sand and one water sample were taken at each of three randomly chosen sites along each beach. Thirteen beaches were sampled every sixth day. The beaches sampled were South Cronulla, Malabar, Maroubra, Coogee, Bronte, Bondi, South Steyne, Freshwater, South Curl, Long Reef, Mona Vale, Avalon and Palm Beach.

Fluorescence Testing

This project is being carried out in conjunction with the ScHool of Chemistry and the Centre for Wastewater Treatment at the University of NSW (UNSW). Work by UNSW has indicated that fluorescence can be used to measure dilutions of sewage in seawater up to 10,000:1 in the laboratory. The technique has been applied in the Beachwatch program by testing samples from Bondi Beach. If the sensitivity of the method can be improved, the technique may provide an immediate method of assessing beach water quality and suitability for swimming. At present, the method is a valuable aid in detecting particularly high levels of sewage contamination.

The initial program commenced on the 8th April 1991. For the remainder of the summer season, Bondi Beach was sampled twice daily on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at three sites, North, Centre and South. The early sampling time coincided with the bacteriological sampling and the initial visual inspection, while the later sampling coincided with the late morning visual inspection. From the 1st May until the end of the initial program on 31st May, sampling was undertaken six days a week, (not Sundays), once per day at 7.00am. This time coincided with both visual inspections and bacteriological sampling (four days per week), for the winter season.

During the program, calibration samples of water collected in very clean and highly contaminated areas of the ocean were processed as blind trials. The results of these water samples were encouraging.

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THE ACCURACY OF SEWAGE POLLUTION INDICATORS

The only proven instant indicators of sewage contamination that apply to all concentrations are sight and, to a lesser extent, smell. The visual indicators include the appearance of sewage derived material on the high tide mark at the beach, the appearance of the surf water, and the discolouration and surface appearance of the ocean as observed from the air.

There is a method of measuring sewage concentration in sea water in the laboratory by fluorescence detection. Beachwatch has used this method and found it to be effective where there is a possibility of very high levels of sewage being present with the absence of visual indicators. At the current stage of development, fluorescence has very limited applications.

The quantitative trends in sewage contamination of bathing waters can be studied by measuring the density of faecal coliform bacteria in water samples. Beachwatch samples at all of the beaches covered by the program on four days each week. Three samples are taken at each beach on a sampling day. The method of sampling and the processing of the samples is conducted in accord with standard analytical methods.

The bacterial densities vary strikingly in both time and location at any given beach. The results of three samples collected on one day do not give enough information to accurately determine the effective bacterial density that would be experienced by any individual or the swimming population at a beach for the whole day. The bacterial levels would be of no use in daily beach condition reporting in any case, because the analysis results are not available on the same day. At beaches that are significantly impacted by sewage plant outfalls, long term statistical trends in bacterial counts show that bacterial densities do reflect changes in effluent quantities and locations of sewage outfalls.

An indication of the variability of bacteriological densities on a beach during a day is the study of the statistics of two sample populations taken on a series of days on the same beach. The discussion shows a comparison of the bacterial densities in water samples taken in the mainstream Beachwatch program and the water samples taken in the "grease program" undertaken jointly by Beachwatch and the Environmental Monitoring Program. The conclusion of this analysis is that the samples taken on any day from one program do not agree with the samples taken from the other program. Either the conditions have changed from one time of day ·to the next, or the number of samples taken was inadequate to characterise the water conditions, or both.

The appearance of sewage related material on the high tide mark of a beach is a definite indication that the beach has been impacted by the effluent of the sewage

21

system. During dry periods, it can be assumed that the material was released from a sewage plant outfall. There are two reasons that it is not certain that high levels of sewage matter on the sand indicate that the water is contaminated. The tides and currents that brought the material to the beach may have moved the contaminated water away. Secondly, the floating sewage matter may have been driven by wind beyond the sub-surface sewage plume. However, the appearance of sewage matter on the high tide line is a certain indication that the beach has recently been impacted by a sewage source and a reasonable indication that the water at that beach is unsuitable for swimming on that day. Irrespective of the accuracy of visual indicators of sewage on the beach as a predictor of contamination of the water, the presence of sewage material on the beach makes the beach unsuitable as a venue for recreation.

Aerial inspections of the near offshore waters is carried out every day by the Beachwatch helicopter service. The observer plots the location and extent of sewage plumes from the cliff face and deep ocean outfalls. Other sources of pollution including stormwater, releases of industrial chemicals, and oil spills are also plotted and reported. From subjective impressions of sea conditions, location of pollution fields, and from weather reports, forecasts are made on the potential of visible pollution to impact the beaches. In the summer, there is a flight in the early morning and another later in the morning. With two observations of pollution fields, and a predictable sea breeze, greater accuracy of forecasts of the impact of visible pollution fields is achieved.

22

DEEP OCEAN OUTFALLS

The original cliff-face ocean outfalls at Bondi and Malabar were built in the 1880's. Work on the outfall at North Head commenced in 1916. These outfalls were all located at the base of rocky headlands, at a depth of approximately 7m below sea level. For many years these outfalls discharged raw sewage, but treatment gradually improved until, by 1984, all effluent received primary treatment. This treatment includes the removal of screenings and grit, and some grease, floatables and settleable solids.

This primary treatment provides effluent that will not meet all the receiving water quality objectives of the NSW Clean Waters Act 1970, if discharged at cliff face outfalls4

• In order to meet these objectives, various treatment options were examined. After extensive investigation, the preferred option for disposal was the deep water submarine outfall system. These outfalls are designed to use the physical characteristics of the receiving waters to dilute and disperse the effluent so that the marine ecosystem can assimilate the load without causing significant environmental effects.

The three outfalls will discharge into high energy waters where seabed conditions vary from deep sediment to rocky outcrops. They are tunnelled through the seabed, and the effluent is discharged through diffusers. Water depth at the diffusers varies from 60-80m. The diffuser jet momentum and effluent buoyancy is sufficient to provide initial dilution of at least 150 to 1.

The effluent from the diffusers forms a plume in the water column. This plume is affected by a variety of factors including current speed and direction, wave action and temperature variation. The plume generally rises through the water column because it is warmer and less saline than the surrounding sea water. Whether the plume surfaces is dependant largely on the degree of thermal stratification in the water column. In broad terms, the plume will surface if the temperature variation in the water column is less than l°C. In summer, thermal stratification is usually fairly strong and the plume is unlikely to surface often. In winter, wave action is more intense and mixing occurs more often. This can destroy the stratification and allow the plume to surface, causing visible discolouration of the surface water.

4"Sydney's Ocean Outfalls for Sewage Disposal, Planning and Implementation" Water ~oard, January 1990.

23

The Outfall Systems5

MALABAR NORTH BONDI HEAD

FLOWS (ML!d) Dry weather flow 1991 490 385 165 Wet weather flow 1991 1200 1050 700

CAPACITY (ML/d) 2250 2400 700

OUTFALL DIMENSIONS Length of Tunnel(km) 4.1 3.3 1.7 Shoreline to First Diffuser 2.9 2.9 1.7 Internal diameter(m) 3.5 3.5 2.3 Av. Depth at Diffusers(m) 80 60 60 Length of Diffuser Zone(m) 720 765 510 Number of Diffusers 28 36 26

In addition to the deepwater ocean outfalls, the Water Board is investigating options for upgrading of treatment processes at the coastal plants.

Present levels of treatment at the three large plants are primary.

Primary treatment includes: Screening, which can vary from coarse to fine Grit Removal Sedimentation

These processes are mainly mechanical, and generally reduce the suspended solids concentration of the sewage effluent to around half that of raw sewage.

Secondary treatment includes: Biological processes such as Activated Sludge, Trickling filters, Bio discs and Oxygen injection. Chemical Assisted Sedimentation Dissolved Air Flotation

These processes use micro-organisms or chemical processes to reduce the suspended solids concentration to about 10-20% of that of raw sewage. Secondary treatment is planned for the three major plants.

5"Sydney's Ocean Outfalls for Sewage Disposal, Planning and Implementation" Water Board, January, 1990.

24

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION OF THE BEACHW ATCH PROGRAM FOR THE SUMMER, 1990-91

The major factor impacting on the Sydney beaches this summer was the change from shore-line sewage outfalls to deep ocean outfalls at Malabar and North Head.

Bacteriological Results.

The Malabar deep ocean outfall came on line on the 20th September 1990. This means the results for the entire 1990-91 summer can be compared to those for summer 1989-90 to assess the effects of the deep outfall. It should be noted that water sampling in the 1989-90 season did not begin until the end of November, and there was only one sampling day per week, with the exception of Maroubra Beach in January when samples were taken daily. Results are available for the entire summer season of 1990-91, when samples were taken four times a week.

Faecal coliform results for Maroubra and Malabar beaches (Figs 1 to 4) show an improvement in 1990-91 compared with the previous summer. Occasional levels above Department of Health Guidelines did occur in 1990-91, but less frequently than in 1989-90 (Table 1).

Table 1. Percentage Failures of Compliance, Pre and Post Malabar Outfall

Nov-Apr 1989-90 Oct-Apr 1990-91

Maroubra 46 2

The North Head Ocean Outfall came on line on the 19th December 1990. Figures 5 to 14 show the improvement in bacteriological water quality which occmTed at the five closest northern beaches, following this event.

All beaches except Shelly Beach show consistently low levels of faecal coliforms from late December. This is in contrast to the summer of 1989-90, when high levels of faecal bacteria were widespread throughout the summer. Again, it should be noted that sampling did not commence until January in the 1989-90 season, while results for the entire summer season are available for 1990-91. Also, samples were taken four times a week in 1990-91, and only once a week in 1989-90.

25

Figure 1

01-0ct 08-0ct 15-0ct 22-0ct 29-0ct 05-Nov 12-Nov 19-Nov 26-Nov i-03-Dec 10-Dec !-17-Dec 24-Dec ~

31-Dec ~

07-Jan 14-Jan :, 21-Jan 28-Jan 04-Feb !!!.

11-Feb ii' 18-Feb 25-Feb ;. 04-Mar 11-Mar 18-Mar 25-Mar 01-Apr ""' 08-Apr ~ 15-Apr io

24-Apr &-.............

0

26

MAROUBRA Summer 1990-91

I I I I

500 1000 1500 2000 2500 Geometric Mean Faecal Coli forms per 1 OOml

27-Nov 04-Dec 11-Dec 18-Dec 08-Jan 15-Jan 16-Jan 17-Jan 18-Jan 19-Jan 20-Jan 21-Jan 22-Jan 22-Jan 23-Jan 24-Jan 25-Jan 26-Jan 27-Jan 28-Jan 29-Jan 30-Jan 05-Feb 12-Feb 19-Feb 26-Feb OS-Mar 12-Mar 19-Mar 26-Mar 02-Apr 09-Apr 18-Apr 23-Apr 30-Apr

0 500


1000 1500 2000 Geometric Mean Faecal Coliforms per 1 OOml

Figure 2

2500

27

Figure 3

28

01-0ct 08-0ct 15-0ct 22-0ct 29-0ct 05-Nov 12-Nov 19-Nov 26-Nov 03-Dec 10-Dec 17-Dec 24-Dec 31-Dec 07-Jan 14-Jan 21-Jan 28-Jan 04-Feb 11-Feb 18-Feb 25-Feb 04-Mar 11-Mar 18-Mar 25-Mar 01-Apr 08-Apr 15-Apr 24-Apr

0

MALABAR Summer 1990-91

500 1000 1500 2000 2500 Geometric Mean Faecal Coliforms per 100ml

Figure 4


27-Nov

04-Dec

11-Dec

18-Dec

08-Jan

15-Jan

22-Jan

29-Jan

05-Feb

12-Feb

19-Feb

26-Feb

05-Mar

12-Mar

19-Mar

26-Mar

02-Apr

09-Apr

17-Apr

23-Apr

30-Apr

0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 Geometric Mean Faecal Coliforms per 1 OOml

29

Figure 5

30

01-0ct 08-0ct 15-0ct 22-0ct 29-0ct 05-Nov 12-Nov 19-Nov 26-Nov 03-Dec 10-Dec 17-Dec 24-Dec 31-Dec 07-Jan 14-Jan 21-Jan 28-Jan 04-Feb 11-Feb 18-Feb 25-Feb 04-Mar 11-Mar 18-Mar 25-Mar 01-Apr 08-Apr 15-Apr 22-Apr 29-Apr

........

::::

-..........

~

!-!-:..

~

~

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loa

0

FRESHWATER Summer 1990-91

I I I I

500 1000 1500 2000 2500 Geometric Mean Faecal Coliforms per 100ml

Figure 6


18-Dec 08-Jan 15-Jan 22-Jan 29-Jan 05-Feb 06-Feb 07-Feb 08-Feb 09-Feb 10-Feb 11-Feb 13-Feb 14-Feb 15-Feb 16-Feb 17-Feb 18-Feb 19-Feb 26-Feb 05-Mar 12-Mar 19-Mar 26-Mar 02-Apr 09-Apr 17-Apr 24-Apr 30-Apr

0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 Geometric Mean Faecal Coliforms per 100m]

31

Figure 7

32


~ 15= I!.. .. """ --~ ~ f

~

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~

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0

QUEENSCLIFF Summer 1990-91

I I I I

500 1000 1500 2000 2500 Geometric Mean Faecal Coliforms per 100m]

Figure 8

QUEENSCLIFF Summer 1989-90

500 1000 1500 2000 2500 Geometric Mean Faecal Coliforms per 1 OOml

33

Figure 9

NORTH STEYNE Summer 1990-1991


0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 Geometric Mean Faecal Coli forms per 1 OOmJ

34

Figure 10

NORTH STEYNE Summer 1989-1990

15-Jan

22-Jan

29-Jan

05-Feb

26-Feb

05-Mar

19-Mar

30-Apr

0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 Geometric Mean Faecal Coli forms per 1 OOml

35

Figure 11

STH STEYNE Summer 1990-91


0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 Geometric Mean Faecal Coliforms per 100ml

36

Figure 12


15-Jan

22-Jan

29-Jan

05-Feb

06-Feb

07-Feb

08-Feb

09-Feb

10-Feb

11-Feb

12-Feb

13-Feb

14-Feb.

15-Feb

16-Feb

17-Feb

18-Feb

26-Feb

OS-Mar

12-Mar

19-Mar

26-Mar

02-Apr

09-Apr

17-Apr

23-Apr

30-Apr

0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 Geometric Mean Faecal Coliforms per 100m!

37

Figure 13

SHELLY Summer 1990-91


0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 Geometric Mean Faecal Coli forms per 1 OOml

38

Figure 14

SHELLY Summer 1989-90

15-Jan

22-Jan

29-Jan

05-Feb

05-:-Mar

12-Mar

19-Mar

26-Mar

02-Apr

09-Apr

30-Apr

0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 Geometric Mean Faecal Coliforms per 100m]

39

[This page is blank]

40

Looking at two representative northern beaches, Freshwater and South Steyne, the percentage of times these beaches failed to comply with Department of Health Guidelines for Bacteriological Quality of Bathing Water, pre and post outfall, are spown in Table 2. A dramatic improvement in compliance is evident for the post outfall period.

Table 2. Percentage Failure of Compliance, Pre and Post North Head Outfall

Oct-Dec 1990 Jan-Apr 1991

Freshwater 17 0

Sth Steyne 17 0

Occasional high results at Shelly Beach after the opening of the deepwater ocean outfall may be due to local factors affecting this beach. One possibility is effluent from pleasure boats, which often anchor overnight in the protected waters off Shelly Beach. Some other local sources are also suspect, including a sewage pumping station. The high results are generally associated with rainfall in the preceding days.

Figures 15 and 16 show the occurrence of varying levels of faecal coliform concentrations for the summers of 1990-91 and 1989-90. Results for 1990-91 show an improvement over those for 1989-90, particularly for the northern beaches. ·However, the city beaches of Bondi, Tamarama and Bronte still failed to comply with Department of Health Bacteriological Criteria for Bathing Water on more than 25% of days tested. The impact of the small Warriewood plant can be seen in the results at Warriewood Beach, which has faecal coliform levels above guidelines on approximately 15% of occasions, in contrast to other far northern beaches which are consistently clean.

Visual Assessments.

Visual assessments of the beaches were made twice daily during the 1990-91 summer season. Figures 17 and 19, respectively, show the percentage of days with each category of sewage pollution on the beach or in the water for all beaches. Levels of visible sewage pollution on the beaches decreased dramatically when compared with the previous summer (Figs 18 and 20), with no beaches showing high levels in 1990-

. 91, while in 1989-90 high levels were reported on nearly 20% of occasions at some beaches.

41

Figure 15

FAECAL COLIFORM COLONIES PER lOOm!

42

Palm Whale

Avalon Bilgola

Newport Bungan

Mona Vale Warriewood

Nth Narrabeen Sth Narrabeen

Colla roy Long Reef

Dee Why Nth Curl Curl Sth Curl Curl

Freshwater Queenscliff NthSteyne SthSteyne

Shelly Bondi

Tamara rna Bronte

Clovelly Coo gee

Maroubra Malabar

Little Bay Boat Harbour

Nth Wanda Wanda

Elouera Nth Cronulla Sth Cronulla

I

0 20

D Less than 300 GMFC/100mL

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Summer 1990-1991

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Freshwater

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Tamarama

Bronte

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Maroubra

Malabar

Little Bay

Wanda

Elouera

Nth Cronulla

Sth Cronulla

0

FAECAL COLIFORM COLONIES PER lOOml

Summer 1989-1990

20 40 60 so Percentage occurrence

D Less than 300 GMFC/100mL

I Over 2000 GMFC/100mL

r3 300 to < 2000 GMFC/100mL

Figure 16

100

43

Figure 17

44

Palm Whale

Avalon Bilgola

Newport Bungan



Collaroy Long Reef Dee Why

Nth Curl Curl Sth Curl Curl

Freshwater Queenscliff Nth Steyne Sth Steyne

Shelly Bondi

Tamarama Bronte

Clovelly Coo gee

Maroubra Malabar


Nth Wanda Wanda


Dnil

0

VISUAL ASSESSMENT OF BEACH SEWAGE

Summer 1990-1991

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Freshwater Queenscliff NthSteyne Sth Steyne

Shelly Bondi

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Clovelly Coo gee

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Wanda Elouera

Nth Cronulla Sth Cronulla

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0

VISUAL ASSESSMENT OF BEACH SEWAGE

Summer 1989-1990

20 40 60 80 Percentage Occurrence

0 trace ~low ~medium I high

Figure 18

100

45

Figure 19

46

Palm Whale

Avalon Bilgola

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Collaroy Long Reef



Shelly Bondi

Tamarama Bronte

Clovelly Coo gee

Maroubra Malabar


Nth Wanda Wanda


0

DeJean

VISUAL ASSESSMENT OF WATER SEWAGE

Summer 1990-1991

I I I i


~low ~medium I high

~ I&' ~ k

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100

Nth Palm Palm


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Figure 20

VISUAL ASSESSMENT OF WATER SEWAGE

Summer 1989-1990

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48

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Tamarama Bronte

Clovelly Coo gee

Maroubra Malabar


Nth Wanda Wanda


Dnil

0

VISUAL ASSESSMENT OF STORM WATER

Summer 1990-1991

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Clovelly Coo gee

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Wanda Elouera


Dnil

0

VISUAL ASSESSMENT OF STORMW ATER

Summer 1989-1990


0 trace ~low ~medium I high

Figure 22

100

49

Figure 21 shows the levels of visual stormwater pollution at all beaches in the 1990-91 summer season. No high levels of pollution were found. This is probably due to the lower incidence of intense rainfall during the 1990-91 summer when compared with the previous summer (Fig 22).

Grease Analysis.

Figures 23 to 35 show the levels of grease in sand, (arithmetic means of three samples), at the 13 beaches tested, for the summer season. These graphs indicate that grease levels are very variable at all beaches. As the grease analysis can detect chlorophyll, there is some concern that algae will be a confounding factor. The low levels of grease at beaches that are only slightly impacted by ocean outfalls seems to indicate that the effect of algae is not great. The graphs of the northern beaches (Figs 23 to 29) fail to show any marked changes in grease levels following the opening of the deep water ocean outfall at North Head in December. Grease can be transported long distances by winds because it floats on the surface of the ocean. Therefore it is difficult to identify the source of grease at particular beaches. However those beaches located furthest from sewage outfalls; Palm Beach and South Cronulla, tend to have lower levels of grease contamination than beaches nearer to sewage outfalls. The fact that there was no dramatic decrease in levels of grease at beaches formerly impacted by cliff face outfalls leads to the conclusion that grease is at "background" levels for urban areas. At this stage of the grease program, Beachwatch is more confident in the visible grease data base as an indication of the impact of sewage grease on beaches, than the grease by mass data.

Comparison Between Grease and Visual Assessment.

Figures 36 to 48 show the levels of grease detected at each beach tested by the grease program, compared with the Beach Inspector's visual assessment of the beach for that day. This gives some indication of the ability of the visual assessments to detect grease on the sand. As shown, there is little correlation between the grease content of the sand and the visual assessment. This may be because the visual assessment is taken along the whole beach, while the grease content is from three randomly selected sites, which may individually differ from the overall pattern. Another confounding factor in this comparison is that grease is not the only indicator of sewage contamination that is used to make the visual assessment. Articles such as cotton tips or condom rings may be present on a beach when grease is absent.

Comparison Between Beachwatch and Grease Program Bacteriological Results

As both the Beachwatch program and the grease program collect bacteriological data from Sydney beaches, a comparison of the data can be made, to identify whether faecal coliform populations change during the day.

50

05-0ct-90 11-0ct-90 17-0ct-90 23-0ct-90 29-0ct-90 04-Nov-90 10-Nov-90 16-Nov-90 22-Nov-90 28-Nov-90 04-Dec-90 10-Dec-90 16-Dec-90 22-Dec-90 28-Dec-90 03-Jan-91 09-Jan-91 15-Jan-91 21-Jan-91 28-Jan-91 02-Feb-91 08-Feb-91 14-Feb-91 20-Feb-91 26-Feb-91 04-Mar-91 10-Mar-91 16-Mar-91 22-Mar-91 28-Mar-91 03-Apr-91 09-Apr-91 15-Apr-91 21-Apr-91 27-Apr-91

1

PALM Summer 1990-1991

10 100 grams grease per cubic metre surface sand

Figure 23

1000

51

Figure 24

05-0ct-90 11-0ct-90 17-0ct-90 23-0ct-90 29-0ct-90 04-Nov-90 10-Nov-90 16-Nov-90 22-Nov-90 28-Nov-90 04-Dec-90 10-Dec-90

AVALON Summer 1990-1991

16-Dec-90 illlifliiil!iil!lll• 22-Dec-90 •

52

28-Dec-90 03-Jan-91 09-Jan-91 15-Jan-91 21-Jan-91 28-Jan-91 02-Feb-91 08-Feb-91 14-Feb-91 20-Feb-91 26-Feb-91 04-Mar-91 10-Mar-91 16-Mar-91 22-Mar-91 28-Mar-91 03-Apr-91 09-Apr-91 15-Apr-91 21-Apr-91 27-Apr-91

1 10 100 grams grease per cubic metre surface sand

1000


1

MONA VALE Summer 1990-1991

10 100 grams grease per cubk metre surface sand

Figure 25

1000

53

Figure 26

54


1

LONG REEF Summer 1990-1991



1

STH CURL CURL Summer 1990-1991


Figure 27

1000

55

Figure 28

05-0ct-90 11-0ct-90


17-0ct-

90 iilllllllr=~~~~·· 23-0ct-90 •

56

29-0ct-90 04-Nov-90 10-Nov-90 16-Nov-90 22-Nov-90 28-Nov-90 04-Dec-90 10-Dec-90 16-Dec-90 22-Dec-90 28-Dec-90 03-Jan-91 09-Jan-91 15-Jan-91 21-Jan-91 28-Jan-91 02-Feb-91 08-Feb-91 14-Feb-91 20-Feb-91 26-Feb-91 04-Mar-91 10-Mar-91 16-Mar-91 22-Mar-91 28-Mar-91 03-Apr-91 09-Apr-91 15-Apr-91 21-Apr-91 27-Apr-91


1000


05-0ct-90

11-0ct-90 ~~~~~~i~: 17-0ct-90 23-0ct-90 29-0ct-90 04-Nov-90 10-Nov-90 16-Nov-90 22-Nov-90 28-Nov-90 04-Dec-90 10-Dec-90 16-Dec-90 22-Dec-90 28-Dec-90 03-Jan-91 09-Jan-91 15-Jan-91 21-Jan-91 28-Jan-91 02-Feb-91 08-Feb-91 14-Feb-91 20-Feb-91 26-Feb-91 04-Mar-91 10-Mar-91 16-Mar-91 22-Mar-91 28-Mar-91 03-Apr-91 09-Apr-91 15-Apr-91 21-Apr-91 27-Apr-91


Figure 29

1000

57

Figure 30

05-0ct-90 11-0ct-90 17-0ct-90 23-0ct-90 29-0ct-90 04-Nov-90 10-Nov-90 16-Nov-90 22-,-Nov-90 28-Nov-90 04-Dec-90 10-Dec-90

BONDI Summer 1990-1991

16-Dec-90 111111 22-Dec-90 ~

58

28-Dec-90 03-Jan-91 09-Jan-91 15-Jan-91 21-Jan-91 28-Jan-91 02-Feb-91 08-Feb-91 14-Feb-91 20-Feb-91 26-Feb-91 04-Mar-91 10-Mar-91 16-Mar-91 22-Mar-91 28-Mar-91 03-Apr-91 09-Apr-91 15-Apr-91 21-Apr-91 27-Apr-91


1000

05-0ct-90 11-0ct-90

17-0ct-90 1111,~~ 23-0ct-90 • 29-0ct-90 04-Nov-90 10-Nov-90 16-Nov~90

22-Nov-90 28-Nov-90 04-Dec-90 10-Dec-90

16-Dec-90 · ~~~~~~~=~ 22-Dec-90 28-Dec-90 03-Jan-91

09-Jan-91 ~~~~~~=== 15-Jan-91 21-Jan-91 28-Jan-91 02-Feb-91 08-Feb-91 14-Feb-91 20-Feb-91 26-Feb-91 04-Mar-91 10-Mar-91 16-Mar-91 22-Mar-91 28-Mar-91 03-Apr-91 09-Apr-91 15-Apr-91 21-Apr-91 27-Apr-91

1 10

BRONTE Summer 1990-1991

100 grams grease per cubic metre surface sand

Figure 31

1000

59

Figure 32

05-0ct-90 11-0ct-90 17-0ct-90 23-0ct-90 29-0ct-90 04-Nov-90 10-Nov-90 16-Nov-90 22-Nov-90 28-Nov-90 04-Dec-90

COOGEE Summer 1990-1991

10-Dec-90 IJ!ifii~a: 16-Dec-90 22-Dec-90 28-Dec-90 03-Jan-91

60

09-Jan-91 15-Jan-91 21-Jan-91 28-Jan-91 02-Feb-91 08-Feb-91 14-Feb-91 20-Feb-91 26-Feb-91 04-Mar-91 10-Mar-91 16-Mar-91 22-Mar-91 28-Mar-91 03-Apr-91 09-Apr-91 15-Apr-91 21-Apr-91 27-Apr-91


1000


1



Figure 33

1000

61

Figure 34

62

05-0ct-90 11-0ct-90 17-0ct-90 23-0ct-90 29-0ct-90 04-Nov-90 10-Nov-90 16-Nov-90 22-Nov-90 28-Nov-90 04-Dec-90

·10-Dec-90 16-Dec-90


22-Dec-90 iiii;;;:•···-28-Dec-90 03-Jan-91 09-Jan-91 15-Jan-91 21-Jan-91 28-Jan-91 02-Feb-91 08-Feb-91 14-Feb-91 20-Feb-91 26-Feb-91

04-Mar-91 !!!!!i!!i!EE~·· 10-Mar-91 16-Mar-91 22-Mar-91

28-Mar-91 !E!!!EE!!E!:~III 03-Apr-91 09-Apr-91 15-Apr-91 21-Apr-91 27-Apr-91


1000

05-0ct-90 11-0ct-90 17-0ct-90 23-0ct-90 29-0ct-90 04-Nov-90 10-Nov-90 16-Nov-90 22-Nov-90

STH CRONULLA Summer 1990-1991

28-Nov-90 ;:====r-lillilllllllllliiiR 04-Dec-90 10-Dec-90 16-Dec-90 22-Dec-90

28-Dec-90 ~;ii.ii.iiii:iiftllllllll!l 03-Jan-91 II 09-Jan-91 15-Jan-91 21-Jan-91 28-Jan-91 02-Feb-91 08-Feb-91 14-Feb-91 20-Feb-91 26-Feb-91 04-Mar-91 10-Mar-91 16-Mar-91

22-Mar-91 ~;;;;~ 28-Mar-91 ~ 03-Apr-91 09-Apr-91 15-Apr-91 21-Apr-91 27-Apr-91

1 10 100 grams grease per cubic metre surface sand (log scale)

Figure 35

1000

63

Figure 36

PALM Summer 1990-1991

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04-Nov 22-Dec 14-Feb 03-Apr Beach Grease and Visual Beach Sewage Assessment

IZJ Visual Beach Sewage Assessment _ Beach Grease

64

Figure 37

AVALON Summer 1990-1991

4 100

80

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"' 60 ;o· ., - "' "' d) :;: >-< ... .,

d) 8 bll

~ 2 (.)

:E U) ;:l

(.)

..0 1-< (.) ., (lj P< d)

~ 40 d)

"' (iJ ro ., ;:l 1-<

"' bll ·~ > "' 8 ro

bh 1

20

0 0 11-0ct 28-Nov 21-Jan 10-Mar 27-Apr


IZl Visual Beach Sewage Assessment _ Beach Grease

65

Figure 38

MONA VALE

80

3 '"Cl 1'1 ro Vl

~ .., <..)

s '£! Vl Vl 60 ::l .., Vl

Vl .., < tl .., s btl

~ 2 .~ .g

(J) <..)

·'B 1-< .., a'l 0..

~ 40 .., Vl

~ ro ..,

Vl 5h > Vl

[ 1

20

0 0 11-0ct 28-Nov 21-Jan 10-Mar 27-Apr


I2J Visual Beach Sewage Assessment _ Beach Grease

66

Figure 39

LONG REEF Summer 1990-1991

4 100

80

3 "d f:1

"' ..... "' ~

., 0

~ "' ~ 60 ;:l

"' " ., <1: 1-<

~ ., ., s bJ)

~ 2 0 ·~ .D

rJJ 8 -& i:l· "' P. .,

r:o 40 0)

"' '8 "' .,

1-<

" oo ·~ > "' s ro

6h 1 ~ 12]12]

20

0 0 11-0ct 28-Nov 21-Jan 10-Mar 27-Apr


I2J Visual Beach Sewage Assessment _ Beach Grease

67

Figure 40

STH CURL CURL Summer 1990-1991

4 100

80

3 121 121121

"8 1Jl .....

[1 <) u

s '§ "' "' 60 <) "' "' <)

~ ~ <) s OJ)

~ 2 121 .~ .0

r:n 8 fl ...

<)

a'l 0..

p:) 40 II)

"' t;! a'l ;::l 6b "' ·~ > "' s ro

6b

1

20

0 0 11-0ct 28-Nov 21-Jan 10-Mar 27-Apr


121 Visual Beach Sewage Assessment _ Beach Grease

68

Figure 41


4 100

80

3

"" 101 Oj

"' -s <l)

0) u

s <iS "' !:J "' 60 0) "' "' 0)

~ 1-< -<-> <l)

<l) s bJ)

~ 2 u ·~ ..0

(/) ::J u

.<:: 1-<

~ <l) 0.

~ 40 <l)

"' Cil ~ ::J .... "' bJl ·~ > "' s

cd '; bD

1 IZJ

20

0 0 11-0ct 28-Nov 21-Jan 10-Mar 27-Apr


IZJ Visual Beach Sewage Assessment _ Beach Grease

69

Figure 42

STH STEYNE

80

3 'd l':i ro "'

~ <!)

s ~ "' ~ 60 "' "' <!)

< 1-<

0 <!) s OJ)

~ 2 .>l

-e (/)

'5 1-< <!)

ro 0.. <!)

p:) 40 <!)

"' - ~ ro Bl 6h > "'

~ 1

20

0 0 11-0ct 28-Nov 21-Jan 10-Mar 27-Apr


!:>'J Visual Beach Sewage Assessment _ Beach Grease

70

Figure 43

BONDI Summer 1990-1991

4 100

80

3

60

40

1 IZl

20

0 0 11-0ct 28-Nov 21-Jan 10-Mar


IZl Visual Beach Sewage Assessment _ Beach Grease

71

Figure 44

BRONTE Summer 1990-1991

4 100

80

3

60

40

1

20

0 0 11-0ct 28-Nov 21-Jan 10-Mar


~ Visual Beach Sewage Assessment _ Beach Grease

72

Figure 45

COOGEE Summer 1990-1991

4 100

80

3 '0 p ru ... "' p <l)

<l) u s 'fJ 11! 60 ;:l <l) "' "' <l)

..;;: 1-< ...., <l)

<l) s r2

u ·~ .0

IZl g ..P 1-<

~ <l) p,

&:Q 40 <l)

"' (;1 ru <l)

;:l 6h "' ·-:> "' § H on

1

20

0 0 11-0ct 28-Nov 21-Jan 10-Mar 27-Apr


l8l Visual Beach Sewage Assessment _ Beach Grease

73

Figure 46


4 ~

"" 100

80

3 '0 ~

~ 0) (.)

60 ~ "' 0) jj 0)

s f- [g) [g)

(.)

i 1-< 0) p..

40 0)

"' ro 0)

6h "' ~

1 c~

- 20

A

A ~~ V"' ~. ,+,""' = = I = lj ..L

' ""' ""' ""' ""' ""' "'-".!"'~~ -= ~?~~~~~_":"' '"" ~· ~-'=""""· 0 0 11-0ct 28-Nov 21-Jan 10-Mar 27-Apr


[g) Visual Beach Sewage Assessment _ Beach Grease

74

Figure 47


4 100

80

3 '0 c: ro

N "' <) ()

~ 43 "' 60 :::> <) "' "' <) .< ...

+" <)

<) s OJ)

~ 2 () ·~ .0

(/) 8 .D 1-< () <)

\'3 "" 0:) 40 <)

"' ~ "' OJ :::> '-<

"' bO

> "' s [5! OJ)

1

20

0 0 11-0ct 28-Nov 21-Jan 10-Mar 27-Apr


(g) Visual Beach Sewage Assessment _ Beach Grease

75

Figure 48

STH CRONULLA

80

3

'8 o:l

"' ~

<!) u

s tl "' "' 60

;:; <!) "' "' <!)

~ ~ <!) s bO

~ 2 -~

-e Cl)

~ ... u <!)

o:l 0.. <!)

~ 40 <!)

"' '@ o:l <!)

;:; 6h "' :> "'

~ 1

20

0 0 11-0ct 28-Nov 21-Jan 10-Mar 27-Apr


!Zl Visual Beach Sewage Assessment _ Beach Grease

76

Beachwatch samples are taken at approximately 7.00 a.m., at the north, centre and south of each beach, while grease program samples are taken later in the day at three random! y selected sites.

Bondi Beach was chosen for comparison as faecal coliform levels are moderately high there, and both Beachwatch and grease program samples are analysed by the same laboratory. Only data for the 20 days when the two sampling programs coincided during the 1990-91 Summer season were compared (Fig 49).

A two way analysis of variance (ANOV A) was performed on the log transformed data (populations are log normally distributed). Prior to the analysis, a Cochran's test was used to show that the variances were homogeneous. The analysis of variance showed that there was a significant difference between the two programs over the period tested (Table 3). The ANOVA also indicated significant differences between the two programs on specific days. There was a significant interaction between programs and days. Student Newman Keuls (SNK) tests showed that there were significant differences between programs on 14 of the 20 days tested. The Beachwatch program gave significantly higher results on 13 of the days, and the grease program was significantly higher on one day.

While the two programs produced different results, it is not statistically valid to infer that one program gave consistently higher or lower results than the other. The statistical analysis suffers from the limited number of observations, data for only 20 days were compared, and analysis of a larger data set may identify a clearer trend. However, it is valid to infer that the bacteriological quality of beach water samples is not constant over a period of several hours, or along the length of a beach. This means the present testing regime of three samples may not be sufficient to give an indication of the suitability of a beach for swimming throughout the day.

Table 3. Analysis of Variance of Beachwatch and Grease Data.

Source Degrees of Freedom Mean Squares Prob > F

Program 1 20.50253 0.0011

Day 19 3.54306 0.0000

Program/day 19 1.37929 . 0.0000

Error 80 0.100038

Total (adj) 119

77

Figure 49

78

11-0ct

17-0ct

29-0ct

10-Nov

22-Nov

28-Nov

10-Dec

22-Dec

03-Jan

09-Jan

21-Jan

28-Jan

02-Feb

14-Feb

20-Feb

04-Mar

16-Mar

28-Mar

03-Apr

27-Apr

COMPARISON OF BACTERIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS RESULTS- BONDI

Summer 1990-1991

I .. Ill

1

I

• I

111111 I

l

I

I I

I

111111 I

I

I I

I

I I I

1 10 100 1000 10000 Geometric mean faecal coli forms per 100 mL (log scale)

I Grease Program D Beachwatch

Fluorescence Testing.

The results of the fluorescence testing are difficult to assess as there are no guidelines for acceptable levels of fluorescence, and results have not been conelated to daily, beach water, faecal bacteria levels in the past. In addition, samples were not taken at exactly the same time or place as the bacteriological samples, so direct comparisons cannot be made. Figures 50 and 51 show the fluorescence values graphed against the geometric means of the faecal coliforms.

Figures 52 and 53 show fluorescence values graphed against the visual assessment of sewage on the beach. Again, comparisons are difficult, as the visual assessment relates to conditions occurring at the previous high tide, which may have been some time before the fluorescence samples were taken.

79

Figure 50

80

Bondi Compared with Geometric Mean Faecal Coliforms

0

8.4.91 8.4.91 . .... . . . ..

L •.. • ··········· • • 11.4.91 ~

11.4.91

22.4.91 e-.

0.5 T

22.4.91 . ·. . . .....•.... · .. ·. 25.4.91

11!···~······~· ··~ ···,~···!li····~···.··~.·~ ····.rl1~···.··~~"'''' 25.4.91

27.4.91 ~ .. ~~~~~~cs.cc 27.4.91 );;.

29.4.91""""' ................ ....... ~ c-:c.--c

29.4.91 I I

0 200 400

Fluorescence 1 1.5

I

.... <·•···· ·········

I I I

600 800 1000 Faecal Coliforms per lOOmL

I i I Fluorescence North I Fluorescence Centre

Fluorescence South I Geometric Mean Faecal Coliforms

2

1200

1.5.91 2.5.91 3.5.91 6.5.91 7.5.91 8.5.91 9.5.91

10.5.91 11.5.91 13.5.91 14.5.91 15.5.91 16.5.91 17.5.91 18.5.91 20.5.91 21.5.91 22.5.91 23.5.91 24.5.91 25.5.91 27.5.91 28.5.91 29.5.91 30.5.91 31.5.91

ondi Compared with Geometric Mean of Faecal Coliforms

Fluorescence 0 0.5 1 1.5

f_~~~~-:~~~:~~~:_;_~-?~~~~-~:z:~!tif~~--~--~=~--:_~" ,,,,.AW.;:~;-·f-~_,,~;:o, q~-~~~.-,,,~:=~·-'· ¥¥LkXlA ... ~.f >-.A>'t.-¥L ... ,_<C-1.~-~-Rl:.t~V."":'"·.._.,.....:·,_;_;~;·;_;_ •. ~

:.SJ

0 100 200 300 400 500 600 Geometric Mean of Faecal Coliforms/100ml

1>\1 Fluorescence North I Fluorescence Centre

Figure 51

2

700

Fluorescence South I Faecal Coliforms, Geometric Mean

81

Figure 52

BONDI Fluorescence compared with Visual Assessment

Fluorescence 0 0.5 1 1.5 2

8.4.91

8.4.91 11.4.91 11.4.91 13.4.91 ' 13.4.91 15.4.91 15.4.91

18.4.91

~ 18.4.91 Q 20.4.91

20.4.91 22.4.91

22.4.91 25.4.91 25.4.91

27.4.91 27.4.91

29.4.91 29.4.91

0 1 2 3 4 Visuals

I IJ Fluorescence North I Fluorescence Centre

Fluorescence South I Visual Assessment

Visuals: O=Nil, 1=Traces, 2=Low, 3=Med, 4=High

82

1.5.91 2.5.91 3.5.91 6.5.91 7.5.91 8.5.91 9.5.91

10.5.91 11.5.91 13.5.91 14.5.91 15.5.91 16.5.91 17.5.91 18.5.91 20.5.91 21.5.91 22.5.91 23.5.91 24.5.91 25.5.91 27.5.91 28.5.91 29.5.91 30.5.91 31.5.91

0

0

80 Fluorescence compared with Visual Assessment

0.5

1

lie",;! Fluorescence North

Fluorescence South

Fluorescence 1

2 Visuals

1.5

3

I Fluorescence Centre

I Visual Assessment

Visuals: O=Nil, 1=Traces, 2=Low, 3=Med, 4=High

Figure 53

2

4

83

Beach User Numbers.

The number of people using the beaches can be seen as an indicator of public perceptions of beach cleanliness. Beach usage figures are not available for most beaches, but have been collated for Maroubra Beach for the past two summer seasons in Table 4.

Table 4. Beach Usage and Rainfall at Maroubra Beach.

1989-90 1990-91

Month Beach Users Rainfall(mm) Beach Users Rainfall(mm)

October 41,850 13.2 47,800 40.4

November 29,000 50.8 84,100 36.2

December 67,100 161.2 402,500 43.4

January 57,800 83.6 162,300 118.4

February 20,000 631.4 80,000 62.4

March 42,850 160.8 70,000 28.6

April 36,650 282.2 46,100 53.8

Total 295,250 1383.2 892,800 383.2

The table shows a very large increase in beach usage for the 1990-91 season, with more than three times the number of beach users in this season compared with 1989-90. Part of the reason for the large increase may be explained by the rainfall figures which show that 1989-90 was a much wetter year than 1990-91. However when some months are compared, for example January 1990 with January 1991, we see that although 1991 was wetter, and had more days in which rain fell, (14 in 1990, and 15 in 1991), beach usage was still considerably greater in 1991. While other factors such as temperature and cloudiness have an impact on beach usage, it appears that beach cleanliness is also an important factor.

84

Appendix 1.

Sample Daily Report

BEACHW ATCH BULLETIN

Tuesday 15th January, 1991 Issued at 12 Midday

The Weather Bureau forecast cloudy periods with the chance of an afternoon shower or thunderstorm. Winds are expected to be southerly at 10 knots, tending easterly at 10-15 knots in the afternoon.

All of Sydney's beaches from Cronulla in the south to Palm Beach on the northside report conditions free of sewage pollution, while weed deposits continue to affect a number of Sydney's beaches.

On the southside - all of the Cronulla beaches report conditions free of sewage pollution. Weed deposits are affecting all beaches from Cronulla to Boat Harbour.

For the city beaches - all beaches from Maroubra to Bondi report no sewage pollution, while weed deposits are affecting Maroubra, Coogee, Clovelly and Bronte. A large brown stain has been observed to be emanating from the stormwater drain at South Bondi. Further investigations reveal this is due to a burst water main nearby, and it is anticipated that conditions will improve later in the day.

On the northside - all beaches from Shelly Beach to Palm Beach report conditions free of sewage pollution, while stormwater litter is evident at Palm, Whale and Bungan. Weed deposits are affecting Avalon, Newport, Warriewood, Collaroy, Long Reef and Dee Why.

Observations from the Beachwatch Helicopter indicate the flows from the sewage outfalls at Cronulla and Bondi are tracking north and are not expected to have any effect on Sydney's beaches today.

the cleanest beaches today are Tamarama for the city beaches; and on the northside -the majority of beaches from Shelly Beach to Palm Beach offer the best conditions.

85

Appendix 2.

Recipients of the Daily Media Reports.

SBS 0 ABC2 ATN7 TCN9 TENlO 2BL 2CH 2EA 2GB 2KY 2RPH 2SM 2WS 2 UE 2UW 2DAY 2MMM Australian Associated Press The Australian The Daily Mirror The Sydney Morning Herald The Sun Herald The Daily Telegraph The Sunday Telegraph The Manly Daily The St George Leader Telerate

86

Dawn Fraser Mike Petrie Ben Castle Alec Beaton Bilgola Lifeguards Manly Surf Lifesavers Warringah Surf Lifesavers Waverley Surf Lifesavers Randwick Surf Lifesavers Cronulla Surf Lifesavers Micro Tech Laboratories Ministry for the Environment Public Health Department State Pollution Control Commission The Water Board Malabar Sewage Treatment Plant Bondi Sewage Treatment Plant North Head Sewage Treatment Plant Sutherland Shire Council Warringah Council AWACS SLSA Surf House Eastern Sydney Public Health Unit

Appendix 3.

BEACHWATCH PRESS RELEASE

SYDNEY'S BEACHES IN OCTOBER 1990

Sydney's beaches experienced a lower incidence of sewage pollution in October compared to September as variable winds kept sewage plumes away from the beaches for most of the month.

The cleanest beaches were the Cronulla beaches, beaches north of Bungan and the City beaches from Clovelly to Little Bay. Malabar and Little Bay reported clean conditions, free of sewage pollution, for the month of October.

Beaches from Collaroy to Bronte were all impacted by varying degrees of sewage pollution in October. Beaches from Long Reef to Tamarama and Bungan all reported high levels of sewage pollution with South Steyne reporting 13% of days in October as high.

Light rains caused varying degrees of stormwater pollution on all of Sydney's beaches. Beaches experienced a lower incidence of stormwater pollution compared to September. Beaches from Queenscliff to Maroubra and North Wanda were the worst affected by stormwater pollution, all reporting high levels. Clovelly and Maroubra reported 10% of days in October having high levels of stormwater pollution while Bronte reported only 3% of days in October as clean.

Continued bacteriological testing during October showed that the guidelines set by the Department of Health continued to be exceeded at many beaches. Bacterial levels were high on 11 of the days sampled, with the greatest geometric mean of 31 07 recorded at Freshwater.

For daily reports on beach conditions phone the BEACHWATCH INFORMATION LINE on 901 7996

For further information on Beachwatch contact Brian Solomon on 281 4111 or (018) 263 215

87

Beach

Palm

Whale

Avalon

Bilgola

Newport

Bungan

Mona Vale

Warriewood

North Narrabeen

South Narrabeen

Colla roy

Long Reef

Dee Why

North Curl Curl

South Curl Curl

Freshwater

Queenscliff

North Steyne

South Steyne

Shelley

Bondi

Tamarama

Bronte

Clovelly

Coo gee

Maroubra

Malabar

Little Bay

North wanda

Wanda

Elouera

North Cronulla

South Cronulla

BEACHWATCH SUMMARY OF BEACH CONDITIONS

SEWAGE POLLUTION- OCTOBER 1990

%Clean %Trace %Low %Medium

97 3 0 0

97 3 0 0 71 23 3 3

71 16 10 3

77 10 10 3 68 13 10 6 52 16 26 6

45 29 23 3 61 23 13 3 87 10 0 3 55 29 13 3 42 19 16 13

56 16 16 6 38 29 13 10 29 32 16 13 26 29 29 10 32 39 13 10 39 33 19 6 39 10 22 16 39 29 26 0 35 35 20 6 32 52 10 3 10 70 10 10 94 3 3 0 81 16 3 0 84 10 6 0

100 0 0 0 100 0 0 0 68 29 3 0 71 29 0 0 77 23 0 0 68 32 0 0 71 29 0 0

%High

0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 10 6

10 10 6 6 3

13 6 4

3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

' ' ' NOTE: For dally reporting purposes the clean cateQory 1s separated mto two categones - nil' and 'traces'. Both categones are reported as 'clean .

88

Beach

Palm

Whale

Avalon

Bilgola

Newport

Bungan

Mona Vale

Warriewood

North Narrabeen

South Narrabeen

Colla roy

Long Reef

Dee Why

North Curl Curl

South Curl Curl

Freshwater

Queenscliff

North Steyne

South Steyne

Shelley

Bondi

Tamarama

Bronte

Clovelly

Coogee

·. Maroubra

Malabar

Little Bay

North Wanda

Wanda

Elouera

North Cronulla

South Cronulla


sToR'rii1W"A't-i=R' Pr'iLLO'rYo~ _ o'c'ToBF=i=i 1 RRn

%Clean %Trace %Low %Medium

65 19 13 3

55 29 13 3 87 3 7 3

42 16 32 10

61 26 10 3

74 10 10 6

42 26 32 0

61 26 13 0

16 36 42 6

78 19 3 0

42 42 16 0

61 23 16 0

52 26 22 0

52 29 16 3

55 23 16 6

48 26 23 3 36 39 13 6 58 29 7 3 55 29 10 3 32 26 36 3 13 45 26 13 10 48 13 . 26

3 61 16 16

64 13 10 3 42 23 26 3 32 . 19 32 7 84 3 0 13 97 3 0 0 71 16 3 7 71 23 3 3 81 13 3 3 67 20 3 10 77 13 0 10

%High

0

0 --0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

6

3

3

3

3 3

3

10

6

10

0

0

3

0

0

0

0 ' ' ' NOTE. For daily reportmg purposes the clean cate~ory 1s separated mto two categones - nil'

and 'traces'. Both categories are reported as 'clean.

89


SYDNEY'S BEACHES IN NOVEMBER 1990

Sydney's beaches experienced a lower incidence of visible pollution in November compared to October despite predominantly onshore winds throughout most of November.

Visually, the cleanest beaches in Sydney for November were, Whale, Newport, Bungan, Malabar and Little Bay, which reported no visible sewage pollution during November.

Palm, Avalon, Clovelly, North Wanda, Wanda, Elouera and North Cronulla beaches reported nil or occasional traces of visible sewage pollution throughout the month.

Visually the beaches worst affected by sewage pollution were; North and South Curl Curl, Queenscliff, North and South Steyne, Coogee and Maroubra.

Low rainfall throughout November caused varying levels of stormwater pollution on all beaches except Malabar and Little Bay where no stormwater pollution was observed.

Beaches worst affected by stormwater pollution were; Warriewood to Collaroy, Dee Why to South Curl Curl, South Steyne and Bondi to Maroubra which recorded medium and/or high levels. Bondi was the worst affected beach reporting a medium or high level of stormwater pollution on 10 days in November.

Continued water testing during November showed that bacteriological guidelines set by the Department of Health' were exceeded on 14 of Sydney's beaches. Shelly beach exceeded the guidelines on 5 days sampled, North Curl Curl on 4, South Curl Curl, Freshwater, Queenscliff, North Steyne, Bondi, Tamarama and Bronte on 3 days and Warriewood, North Narrabeen, South Steyne, Coogee and Boat Harbour on 1 day sampled.

* Bacteriological Guidelines "Water should be considered unsuitable for bathing where the faecal coliform count, calculated as the geometric mean of the numbers of organisms in three water samples taken at one time from the area being examined exceeds 300/1 OOmL or the number of faecal coliforms in any single sample exceeds 2000/1 OOmL."

For daily reports on beach conditions phone the BEACHWATCH INFORMATION LINE on 901 7996

For further information on Beachwatch contact Brian Solomon on 793 0354 or (018} 263 215

90

Beach

Palm

Whale

Avalon

Bilgola

Newport

Bungan

Mona Vale

Warriewood

North Narrabeen

South Narrabeen

Colla roy

Long Reef

Dee Why

North Curl Curl

South Curl Curl

Freshwater

Queenscliff

North Steyne

South Steyne

Shelly

Bondi

Tamarama

Bronte

Clovelly

Coogee

Maroubra

Malabar

Little Bay

North Wanda

Wanda

Elouera

North Cronulla

South Cronulla


SEWAGE POLLUTION - NOVEMBER 1990

%Nil %Trace %Low %Medium

97 3 0 0

100 0 0 0

97 3 0 0

90 7 3 0

100 0 0 0

100 0 0 0

67 10 23 0

40 40 17 3

80 10 7 3

97 0 3 0

87 6 7 0

50 20 20 10

57 27 . 16 0

47 13 20 17

30 33 27 7

43 27 20 10

47 23 23 0

43 27 . 24 3

33 14 23 20

63 30 7 0

47 47 6 0

23 70 7 0

13 84 3 0

90 10 0 0

80 7 10 0

67 16 7 7

100 0 0 0

100 0 0 0

77 23 0 0

77 23 0 0

77 23 0 0

83 17 0 0

72 24 4 0

%High

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

3

3

0

7

3

10

0

0

0

0

0

3

3 --0

0

0

0

0

0

0

' ' NOTE: For dally reporting purposes the clean cate!:)ory IS separated mto two categones - 'nil' and 'traces'. Both categories are reported as 'clean ,

91


ST(' 0"•"'

1 '\TEB POLLUTION- NOVE~ 1990 Beach %Nil %Trace %Low %Medium %High

Palm 87 3 10 0 0 Whale 77 20 3 0 0 Avalon 83 17 0 0 0 Bilgola 67 20 13 0 0

Newport 87 13 0 0 0 Bungan 80 10 10 0 0 Mona Vale 80 17 3 0 0 Warriewood 90 4 3 0 3 North Narrabeen 67 20 10 3 0 South Narrabeen 94 3 0 3 0 Colla roy 74 10 10 3 3 Long Reef 67 13 20 0 0 Dee Why 50 20 27 3 0 North Curl Curl 50 20 20 3 7 South Curl Curl 67 17 13 3 0 Freshwater 64 23 13 0 0 Queenscliff 60 30 10 0 0 North Steyne 67 30 3 0 0 South Steyne 60 20 10 3 0 Shelly 63 27 10 0 0 Bondi 13 37 20 17 13 Tamarama 13 60 20 7 0 Bronte 7 80 10 3 0 Clovelly 33 50 10 7 0 Coogee 50 24 20 3 3 Maroubra 27 47 10 10 6 Malabar 100 0 0 0 0 Little Bay 100 0 0 0 0 North Wanda 86 7 7 0 0 Wanda 83 10 7 0 0 Elouera 90 10 0 0 0 North Cronulla 80 17 3 0 0 South Cronulla 76 20 4 0 0

' ' ' NOTE. For da1ly reportmg P,Urposes the clean catefjory 1s separated mto two categones - nil' and 'traces'. Both categones are reported as 'clean .

92


SYDNEY'S BEACHES IN DECEMBER 1990

Sydney's beach goers experienced warm and dry weather conditions during December coupled with generally low pollution levels and took to the beaches in large numbers.

The undoubted highlight of the month was the commissioning of the North Head deepwater ocean outfall by the Water Board some seven months earlier than scheduled. Within 48 hours of commissioning a dramatic drop in faecal coliform levels from Shelly Beach to Queenscliff was observed.

Malabar and Little Bay beaches again showed no visible signs of sewage pollution, testifying to the continued effectiveness of the Malabar deepwater ocean outfall.

Prior to the North Head outfall being commissioned, North and South Steyne exceeded the Department of Health Bacteriological Guidelines* for bathing water quality most frequently, with 4 out of 18 sampling days in December exceeding the guidelines.

Other beaches exceeding the bacteriological guidelines during December were; Queenscliff, Warriewood, North Curl Curl, Shelly, Tamarama, Bronte and Coogee on 2 sampling days. Mona Vale, Collaroy, Long Reef, South Curl Curl, Freshwater, Bondi, Clovelly, Malabar, Little Bay, Boat Harbour, North Wanda, Wanda and Elouera exceeded the guidelines on one sampling day.

The two beaches most affected by visible sewage pollution during December were South Curl Curl and South Steyne. South Steyne reported 4 high and 3 medium days of sewage pollution whilst South Curl Curl reported 1 high and 5 medium .. Interestingly, these figures were all reported before the North Head outfall was commissioned.

Evidence of visible stormwater pollution was observed on all Sydney beaches in December. Coogee reported 4 high and 1 medium, Maroubra, 3 high and 2 medium and Queenscliff 3 days of high pollution.

The beaches in December that did not exceed the Department of Health Bacteriological Guidelines for bathing water quality were, Palm Beach to Bungan, North and South Narrabeen, Dee Why, Maroubra and North and South Cronulla.

No evidence of visible sewage pollution was observed at Palm, Whale, Avalon, Malabar and Little Bay beaches, while the beaches reporting the least amount of visible sewage pollution were Avalon, Mona Vale and South Narrabeen.

The beaches reporting the least amount of visible stormwater pollution were Avalon, Mona Vale and South Narrabeen.

• Bacteriological Guidelines "Water should be considered unsuitable for bathing where the faecal coliform count, calculated as the geometric mean of the numbers of organisms in three water samples taken at one time from the area being examined exceeds 300/1 OOmL or the number of faecal coliforms in any single sample exceeds 2000/100ml."

93

Beach

Palm

Whale

Avalon

Bilgola

Newport

Bungan

Mona Vale

Warriewood

North Narrabeen

South Narrabeen

Colla roy

Long Reef

Dee Why

North Curl Curl

South Curl Curl

Freshwater

Oueenscliff

North Steyne

South Steyne

Shelly

Bondi

Tamarama

Bronte

Clovelly

Coo gee

Maroubra

Malabar

Little Bay

Boat Harbour

North Wanda

Wanda

Elouera

North Cronulla

South Cronulla


SEWAGE POLLUTION DECEMBER 1990 -NUMBER OF DAYS

NIL TRACE LOW

31 0 0

31 0 0

31 0 0

25 6 0

30 1 0

28 3 0

28 3 0

24 5 1

30 1 0

30 1 0

30 1 0

17 9 4

12 13 4

13 9 6

12 10 3

14 12 2

16 8 6

16 4 9

13 5 6

22 6 3

6 22 2

2 27 2

8 23 0

30 0 1

29 2 0 23 6 1

31 0 0

31 0 0 28 1 0

29 0 1

29 0 0

29 0 0

29 0 0

27 1 1

MEDIUM HIGH

0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

1 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

1 0

2 0

3 0

5 1

3 0

1 0

2 0

3 4

0 0

1 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

1 0

0 0

0 0

2 0

1 0

2 0

2 0

2 0

2 0 c: For dail re ortin ur oses the 'clean' cate or NOT y p g P. p Q Y

and 'traces' o Both categories are reported as 'clean 0

is se p arated into two cate ories -g

94

'nil'

smF:KM~r-fE~YPRF~ ~MR~i _cntJP.JlJQtJJ> 1 ~Hln Beach NUMBER OF DAYS

NIL TRACE LOW MEDIUM HIGH

Palm 23 6 2 0 0

Whale 24 5 2 0 0

Avalon 29 2 0 0 0

Bilgola 23 3 4 1 0

Newport 25 1 3 2 0

Bungan 26 3 2 0 0

Mona Vale 27 4 0 0 0

Warriewood 26 4 1 0 0

North Narrabeen 20 6 5 0 0 South Narrabeen 30 1 0 0 0 Colla roy 22 5 4 0 0 Long Reef 26 4 1 0 0 Dee Why 21 8 2 0 0

North Curl Curl 21 5 2 1 2 South Curl Curl 22 6 2 1 0

Freshwater 19 7 4 1 0 Queenscliff 22 4 2 0 3 North Steyne 22 5 2 1 1 South Steyne 16 8 4 1 2 Shelly 22 8 1 0 0 Bondi 2 16 8 5 0 Tamarama 1 19 8 3 0 Bronte 0 23 8 0 0 Clovelly 14 6 2 7 2 Coo gee 15 7 4 1 4 Maroubra 6 15 5 2 3 Malabar 29 0 0 0 2 Little Bay 29 0 0 1 1 Boat Harbour 30 0 1 0 0 North Wanda 29 0 2 0 0 Wanda 28 0 2 1 0 Elouera 29 0 1 1 0 North Cronulla 28 1 2 0 0 South Cronulla 30 0 0 1 0

E: For dail re ortin ur oses the 'clean' cate or NOT y p g p p ~ y and 'traces'. Both categories are reported as 'clean .

is se p arated into two cate g ories - 'nil'

95


SYDNEY'S BEACHES IN JANUARY 1991

Beach Pollution Down Beach Users Up

The great summer weather continued throughout January drawing large crowds of beach goers to the beaches.

The northern beaches continued to show the beneficial effects of the North Head Deepwater Ocean Outfall with only 2 of the northern beaches exceeding the Department of Health's bacteriological guidelines • for the month. They were Warriewood and North Curl Curl. Warriewood exceeded the guidelines on 2 of the 18 sampling days while North Curl Curl exceeded the guidelines only once.

On the city and southern beaches, conditions were not quite as good with 8 beaches exceeding the Department of Health guidelines on one or more of the 18 sampling days. The two beaches that exceeded the guidelines most frequently were Tamarama and Bronte. Tamarama exceeded the guidelines on 6 of the 18 sampling days while Bronte exceeded the guidelines on 4 days.

Other beaches exceeding the bacteriological guidelines during January were; Bondi on 3 sampling days, Coogee and Boat Harbour on 2 sampling days and Clovelly, Malabar and Maroubra on one sampling day.

Sydney's beaches experienced an overall decrease in visible sewage pollution in January compared to December, with no beach recording a high visual reading. In fact, only three beaches, Long Reef, Maroubra and North Wanda, recorded a medium level of visible sewage pollution on one day during the month. Fourteen beaches recorded all of January as free from any sewage pollution compared to only 5 beaches during December.

Sydney experienced a number of violent storms during January which caused stormwater pollution on all beaches except Little Bay. Warriewood was the next cleanest recording only 'nil' or 'trace' stormwater pollution readings throughout the month.

The beaches most affected by stormwater pollution were Maroubra and Clovelly. Maroubra Beach experienced 3 days of high and 6 days of medium levels of stormwater pollution while Clovelly recorded 2 days of high and 8 days of medium.

During January the Beachwatch Information Line received a total of 4395 calls on its 901 7996 number. This was slightly below the 4964 calls received in December.

In summary, Beachwatch is pleased to report an encouraging decrease in all forms of beach pollution during January compared with December.

Please Note: All Beachwatch bacteriological data is available on request however the sheer volume of data precludes us from sending it out to all recipients of the monthly press release.

• Bacteriological Guidelines. "Water should be considered unsuitable for bathing where the faecal coliform count, calculated as the geometric mean of the numbers of organisms in three water samples, taken at one time from the area being examined exceeds 300/1 OOmL, or the number of faecal coliforms in any single sample exceeds 2000/1 OOml."

96

Palm

Whale

Avalon

Bilgola

Newport

Bungan Mona Vale

Warriewood

North Narrabeen

South Narrabeen

Colla roy

Long Reef

Dee Why

North Curl Curl

South Curl Curl

Freshwater

Queenscliff

North Steyne

South Steyne

Shelly

Bondi

Tamarama

Bronte

Clovelly

Coo gee

Maroubra

Malabar

Little Bay

Boat Harbour

North Wanda

Wanda

Elouera

North Cronulla

South Cronulla


SEWAGE POLLUTION JANUARY 1991 -NUMBER OF DAYS

NIL TRACE LOW

31 0 0

31 0 0

31 0 0

31 0 0

31 0 0 31 0 0 30 1 0

29 2 0

31 0 0

30 1 0 31 0 0

28 1 1

27 3 1 31 0 0 30 1 0

30 1 0 30 1 0 31 0 0 30 1 0 31 0 0

16 13 2 11 19 1 4 27 0

31 0 0 27 3 1 28 0 2 31 0 0 31 0 0

29 2 0 28 2 0 30 ' 1 0

30 1 0 28 3 0 24 4 3

MEDIUM HIGH

0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

1 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0 -

0 0

0 0

0 0 --0 0

0 0 1 0 0 0 --0 0 0 0 --1 0 0 0

-0 0

0 0 0 0

' ' ' NOTE. For dally report1ng purposes the clean category 1s separated 1nto two categones- nil' and 'traces'. Both categories are reported as 'clean .

97

s~oo~lf'f/~9{~~~~ ~g~~II!~~5t99t Beach NUMBER OF DAYS


Palm 21 5 2 3 0

Whale 21 7 3 0 0

Avalon 27 1 1 2 0

Bilgola 23 3 2 3 0

Newport 22 4 2 3 0

Bungan 22 6 3 0 0

Mona Vale 19 10 1 1 0


North Narrabeen 24 4 3 0 0

South Narrabeen 29 1 1 0 0

Colla roy 16 12 3 0 0

Long Reef 28 1 2 0 0

Dee Why 19 5 7 0 0

North Curl Curl 26 2 2 1 0

South Curl Curl 24 6 1 0 0

Freshwater 18 8 5 0 0

Queenscliff 18 5 6 2 0

North Steyne 22 5 2 2 0

South Steyne 18 9 2 2 0

Shelly 19 7 2 2 1

Bondi 7 11 7 5 1

Tamarama 2 16 12 1 0

Bronte 2 15 1 1 4 0 Clovelly 18 4 4 8 2 Coo gee 1 1 9 5 6 1 Maroubra 10 6 6 6 3 Malabar 29 1 1 0 0 Little Bay 31 0 0 0 0 Boat Harbour 27 1 3 0 0 North Wanda 26 1 4 0 0 Wanda 28 1 2 0 0 Elouera 28 1 2 0 0 North Cronulla 28 1 2 0 0 South Cronulla 28 2 1 0 0

TE: For dail re ortin ur oses the 'clean' cate or is se NO y p g P. p Q y and 'traces'. Both categories are reported as 'clean .

p arated into two cate g ories- ' nil'

98


SYDNEY'S BEACHES IN FEBRUARY 1991

A slight increase on the January figures in the levels of sewage pollution was recorded on Sydney's beaches for February as predominantly easterly winds pushed small amounts of floating sewage material to the shore. No high levels of visible sewage pollution were recorded on any of Sydney's beaches. North Curl Curl and North Steyne recorded one day of medium sewage pollution while South Curl Curl recorded three. Low levels of sewage pollution were reported at North Narrabeen, Collaroy to Bronte excluding North Steyne and Shelly, and Maroubra.

The cleanest beaches were Palm Beach to Warriewood, South Narrabeen and Shelly in the north and beaches from Clovelly to South Cronulla, excluding Maroubra, which all reported clean conditions during February with levels in the 'nil' and/or 'trace' categories.

Varying levels of stormwater pollution were reported on Sydney's beaches in February. Maroubra beach recorded three days of high stormwater pollution while North Curl Curl, Bondi, Tamarama and Coogee all recorded one day as high.

Medium levels of stormwater pollution were recorded at Newport, North and South Narrabeen, North Curl Curl and Queenscliff to Little Bay. Whale beach, Mona Vale and Warriewood all recorded either 'nil' and/or 'trace' levels of stormwater pollution for February.

Department of Health Bacteriological Guidelines for bathing water continued to be exceeded at several beaches this month. The city beaches of Bondi, Tamarama and Bronte exceeded the guidelines on 8 out of 16 sampling days while Clovelly exceeded the guidelines on one day.

Boat Harbour beach exceeded the guidelines on 4 of the 16 sampling days while the northern beaches of Mona Vale, Warriewood, Dee Why, North Curl Curl and Shelly beach exceeded it on only one sampling day.


• Bacteriological Guidelines. "Water should be considered unsuitable for bathing where the faecal coliform count, calculated as the geometric mean of the numbers of organisms in three water samples, taken at one time from the area being examined exceeds 300/1 OOmL, or the number of faecal coliforms in any single sample exceeds 2000/1 OOmL."

For further information on Beachwatch contact Joe Donnelly on (021 793 0354 or (018) 263 215

For daily reports on beach conditions phone the Beachwatch Information Line on 901 7996

99

Beach

Palm

Whale

Avalon

Bilgola

Newport

Bungan

Mona Vale

Warriewood

North Narrabeen

South Narrabeen

Colla roy Long Reef

Dee Why

North Curl Curl

South Curl Curl

Freshwater

Queenscliff

North Steyne

South Steyne

Shelly

Bondi

Tamarama

Bronte

Clovelly

Coo gee

Maroubra

Malabar

Little Bay

North Wanda

Wanda

Elouera

North Cronulla

South Cronulla


SEWAGE POLLUTION- FEBRUARY 1991

NUMBER OF DAYS

NIL TRACE LOW

28 0 0 28 0 0 27 1 0 27 1 0 27 1 0 25 3 0 26 2 0 28 0 0 26 1 1 27 1 0 26 1 1 23 4 1 22 4 2 20 3 4 20 4 1 22 3 3 24 2 2 24 3 0 24 2 2 28 0 0 14 13 1 9 18 1

4 23 1 27 1 0

27 1 0 26 1 1

28 0 0 28 0 0 26 2 0 27 1 0 27 1 0 25 3 0 25 3 0

MEDIUM HIGH

0 0 0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

0 0 1 0

3 0 0 0 0 0

1 0

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

' ' NOTE: For da1ly reportmg P,urposes the clean category 1s separated 1nto two categones- 'nil' and 'traces'. Both categones are reported as 'clean .

100

fMWiitFR.POll1fff(jN --F'EEfRUARY 1991

BEACH NUMBER OF DAYS


Palm 20 5 3 0 0

Whale 23 5 0 0 0

Avalon 25 2 1 0 0

Bilgola 20 7 1 0 0

Newport 22 4 1 1 0

Bungan 23 3 2 0 0





Colla roy 23 3 2 0 0

Long Reef 22 3 3 0 0

Dee Why 18 8 2 0 0

North Curl Curl 18 3 5 1 1

South Curl Curl 19 5 4 0 0

Freshwater 18 7 3 0 0

Queenscliff 14 6 4 4 0

North Steyne 16 5 3 4 0

South Steyne 15 4 4 5 0

Shelly 19 7 1 1 0

Bondi 0 17 7 3 1

Tamarama 0 20 4 3 1 Bronte 2 17 8 1 0 Clovelly 15 2 7 4 0 Coo gee 14 6 4 3 1 Maroubra 6 8 6 5 3 Malabar 26 1 0 1 0 Little Bay 26 1 0 1 0 North Wanda 24 1 3 0 0 Wanda 24 1 3 0 -0

Elouera 25 0 3 0 0 North Cronulla 24 1 3 . 0 0 South Cronulla 23 3 2 0 0

' ' ' NOTE. For <)aily reportlnQ purposes the clean cate9ory IS separated 1nto two categones - nil' and 'traces . Both categones are reported as 'clean .

101


SYDNEY'S BEACHES IN MARCH 1991

All but seven of Sydney's beaches had no significant visual signs of sewage pollution during March. However, varying amounts of stormwater pollution, mostly low level, were evident at a majority of beaches.

Bungan, Long Reef, Bondi, Tamarama and Boat Harbour were contaminated on one day with low visual sewage pollution during the month. Bungan, Boat Harbour and North Wanda all recorded one day of medium sewage pollution with Maroubra recording one day of high.

Only eleven beaches recorded no significant stormwater pollution during March. The city beaches from Bondi to Clovelly were most affected by stormwater debris, but Maroubra was almost as bad. North Wanda beach, though usually clean, had one day of high stormwater contamination.

Department of Health Bacteriological Guidelines* for bathing water were exceeded at 9 beaches during March. Bondi and Tamarama exceeded the guidelines on 5 days while Bronte exceeded on 3 days and Shelley on 2 days. Clovelly, Coogee, Maroubra, Malabar and Warriewood exceeded the guidelines on one sampling day. There were 17 sampling days during the month.

The Beachwatch Information Line received 1607 calls during March.


* Bacteriological Guidelines. "Water should be considered unsuitable for bathing where the faecal coliform count, calculated as the geometric mean of the numbers of organisms in three water samples, taken at one time from the area being examined exceeds 300/1 OOmL, or the number of faecal coliforms in any single sample exceeds 2000/1 OOmL."

102

Beach

Palm

Whale.

Avalon

Bilgola

Newport

Bungan

Mona Vale

Warriewood

North Narrabeen

South Narrabeen

Colla roy

Long Reef

Dee Why

North Curl Curl

South Curl Curl

Freshwater

Queenscliff

North Steyne

South Steyne

Shelly

Bondi

Tamarama

Bronte

Clovelly

Coo gee

Maroubra

Malabar

Little Bay

Boat Harbour

North Wanda

Wanda

Elouera

North Cronulla

South Cronulla

BEACHWATCH SUMMARY OF BEACH CONDITIONS SEWAGE POLLUTION - MARCH 1991

NUMBER OF DAYS

NIL TRACE LOW

31 0 0

31 0 0

31 0 0

30 .

1 0

31 0 0

28 1 1

30 1 0 31 0 0

31 0 0

31 0 0

30 1 0 29 1 1

29 2 0

28 3 0

28 3 0 29 2 0 31 0 0

31 0 0

31 0 0

31 0 0

22 8 1 23 7 1

15 16 0 31 0 0 31 0 0 28 2 0 31 0 0 31 0 0 24 5 1

22 8 0

23 8 0 27 4 0 26 5 0 24 7 0

-·~

MEDIUM HIGH

0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

1 0

0 0 0 0 0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0 0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

0. 0

0 0 0 0 0 0

0 1

0 0

0 0 1 0 --1 0

0 0

0 0 0 0 0 0

' ' ' NOTE. For da1ly reportmg purposes the clean category 1s separated mto two categones - nil' and 'traces'. Both categones are reported as 'clean .

103

S~~JYl_fT~" ~hfi~~fi~NC _·fj~IJ~'?.I'Jrqq 1

Beach NUMBER OF DAYS


Palm 26 5 0 0 0

Whale 25 5 0 1 0

Avalon 29 2 0 0 0

Bilgola 26 5 0 0 0

Newport 26 3 2 0 0

Bungan 29 2 0 0 0





Colla roy 28 3 0 0 0 Long Reef 28 2 1 0 0 Dee Why 28 2 0 1 0 North Curl Curl 29 2 0 0 0 South Curl Curl 30 1 0 0 0 Freshwater 28 2 1 0 0 Queenscliff 18 8 4 1 0 North Steyne 29 1 1 0 0 South Steyne 28 2 1 0 0 Shelly 26 3 1 1 0 Bondi 10 10 7 4 0 Tamarama 12 10 7 2 0 Bronte 6 20 3 2 0 Clovelly 15 7 5 4 0 Coo gee 20 5 6 0 0 Maroubra 16 8 5 2 0 Malabar 31 0 0 0 0 Little Bay 31 0 0 0 0 Boat Harbour 27 2 2 0 0 North Wanda 27 1 2 0 1 Wanda 27 1 3 0 0 Elouera 27 2 2 0 0 North Cronulla 27 1 2 1 0 South Cronulla 27 1 3 0 0

' ' ' NOTE. For c;Jatly reporttng P.urposes the clean cate~ory 1s separated tnto two categones - nil' and 'traces . Both categories are reported as 'clean .

104


SYDNEY'S BEACHES IN APRIL

Winds and currents helped to keep Sydney beaches mostly clean in April except for a few incidents of oil pollution. No Sydney beaches had any high levels of visible sewage pollution during April. Only Dee Why had one day of medium pollution. Beaches north of Long Reef showed barely a trace.

All except eight beaches recorded visible pollution from urban runoff during April. The southern beaches were most affected, with all except Malabar showing signs of urban pollution runoff on at least two days. In the north, North Narrabeen was most affected with six days of low levels of urban runoff.

Department of Health Bacteriological Guidelines • for bathing water were exceeded on at least one day at 17 beaches during April. Boat Harbour exceeded the guidelines on 7 days, Bondi and Tamarama on 5 days each while Bronte exceeded on 4 days and Warriewood, North Wanda and Shelley on 3 days. Wanda and Elouera exceeded the guidelines on two sampling days, with Bungan, Mona Vale, Queenscliff, North Steyne, Coogee, Malabar, Maroubra and South Cronulla exceeding on one day !;lach. There were 17 sampling days during the month.

Several city beaches were affected by small spots of heavy oil early in the month. The oil was deposited as discrete particles along the wave marks and was not visible in the water. The incidents were of limited environmental significance, but were a nuisance to beach users, and caused several beaches to close. ( A complete report on the oil pollution is available from Beachwatch.)

The Beachwatch Information Line received a thousand calls during April.

Please Note: All Beachwatch bacteriological data is available on request, however the sheer volume of data precludes us from sending it out to all recipients of the monthly press release.

• Bacteriological Guidelines. "Water should be considered unsuitable for bathing where the faecal coliform count, calculated as the geometric mean of the numbers of organisms in three water samples, taken at one time from the area being examined exceeds 300/1 OOmL, or the number of faecal coliforms in any single sample exceeds 2000/100mL."

105

BEACH

Palm

Whale

Avalon

Bilgola

Newport

Bungan

Mona Vale

Warriewood

North Narrabeen

South Narrabeen

Colla roy

Long Reef

Dee Why

North Curl Curl

South Curl Curl

Freshwater

Queenscliff

North Steyne

South Steyne

Shelly

Bondi

Tamarama

Bronte

Clovelly

Coo gee

Maroubra

Malabar

Little Bay

Boat Harbour

North Wanda

Wanda

Elouera

North Cronulla

South Cronulla

BEACHWATCH SUMMARY OF BEACH CONDITIONS SEWAGE POLLUTION - APRIL 1991

NUMBER OF DAYS

NIL TRACE LOW

30 0 0 29 1 0 30 0 0 29 1 0 30 0 0 29 1 0 29 1 0 28 2 0 30 0 0 30 0 0 30 0 0 24 4 2 26 2 1 25 4 1 25 4 1 27 3 0

27 2 1 29 1 0 30 0 0 30 0 0 14 16 0 16 13 1 19 11 0 30 0 0 27 1 2 28 1 1 30 0 0 30 0 0 23 6 1 21 6 3 23 4 3 24 4 2 22 6 2 23 6 1

MEDIUM HIGH

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

' ' ' NOTE. For da1ly reporting P.Urposes the clean cateHory 1s separated mto two categones - nil' and 'traces'. Both categories are reported as 'clean .

106

,.. ... ~'r!Mf'.:1,1_~~atn~1~~<f~n~· _ NPJ~IP~8q1 BEACH NUMBER OF DAYS


Palm 29 1 0 0 0

Whale 26 3 1 0 0

Avalon 30 0 0 0 0

Bilgola 29 1 0 0 0

Newport 29 1 0 0 0

Bungan 25 3 2 0 0





Colla roy 25 2 1 2 0 Long Reef 27 1 2 0 0 Dee Why 28 1 0 1 0

North Curl Curl 29 0 1 0 0 South Curl Curl 30 0 0 0 0

Freshwater 26 2 2 0 0 Queenscliff 17 9 3 1 0 North Steyne 27 3 0 0 0 South Steyne 27 2 1 0 0 Shelly 22 5 2 1 0 Bondi 4 13 12 0 1

Tamarama 8 14 6 2 0 Bronte 8 13 8 1 0 Clovelly 8 10 5 5 2 Coo gee 18 1 3 6 2 Maroubra 6 3 6 10 5 Malabar 30 0 0 0 0 Little Bay 29 0 1 0 0 Boat Harbour 24 3 2 0 1 North Wanda 22 4 3 0 1 Wanda 25 3 2 0 0 Elouera 25 3 2 0 0 North Cronulla 22 4 4 0 0 South Cronulla 24 4 2 0 0

' ' ' NOTE. For 9a1ly reporting purposes the clean cate!Jory 1s separated mto two categones - nil' and 'traces . Both categones are reported as 'clean .

107

Beachwatch Summer Season Report 1990-91 · 2016. 11. 21. · BEACHW ATCH 1990-91 SUMMER SEASON REPORT Beachwatch is a service that investigates and reports the quality of water at

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