Recreational Water Quality Report 2018

Blue Mountains Recreational Water Quality Report 2018

Blue Mountains Recreational Water Quality Report - 2018

Report Compiled by Cecil Ellis ~ Nature Navigation Pty Ltd.

a: PO Box 23 Avalon Beach NSW 2107 e: [email protected] w: www.naturenavigation.com.au

For technical information about this report contact: Healthy Waterways Team, Blue Mountains City Council 2-6 Civic Place, Katoomba NSW 2780 (02) 4780 5000 Email: [email protected] Web: http://www.bmcc.nsw.gov.au/

Non site specific elements of this report have been adapted from State of the Beaches 2014–2015 - Summary and How to Read this Report accessed from http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/resources/beach/ar1415/FB1-summary-how-to-read.pdf [accessed 15/12/16]

Blue Mountains Recreational Water Quality Report - 2018

Recreational Water Quality Monitoring in the Blue Mountains Recreational water quality is monitored by Blue Mountains City Council’s Healthy Waterways team, using the NSW Government’s Beachwatch methodology. The program aims to provide the community with accurate information on the cleanliness of the water and to enable individuals to make informed decisions about the risks associated with water based recreation. Routine assessment also measures the impact of pollution sources, enables the effectiveness of stormwater and wastewater management practices to be assessed and highlights areas where further work is needed.

Sampled sites in the Blue Mountains are graded as Very Good, Good, Fair, Poor or Very Poor in accordance with the National Health and Medical Research Council’s 2008 Guidelines for Managing Risks in Recreational Waters. These grades provide a long-term assessment of how suitable a location is for swimming and other water based recreational activities. The grades are determined from the most recent water quality results, up to five years’ worth of data, and a risk assessment of potential pollution sources. A guide on to how to read This report is provided on pages 7-9

Rainfall Impacts Rainfall is the major driver of pollution to recreational waters, generating stormwater runoff and heightening the risk of discharges from the wastewater (sewage) treatment and transport systems. Changes in rainfall patterns are reflected in water quality over time due to variation in the frequency and extent of stormwater and wastewater inputs. The Recreational Water Quality Grades for 2016–2017 are based on water quality data collected over the last five years. Rainfall over this period has been diverse, beginning with sustained wet weather conditions and flooding in many areas along the NSW coast, and ending with well-below average rainfall across the state and a lack of significant rainfall events: ¨ 2013–2014: driest summer in almost 30 years. ¨ 2014-2015: third warmest spring on record and a dry summer. ¨ 2015-2016: warmer than average summer with an overall average rainfall. ¨ 2016–2017: hot dry summer with a number of temperature records broken. ¨ 2017–2018: hot dry summer with record lowest summer rainfall at Wentworth Falls rainfall station (Station Number 63227)

Health risks Contamination of recreational waters with faecal material from animal and human sources can pose significant health problems to swimmers owing to the presence of pathogens (disease-causing micro-organisms) in the faecal material. The most common groups of pathogens found in recreational swimming waters are bacteria, protozoans and viruses. Exposure to contaminated water can cause gastroenteritis, with symptoms including vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach-ache, nausea, headache and fever. Eye, ear, skin and upper respiratory tract infections can also be contracted when pathogens come into contact with small breaks and tears in the skin or ruptures of the delicate membranes in the ear or nose. Certain groups of users may be more vulnerable to the threat of microbial infection than others. Children, the elderly, people with compromised immune systems and tourists are generally most at risk.

Blue Mountains Recreational Water Quality Report - 2018

Overall Results for 2017–2018 Of the 7 sites monitored, one site, Wentworth Falls Lake Beach site, is graded as good. All other sites are graded as Poor or Very Poor, indicating that they were not suitable for swimming for most or almost all of the time. These sites are susceptible to pollution, particularly after rainfall and occasionally during dry weather conditions. Swimming should be avoided during and for up to three days following rainfall or if there are signs of stormwater pollution such as discoloured water or floating debris.

Running Water Sites In general, the running water sites monitored in the Blue Mountains in NSW exhibit poor water quality with all sites graded as Poor or Very Poor. This indicates that they were not suitable for swimming for most or almost all of the time. The impacts of rainfall are significant at running water sites with stormwater pollution and/ or agricultural runoff increasing. Three running water sites are monitored: ¨ Megalong Creek ¨ Yosemite Creek at Minnehaha Falls ¨ Jellybean Pool, Glenbrook Creek

As a general precaution, swimming at running water sites should be avoided during and for up to three days after rainfall, or if there are signs of stormwater pollution such as discoloured water or floating debris.

Lake/ Lagoon Sites Wentworth Falls Lake - Beach site is graded as good, which is likely, due to improved stormwater management in the catchment. The other lake/lagoon sites monitored in the Blue Mountains in NSW exhibit poor water quality, with all sites graded as Poor. This indicates that they were not suitable for swimming for most or almost all the time. Some improvement in the microbial assessment categories has been observed as Blue Mountains City Council makes improvements to stormwater management. Four lake/ lagoon sites are monitored: ¨ Wentworth Falls Lake - Jetty ¨ Wentworth Falls Lake - Beach ¨ Glenbrook Lagoon – Boat Ramp ¨ Glenbrook Lagoon – Beach

As a general precaution, swimming at lake and lagoon sites should be avoided during and for up to three days after rainfall, or if there are signs of stormwater pollution such as discoloured water or floating debris.

Blue Mountains Recreational Water Quality Report - 2018

Sampling sites monitored under Blue Mountains Recreational Water Quality Monitoring Program

Beach Suitability Grades for all NSW

Sanitary Microbial Beach North Coast Inspection Assessment Suitability Site type Category Category Grade

Ballina Shire Seven Mile Beach Ocean beach Low Category A VG Council Beach Suitability Grades for all NSW Lake Ainsworth East Lagoon/lake Moderate Category C P

Lake Ainsworth South Lagoon/lake ModerateSanitary CategoryMicrobial B BeachG

North Coast Lake Ainsworth West Lagoon/lake InspectionModerate AssessmentCategory C SuitabilityP Site type Category Category Grade Shelly Beach Ocean beach Moderate Category B G Ballina Shire Seven Mile Beach Ocean beach Low Category A VG Shaws Bay East Estuarine Moderate Category B G Council Beach Suitability Grades for all NSW Lake Ainsworth East Lagoon/lake Moderate Category C P Shaws Bay West Estuarine Moderate Category C P Lake Ainsworth South Lagoon/lake ModerateSanitary CategoryMicrobial B BeachG Shaws Bay North Beach SuitabilityEstuarine Grades for all NSWModerate Category C P North Coast Lake Ainsworth West Lagoon/lake InspectionModerate AssessmentCategory C SuitabilityP The Serpentine EstuarineSite type CategoryModerate CategoryCategory B GradeG Shelly Beach Ocean beach ModerateSanitary CategoryMicrobial B Beach G Lighthouse Beach Ocean beach Low Category B G Ballina Shire Seven Mile Beach Ocean beach InspectionLow AssessmentCategory A SuitabilityVG North Coast Shaws Bay East Beach SuitabilityEstuarine Grades for all NSWModerate Category B G Council Airforce Beach OceanSite beachtype CategoryLow CategoryCategory B Grade G Richmond Lake Ainsworth East Lagoon/lake Moderate Category C P Valley Shaws Bay West Estuarine Moderate Category C P Main Beach Ocean beach Low Category A VG Seven Mile Beach Ocean beach Low Category A VG CouncilBallina Shire Lake Ainsworth South Lagoon/lake ModerateSanitary CategoryMicrobial B BeachG Shaws Bay North Estuarine Moderate Category C P Council Shark Bay Ocean beach Low Category A V G North Coast Lake Ainsworth WestEast Lagoon/lake InspectionModerate AssessmentCategory C SuitabilityP The Serpentine EstuarineSite type CategoryModerate CategoryCategory B Grade G Evans River Estuarine Moderate Category B ShellLake yAinsworth Beach South OceanLagoon/lake beach Moderate Category B G Lighthouse Beach Ocean beach Low Category B G Ballina Shire GrassySeven Mile Head Beach Ocean beach Low Category A VGV G Kempsey ShawsLake Ainsworth Bay East West EstuarineLagoon/lake Moderate Category CB GP RichmondShireCouncil Airforce Beach Ocean beach Low Category B G StuartsLake Ainsworth Point East EstuarineLagoon/lake Moderate Category C P Blue MountainsValleyCouncil RecreationalShawsShelly BeachBay WestWater Quality Report - 2018EstuarineOcean beach Moderate Category CB PG Main Beach Ocean beach Low Category A VG Council BackLake AinsworthCreek South EstuarineLagoon/lake Moderate Category DB PG Shaws Bay NorthEast Estuarine Moderate Category CB PG Shark Bay Ocean beach Low Category A V G HorseshoeLake Ainsworth Bay West OceanLagoon/lake beach ModerateLow Category CB GP TheShaws Serpentine Bay West Estuarine Moderate Category CB GP Evans River Estuarine Moderate Category B G Site SuitabilityTrialShell Bayy Beach Grades for BlueOcean Mountains beach Moderate Low Category B G LighthouseShaws Bay BeachNorth OceanEstuarine beach ModerateLow Category CB G P Kempsey Grassy Head SanitaryOcean beachMicrobial LowBeach Category A VG SaltwaterShaws Bay Creek East Estuarine Moderate Category DB PG Illawarra RichmondShire AirforceThe Serpentine Beach InspectionOceanEstuarine beachAssessment Moderate LowSuitability Category B G Stuarts Point Site type CategoryEstuarine Category ModerateGrade Category C P ValleyCouncil HatShaws Head Bay Beach West OceanEstuarine beach ModerateLow Category CB GP Lighthouse Beach Ocean beach Low Category B VG Council Main Beach Ocean beach Low Category A G Back Creek Estuarine ModerateV G Category D P Wollongong Stanwell Park Beach KorogoroShaws Bay Creek North Ocean beach Low EstuarineCategory A Moderate Category C P Richmond SharkAirforce Bay Beach Ocean beach Low Category AB VGG City Council Horseshoe Bay Ocean beach Low Category B G ColedaleValley Beach The Serpentine Ocean beachSanitary Low EstuarineMicrobialCategory A ModerateLocationV G Category B G MainKillick Beach Beach Ocean beach ModerateLow Category CA V PG SiteCouncil Location Evans RiverSite Type Estuarine Moderate Category B G Trial Bay Inspection OceanAssessment beach SuitabilityLow VG Category B G Austinmer Beach KillickLighthouse Creek Beach Ocean beach Low EstuarineOcean beachCategory A ModerateLow Category CB PG Kempsey GrassyShark Bay Head Ocean beach Low Category A VGV G Saltwater Creek Category EstuarineCategory ModerateGrade Category D P ThirroulRichmondShire Beach Airforce Beach Ocean beach ModerateOcean beachCategory A Low G Category B G StuartsEvans River Point Estuarine Moderate Category CB PG ValleyCouncil Hat Head Beach Ocean beach Low G Category B G Bulli Beach MainVG VeryBeach Good OceanG beach Good ModerateOcean F beachFairCategory A Low P Poor Category A VP Very PoorV G MegalongCouncil Creek Running Water Moderate Category D VG Kempsey BackGrassy Creek Head EstuarineOcean beach ModerateLow Category DA P Woonona Beach Korogoro Creek Ocean beach Low EstuarineCategory A ModerateV G Category C Shire V PG Shark Bay Ocean beach Low Category A HorseshoeStuarts Point Bay OceanEstuarine beach ModerateLow Category CB PG BellambiCouncil Beach Killick Beach Ocean beach ModerateOcean beachCategory A ModerateG Category C P Yosemite CreekEvans River Estuarine Moderate Category B G TrialBack Bay CreekRunning Water High OceanEstuarineCategory beach D ModerateLow Category DB GP Corrimal Beach Killick Creek Ocean beach ModerateEstuarine Category B ModerateG Category C P MinnehahaKempsey FallsGrassy Head Ocean beach Low Category A VG Horseshoe Bay Ocean beach Low Category B PG Saltwater Creek Estuarine ModerateG Category D NorthShire Wollongong Beach Ocean beach Moderate Category A Council Stuarts Point Estuarine Moderate Category C P Wentworth Falls LakeHatTrial Head Bay Beach Ocean beach Low VG Category B G Wollongong City Beach VG VeryLake/ Good LagoonOcean G beach GoodModerate Low CategoryF FairCategory D A P Poor VP Very Poor Back Creek Estuarine Moderate Category D P Jetty Saltwater Creek Estuarine Moderate Category D P Coniston Beach Korogoro Creek Ocean beach Low EstuarineCategory A ModerateV G Category C P Horseshoe Bay Ocean beach Low Category B G Hat Head Beach Ocean beach Low Category B WentworthFishermans Beach Falls LakeKillick Beach Ocean beach Low Ocean beachCategory A ModerateV G Category C PG Trial Bay Ocean beach Low Category B G KorogoroLake/ Creek Lagoon Moderate EstuarineCategory B Moderate Category C Port KemblaBeach Beach Killick Creek Ocean beach ModerateEstuarine Category A ModerateG Category C P Saltwater Creek Estuarine Moderate Category D P Shellharbour Entrance Lagoon BeachKillick Beach Lagoon/lake ModerateOcean beachCategory C ModerateP Category C P City Council Glenbrook LagoonHat Head Beach Ocean beach Low Category B G Warilla Beach KillickVG Very CreekLake/ Good LagoonOcean G beach GoodModerate Low EstuarineCategoryF FairCategory C A ModerateP V G Poor Category C VP Very PoorP Boat Ramp Korogoro Creek Estuarine Moderate Category C P Shellharbour Beach Ocean beach Low Category A VG 7 Killick Beach Ocean beach Moderate Category C P Kiama BoydsGlenbrook Jones Beach Lagoon VG Very Good OceanG beach Good Low F FairCategory A P VG Poor VP Very Poor Lake/ Lagoon Moderate Category D Municipal Beach Killick Creek Estuarine Moderate Category C P Council Bombo Beach Ocean beach Moderate Category A G

Surf Beach Ocean beach Moderate Category B G Jellybean Pool, Very Good Good F Fair Werri Beach VG Running WaterOceanG beach Moderate Low CategoryCategory C A P VG Poor VP Very Poor Glenbrook Creek Seven Mile Beach Gerroa Ocean beach Low Category A VG 7 VG Very Good G Good F Fair P VP Poor Very Poor

6 13

Blue Mountains Recreational Water Quality Report - 2018

Site Suitability Grades Site Suitability Grades provide an assessment of the suitability of a location for water-based recreation over time The guidelines and are calculated using a combination of sanitary The National Health and Medical inspection (identification and rating of potential pollution Research Council’s Guidelines sources at a site) and microbial assessment (water quality for managing risks in recreational 1 measurements gathered over previous years). There are water were adopted for use in NSW in May 2009. These five grades ranging from Very Good to Very Poor: guidelines have been adopted in all Australian states and territories and are supported by guidance Location has generally excellent microbial water quality notes developed by the and very few potential sources of faecal pollution. Water is Department of Health Western considered suitable for swimming almost all of the time. Australia2.

1NHMRC (2008). Guidelines for managing risks in recreational water. National Health Location has generally good microbial water quality and and Medical Research Council. Australian water is considered suitable for swimming most of the time. Government Publishing Service, Canberra, ACT. Swimming should be avoided during and following heavy 2Department of Health, Western Australia rain for up to three days. (2007) Microbial water quality of recreational water guidance notes in support of chapter 5 of the National Health and Medical Research Council guidelines for managing risks in Microbial water quality is generally suitable for swimming, recreational water, 2006. Department of but because of the presence of significant sources of Health, Western Australia and The University of Western Australia, October 2007. faecal contamination, extra care should be taken to avoid [Available at swimming during and for up to three days following rainfall www.public.health.wa.gov.au/3/1287/2/publi cations.pm. Accessed on 24/11/15] or if there are signs of pollution such as discoloured water or odour or debris in the water. Enterococci The national guidelines advocate the use of enterococci as the Location is susceptible to faecal pollution and microbial single preferred faecal indicator in water quality is not always suitable for swimming. During marine waters. These bacteria dry weather conditions, ensure that the swimming location are excreted in faeces and are is free of signs of pollution, such as discoloured water, rarely present in unpolluted odour or debris in the water, and avoid swimming at all waters. Enterococci have shown times during and for up to three days following rainfall. a clear dose–response relationship to disease outcomes in marine waters in the northern Location is very susceptible to faecal pollution and hemisphere. In accordance with microbial water quality may often be unsuitable for the guidelines, Council tests for swimming. It is generally recommended to avoid swimming enterococci only. The enterococci at these sites. density in water samples are analysed in a National Association of Testing Authorities Some of the Site Suitability Grades in this report are approved laboratory using provisional, as the information required for the analysis is method AS/NZS 4276.9:20073. incomplete due to limited bacterial data or limited information on potential pollution sources in a catchment. Enterococci are measured in colony forming units per 100 mL of sample (cfu/100mL). 3AS/NZS 4276.9:2007. Water microbiology Method 9: Enterococci – Membrane filtration method (ISO 7899-2:2000, MOD). Standards Australia International Ltd, Sydney and Standards New Zealand, Wellington. Site Suitability Grades are determined by using the following matrix:

Blue Mountains Recreational Water Quality Report - 2018

Microbial Assessment Category

A B C D Very Very Low Very Good Follow Up Follow Up Good Very Low Good Follow Up Follow Up Sanitary Good Inspection Moderate Good Good Poor Poor Category High Good Fair Poor Very Poor

Very High Follow Up Fair Poor Very Poor

Microbial Assessment Category (MAC) There are four Microbial Assessment Categories (A to D) and Calculating the MAC these are determined from the 95th percentile of an enterococci The 95th percentile is a useful dataset of at least 100 data points. Each MAC is associated statistic for summarising the with a risk of illness determined from epidemiological studies. distribution of enterococci data The risks of illness shown below are not those associated with a at a site. It embodies elements of both the location of the single data point but are the overall risk of illness associated distribution (how high/low the with an enterococci dataset with that 95th percentile4. enterococci counts are) and the scale of the distribution (how Enterococci variable the enterococci counts Category (cfu/100mL) Illness Risk* are). GI illness risk: <1% A £40 The 95th percentile values for AFR illness risk: <0.3% each of the four Microbial GI illness risk: <1–5% Assessment Categories were 41- 200 B AFR illness risk: <0.3–1.9% determined by the World Health GI illness risk: <5–10% Organization using enterococci 201 - 500 C AFR illness risk: <1.9–3.9% data collected from swimming GI illness risk: >10% locations across Europe. These >500 D AFR illness risk: >3.9% values will represent different probabilities of illness if the *GI = gastrointestinal; AFR = acute fever and rash distribution of enterococci data

from swimming locations in Sanitary Inspection Category (SIC) NSW differs from the European The aim of a sanitary inspection is to identify all sources of distribution. faecal contamination that could affect a swimming location and In recognition of this issue, Dr Richard Lugg (Department of assess the risk to public health posed by these sources. It is an Health, Western Australia) has assessment of the likelihood of bacterial contamination from developed a Microsoft® Excel identified pollution sources and should, to some degree, tool for calculating a modified correlate with the bacterial water quality results obtained from 95th percentile that takes into sampling. account the distribution of data. This tool has been used to Through the sanitary inspection process5, sites are categorised calculate the 95th percentile to reflect the likelihood of faecal contamination. There are five values presented in this report categories: Very Low, Low, Moderate, High and Very High. and has been adopted for use by other state governments in 4 Wyer, MD, Kay, D, Fleisher, JM, Salmon, RL, Jones F, Godfree, AF, Jackson G and Australia. Rogers, A (1999). ‘An experimental health related The tool can be downloaded from: classification for marine waters’. Water Research 33(3):715–722. www.public.health.wa.gov.au/3/128 5 Office of Environment and Heritage 2013, Sanitary Inspections, Office of Environment 7/2/publications.pm under Forms and Heritage, Sydney, NSW, viewed 10 June 2014, and Templates [accessed 24/11/15] www.environment.nsw.gov.au/beach/sanitaryinspections.htm.

Blue Mountains Recreational Water Quality Report - 2018

Explanation of graphs and charts on site pages

Historical enterococci Microbial Assessment Category (MAC) chart data graphs On each site page, the MACs for the period 2012-16 are displayed on a simple bar chart. The bar is labelled with the 95th Trends in enterococci percentile value for each rainfall category and the thresholds levels through time are dividing the A, B, C and D categories are marked for reference. presented for each site as The number at the bottom of the bar reflects the number of a bar graph. Each year’s samples for each rainfall category. bar is colour coded to show the percentage of enterococci results less than 40 cfu/100 mL, between 41 and 200 cfu/100 mL, between 201 and 500 cfu/100 mL and greater than 500 cfu/100 mL. These categories reflect the Microbial Assessment Category thresholds and are coloured on the graph by dark green, light green, amber and red

respectively. The number Sanitary Inspection Category (SIC) chart at the bottom of the bar The results of the sanitary inspection for each location are reflects the number of presented as a vertical bar. The graphic shows the likelihood that samples for each each identified pollution source will contribute to faecal calendar year. contamination at a site, as indicated by colour and text of the components of the bar, with the overall likelihood, or Sanitary Inspection Category listed, floating, at the top of the bar.

MODERATE

Bather Shedding Very Low

Toilet Facilities Moderate Designated Sewage Very Low Overflows Sewer Chokes and Low Leakages Onsite Sewage Disposal Very Low Systems Stormwater Low

Animals High

Blue Mountains Recreational Water Quality Report - 2018

Megalong Creek POOR Swimming Suitability Grade:

Megalong Creek is located on Megalong Valley Road, via Blackheath in the upper Blue Mountains. The creek passes through bush and agricultural land before running into the Cox’s River and eventually into Lake Burragorang, Sydney’s main water supply. Sampling took place at the Old Ford Reserve, which is frequented by campers and picnickers. The site frequently fails to comply with guidelines for swimming, likely because of faecal contamination from native and agricultural animals in the catchment.

Sanitary Inspection Grade

MODERATE

Bather Shedding Very Low

Toilet Facilities Moderate

Designated Sewage Very Low Overflows

Sewer Chokes and Low Leakages

Onsite Sewage Disposal Very Low Systems

Stormwater Low

Animals High

Blue Mountains Recreational Water Quality Report - 2018

Minnehaha Falls & Yosemite Creek VERY POOR Swimming Suitability Grade:

These sites are located on Yosemite Creek in North Katoomba. Yosemite Creek runs through bushland reserve that supports Blue Mountains Swamps and native bushland. The catchment is significantly urbanised and includes the Katoomba Waste Management Facility. Upstream of the sampling sites is a Sydney Water sewage pumping station and designated overflow structure. If either of these structures release sewage, it will directly affect the site and swimming should be avoided if discoloured water or floating debris are present. The Yosemite site is located near the start of the walking track, around 600m upstream of Minnehaha Falls, which was replaced by the pool at the base of Minnehaha Falls in the 2015- 16 swimming season.

Minnehaha Falls has recovered from sedimentation of the bottom pool since mid 2014 and is now a recognised swimming location. Minnehaha Falls sampling data has been combined with previous Yosemite Creek data until five years of Minnehaha data is available.

Sanitary Inspection Grade

HIGH

Bather Shedding Moderate

Designated Sewage Low Overflows Sewer Chokes and Moderate Leakages Onsite Sewage Very Low Disposal Systems

Stormwater Moderate

Animals Moderate

Blue Mountains Recreational Water Quality Report - 2018

Wentworth Falls Lake – Jetty POOR Swimming Suitability Grade:

This site is accessed via Sinclair Crescent on the southern side of Wentworth Falls Lake. The Lake was formed by the damming of Jamison Creek. It is a very popular location for picnicking and water-based recreation including boating, fishing and swimming. Swimming is not recommended for 3 days after rainfall, due to raised enterococci levels from faecal contamination. The site frequently fails to comply with guidelines for swimming, likely as a result of stormwater pollution and faecal contamination from native and domestic

animals in the catchment, including a large population of waterfowl. Wentworth Falls Lake flows into Sydney’s drinking water supply, through Jamison Creek.

Sanitary Inspection Grade

MODERATE

Bather Shedding Low

Toilet Facilities Very Low

Designated Sewage Low Overflows Sewer Chokes and Moderate Leakages Onsite Sewage Very Low Disposal Systems

Stormwater Low

Animals High

Blue Mountains Recreational Water Quality Report - 2018

Wentworth Falls Lake - Beach GOOD Swimming Suitability Grade:

This site is accessed via Pine Avenue, on the northern side of Wentworth Falls Lake. The Lake was formed by the damming of Jamison Creek. It is a very popular location for picnicking and water-based recreation including boating, fishing and swimming. The site has generally good microbial water quality and is considered suitable for swimming most of the time. Swimming should be avoided during and for 3 days after rainfall Wentworth Falls Lake flows into Sydney’s

drinking water supply, through Jamison Creek.

Sanitary Inspection Grade

MODERATE

Bather Shedding Low

Toilet Facilities Low

Designated Sewage Low Overflows

Sewer Chokes and Low Leakages

Onsite Sewage Very Low Disposal Systems

Stormwater Low

Animals High

Blue Mountains Recreational Water Quality Report - 2018

Glenbrook Lagoon – Ramp POOR Swimming Suitability Grade:

Glenbrook Lagoon receives stormwater from a highly urbanised sub-catchment. This site, known as the ‘Boat Ramp’ is located off Skarratt Ave on the southern bank of the lagoon. In the past the lagoon was a popular venue for many types of water-based recreation including swimming, boating and fishing, however, the lagoon is now polluted to a point that makes it frequently unsafe for these activities. In 2014/15 Blue Mountains City Council installed a series of stormwater treatment systems around the lagoon to improve water quality entering Glenbrook Lagoon. Preliminary monitoring results show these systems are effectively reducing bacterial levels of the stormwater entering the lagoon.

Sanitary Inspection Grade

MODERATE

Bather Shedding Low

Designated Sewage Low Overflows

Sewer Chokes and Low Leakages

Stormwater Moderate

Animals High

Blue Mountains Recreational Water Quality Report - 2018

Glenbrook Lagoon – Beach Swimming Suitability Grade: POOR

Glenbrook Lagoon receives stormwater from a highly urbanised sub-catchment. This site, known as the ‘Beach’ is located off Glenbrook Road and is on the northern bank of the lagoon. In the past the lagoon was a popular venue for many types of water-based recreation including swimming, boating and fishing, however, the lagoon is now polluted to a point that makes it frequently unsafe for these activities. In 2014/15 Blue Mountains City Council installed a series of stormwater treatment systems around the lagoon to improve water quality entering Glenbrook Lagoon. Preliminary monitoring results show these systems are effectively reducing bacterial levels of the stormwater entering the lagoon.

Sanitary Inspection Grade

MODERATE

Bather Shedding Low

Designated Sewage Low Overflows

Sewer Chokes and Low Leakages

Stormwater Moderate

Animals High

Blue Mountains Recreational Water Quality Report - 2018

Jellybean Pool, Glenbrook Creek POOR Swimming Suitability Grade:

Jellybean Pool is located in Blue Mountains National Park via Glenbrook in the lower Blue Mountains and accessed by a 15 minute walk from a carpark. Jellybean pool lies on Glenbrook Creek which passes through bush and receives urban stormwater runoff before flowing into the Nepean River. The site is a very popular site for swimmers and tourists during the swimming season. This is the first season Blue Mountains City Council has included this location as part of the sampling schedule for the Recreational Water Quality Report and results must be considered as preliminary.

Sanitary Inspection Grade

MODERATE

Bather Shedding Moderate

Toilet Facilities Low

Designated Sewage Low Overflows

Sewer Chokes and Low Leakages

Onsite Sewage Very Low Disposal Systems

Stormwater Low

Animals Moderate

Blue Mountains Recreational Water Quality Report - 2018

Conclusion During the 2017-18 summer, Blue Mountains City Council monitored enterococci at 7 sites: ¨ Megalong Creek, Megalong ¨ Minnehaha Falls and Yosemite Creek, Katoomba (combined) ¨ Wentworth Falls Lake – Jetty ¨ Wentworth Falls Lake – Beach ¨ Glenbrook Lagoon – Ramp ¨ Glenbrook Lagoon – Beach ¨ Jellybean Pool (one swimming season 2017/18)

Sanitary Microbial Swimming Site Name Inspection Assessment Suitability Category Category Grade Megalong Creek, Megalong Moderate Category D POOR Minnehaha Falls and Yosemite Creek, High Category D VERY POOR Katoomba (combined sites) Wentworth Falls Lake – Jetty Moderate Category D POOR Wentworth Falls Lake – Beach Moderate Category B GOOD Glenbrook Lagoon – Ramp Moderate Category C POOR Glenbrook Lagoon – Beach Moderate Category D POOR Jellybean Pool, Glenbrook Creek Moderate Category C POOR

Wentworth Falls Lake Beach site is graded as having a GOOD Swimming Suitability Grade. Other sites were graded as having POOR or VERY POOR recreational water quality, indicating that these locations were not suitable for swimming for most or almost all of the time.

All sites are susceptible to pollution, particularly during rainfall and occasionally during dry weather. Swimming should be avoided during and for up to three days following rainfall, or if there are signs of stormwater pollution such as discoloured water or floating debris.

The Swimming Suitability Grades in this report are provisional, as the information required for the analysis is incomplete due to limited bacterial data. This will improve with ongoing sampling through future swimming seasons, improving the confidence in the Swimming Suitability Grades through time.