INFORMATION BULLETIN

BEACH REPORT 2007–08

Publication 1240 June 2008

SUMMARY

EPA found good water quality at HOW CAN YOU Bay beaches over the 2007—08 Beach Report season. PREVENT BEACH POLLUTION? All beaches met the objectives for beach water quality in 2007—08. This reflected the mostly fine weather Pollutants from our streets can enter stormwater drains and be over summer. transported to our waterways after rain, ending up at your local beach. Use these tips to help protect bay beaches: EPA provides information about beach water quality as part of the Beach Report program. We collect • Put litter in a bin weekly water samples during summer in order to • Report sewer spills and blockages provide up-to-date information about beaches in Port • Pick up dog droppings Phillip Bay and to support beach water quality forecasting. • Regularly maintain septic tanks Historical results show that rain can temporarily cause • Only rainwater should go down stormwater drains! poor water quality at bay beaches. As a general precaution, EPA advises against swimming near stormwater drains, rivers, streams and other outlets into Port Phillip Bay during rainfall and for at least 24 hours afterward. EPA will continue monitoring beach water quality throughout 2008 in response to the community’s interest in comprehensive and up-to-date information.

WHY DO WE MONITOR?

Beach Report provides the latest information on water quality so that beachgoers can make informed decisions about visiting bay beaches. The program aims to: • provide information to the public about beach water quality • identify short-term pollution problems • look for long-term changes in water quality • provide the data necessary to support beach water quality forecasting. The data collected assists EPA and local councils in responding to pollution incidents when they occur and in identifying areas for improved stormwater Photo 1: Cigarette butts comprise management. over 50% of all litter at the beach (Image courtesy of Victorian Litter Alliance)

WHAT DO WE MONITOR? these bacteria as the best indicator for recreational EPA monitors levels of enterococci (measured in water quality in marine environments. organisms/100 mL), a group of bacteria found in the Bacterial indicators are an effective way to gauge intestinal tracts of warm-blooded animals. Elevated recreational water quality at the bay’s beaches and levels of enterococci are a sign of possible faecal assess the potential health risks associated with pollution. The World Health Organisation and the swimming. The Beach Report sampling methods are National Health & Medical Research Council recognise outlined in Appendix 4.

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Figure 1: Beaches sampled in the Beach Report program (LSC – Life saving club CG – Coast Guard)

HOW WAS THE WATER? stormwater system, it can wash pollutants into the nearest waterway and onto the local beach. EPA monitored 36 beaches across Port Phillip Bay (see EPA uses rainfall information from Bureau of Figure 1) from 1 December 2007 to the Labour Day Meteorology automated weather stations located at weekend, 10 March 2008. During this period EPA Avalon, Laverton, Melbourne, Moorabbin and collected over 500 water samples. Cerberus. The results are detailed in Appendix 6. This summer, water quality at beaches around Port Monthly rainfall totals were typically lower than the Phillip Bay was generally good during fine weather. historical average, except for December. Much of Similarly to previous years, poor water quality was December’s rain fell on the weekend before Christmas. often found after rain. EPA issued a stormwater alert on 20 December 2007. Short-term water quality These alerts remind the community about the effects of stormwater on beach water quality and to avoid Short-term water quality refers to the bacterial levels swimming near drains after rain. on any given day. Figure 2 provides a summary of the routine monitoring results from 2007—08 compared to the past four years. It shows that good water quality was commonly found 2003-04 at Port Phillip Bay beaches over the 2007—08 Beach Report season. This reflected the mostly fine weather 2004-05 over summer. On four occasions poor water quality was detected 2005-06 (see highlighted results in Table 3). One of these (7 February 2008) was associated with rainfall. In all 2006-07 cases of elevated bacterial levels, EPA conducted a site inspection and continued sampling until water quality returned to normal. All follow-up samples 2007-08 reported low bacterial levels the next day. 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% If enterococci levels exceed 500 orgs/100 mL in consecutive daily samples or are above Percentage of routine samples 3500 orgs/100 mL in a single sample, EPA works with the Department of Human Services and local Figure 2: Summary of routine enterococci results government to advise against swimming at that beach. for the last five years. No such advisories occurred this summer. Rainfall and wet-weather trends ≤35 orgs/100 mL >35 to ≤150 orgs/100 mL There is a strong relationship between rainfall and >150 to ≤500 orgs/100 mL >500 orgs/100 mL poor beach water quality. When rain enters the

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As a general rule, EPA recommends against swimming Environment Protection Policy (Waters of Victoria) near stormwater drains, rivers and other outlets into Port 2003. These are as follows: Phillip Bay, especially during and 24 hours after rain. • a median of 35 enterococci/100 mL Water quality forecasting • a 75th percentile of 150 enterococci/100 mL. EPA issues beach water quality forecasts every day This summer all beaches met the objectives. during summer. The forecasts use recent sample results, beach history and weather conditions to If data from the past five years is combined, overall assign a rating of Good, Fair, Poor or Unacceptable for bacterial levels were low at all beaches, except for each beach (see Appendix 5). Altona beach which was slightly over the median policy objective (36 enterococci/100 mL) (see The most important factor is rainfall, due to known Appendix 1). effects of stormwater run-off on water quality. There is also the option to adjust forecasts using beach Long-term water quality observations or pollution reports. Prior to 2002—03, Escherichia coli (E.coli) was the This summer the forecasts were generally successful principal water quality indicator for recreational in predicting overall beach water quality, with the waters in Port Phillip Bay. Based on new research, forecasts usually more conservative (predicting poorer enterococci levels are now used as the preferred water quality) than the actual measurements. indicator in marine waters. Monitoring of E.coli is still maintained at five sites around the bay to continue the EPA is actively improving the accuracy of the long-term data set. forecasts by updating the mathematical model on which the predictions are based and continued EPA now has 19 years of summer monitoring data for surveying of specific beaches. E.coli. Figure 3 shows the long-term water quality trends at Eastern Beach, Altona, St Kilda, Rye and (for Summer trends 1997—98 to 2007—08 only) Mentone. The summer average refers to the overall water While the overall trend is generally steady, the graph quality at each beach rather than an individual day. It shows considerable annual variability in E.coli levels. is a measure of the prevailing water quality conditions across the summer period, as opposed to single events. The Policy specifies a median objective for E.coli of 150 orgs/100 mL, which was met for the 2007—08 EPA assesses the results against the objectives for summer. primary contact recreation outlined in the State

300

St Kilda Eastern Beach 250 Altona Rye Mentone

/100mL) 200

E.coli 150 2003 Policy Objective

100

Annual median ( Annual 50

0 1989/90 1990/91 1991/92 1992/93 1993/94 1994/95 1995/96 1996/97 1997/98 1998/99 1999/00 2000/01 2001/02 2002/03 2003/04 2004/05 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08

Figure 3: Annual median (E.coli orgs/100 mL) for St Kilda, Altona, Eastern Beach, Mentone and Rye from 1989—90 to 2007—08. Note: Annual relationships are indicative only, due to variations in the program sampling and methods over the past 19 years.

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Photo 2: Stormwater drains are common at many beaches in Port Phillip Bay. EPA advises against swimming near stormwater drains, rivers, streams and other outlets into Port Phillip Bay during rainfall and for at least 24 hours afterward.

Beach classifications primary outcome of this work was to develop the preferred method for sanitary inspection of priority Beach water quality assessment is guided by the 2003 beaches. World Health Organisation (WHO) and the 2008 National Health & Medical Research Council (NHMRC) During wet weather it is clear that stormwater is the Guidelines. Both organisations recommend a similar major contributing factor to poor water quality. Such risk management approach for the classification of relationships between water quality and possible recreational waters. sources of impact are not as apparent during fine weather, when sources can be unpredictable, short- The classification is based on two factors: lived and difficult to pinpoint. • microbiological water quality monitoring (long- EPA is committed to continuing sanitary surveys and term bacterial levels) working together with local councils, other authorities • sanitary inspections (the potential for and the community to further understand factors contamination by faecal material). affecting beach water quality. Appendix 3 shows the long-term bacterial levels over the past five years. The values displayed are 95th CONCLUSIONS percentiles, as recommended by the WHO and NHMRC guidelines. The colour coding is the microbial EPA found mostly good water quality at Port Phillip assessment category (A, B, C or D in decreasing order Bay beaches over the 2007—08 Beach Report season. of water quality). All beaches met policy objectives in 2007—08. This reflected the fine weather over summer. The results show that, during dry weather, the water quality is good at most sites (blue or green). With the Historical results show that rain can temporarily cause addition of wet-weather data, the water quality poor water quality at bay beaches. As a general decreases (yellow or orange). precaution, EPA advises against swimming near stormwater drains, rivers, streams and other outlets This pattern matches our understanding that into Port Phillip Bay during rainfall and for at least 24 stormwater inputs are the main contributors to poor hours afterward. water quality; this forms the basis of our beach water quality forecasts.EPA has been working on sanitary When assessed against the WHO and NHMRC inspections for beaches in Port Phillip Bay; in guidelines, most bay beaches exhibit good water particular at Altona, St Kilda and Rye, three sites that quality during fine weather. have been identified as a priority. Three types of survey methods were trialed to determine the most appropriate for beaches in Port Phillip Bay. The

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FUTURE DIRECTIONS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

• EPA will maintain the Beach Report program in line EPA wishes to thank the following organisations for with national and international standards. their support of the 2007—08 Beach Report program: • EPA will continue to work on improving the • Bayside City Council accuracy of the beach water quality forecasts by • City of Greater updating the mathematical model on which the predictions are based. • City of Kingston • EPA will keep working with the community, local • City of Port Phillip councils, Department of Human Services, • Department of Human Services Melbourne Water and other relevant metropolitan • Frankston City Council and regional water authorities to assess and resolve local issues influencing beach water • City Council quality. • Life Saving Victoria • In March 2008, EPA announced it was continuing • Melbourne Water weekly monitoring of beach water quality in Port • Mornington Peninsula Shire Council Phillip Bay, beyond the 2007—08 summer Beach Report season. • Shire of Queenscliffe The program includes biological water quality • Wyndham City Council indicators (enterococci and algae), as well as chemical indicators (heavy metals and pesticides). FURTHER INFORMATION This extended monitoring is in response to the community’s interest in comprehensive and up-to- EPA Information Centre date information about water quality in Port Phillip 40 City Road, Southbank, Victoria 3006 Bay beaches. GPO Box 4395Q, Melbourne, Victoria 3001 Details of this program, including the results Telephone 03 9695 2700 obtained to date are available from EPA’s website Facsimile 03 9695 2710 (www.epa.vic.gov.au). www.epa.vic.gov.au

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APPENDICES APPENDIX 1: 2007–08 policy compliance Table 1: Enterococci (orgs/100 mL) medians and 75th percentiles for 2007–08 (calculated across the summer period) and cumulative figures from the past five years of data.

2007–08 Cumulative over past five years Beach Median 75th percentile Median 75th percentile Objective 35 150 35 150 Portsea <10 10 <10 20 Sorrento 10 25 <10 20 Blairgowrie <10 10 10 20 Rye 20 41 26 63 Rosebud 10 26 10 41 Dromana <10 15 <10 20 Safety Beach <10 <10 <10 10 Mt Martha <10 10 10 30 Mornington 10 47 10 41 Canadian Bay 10 10 <10 13 Frankston CG 10 31 10 20 Frankston LSC 10 20 10 20 Seaford 10 15 <10 10 Carrum 10 15 <10 31 Aspendale North 10 26 <10 23 Mordialloc <10 10 <10 20 Mentone 10 20 10 44 Beaumaris <10 15 <10 30 Half Moon Bay <10 10 <10 20 Sandringham <10 15 <10 10 Hampton <10 <10 <10 10 Brighton <10 <10 <10 10 Elwood 10 30 10 52 St Kilda 20 52 15 85 Middle Park <10 20 <10 23 Port Melbourne <10 21 10 44 Sandridge 10 20 10 23 Williamstown <10 20 10 31 Altona 31 75 36 101 Werribee South 10 31 10 31 St Helens 31 68 10 55 Eastern <10 10 10 41 The Dell <10 10 10 20 Portarlington <10 20 10 34 St Leonards <10 10 <10 10 Queenscliff 10 25 20 44

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APPENDIX 2: 2007-08 enterococci results Table 2: Enterococci results (orgs/100mL) from the Geelong region in 2007–08

BEACH 28-Nov-07 5-Dec-07 12-Dec-07 19-Dec-07 27-Dec-07 2-Jan-08 9-Jan-08 16-Jan-08 23-Jan-08 30-Jan-08 6-Feb-08 13-Feb-08 20-Feb-08 27-Feb-08 3 Mar 08 Werribee South <10 110 <10 30 40 31 170 10 <10 <10 20 10 31 <10 10 St Helens 290 52 10 <10 31 110 83 <10 <10 41 <10 85 52 <10 <10 Eastern 170 <10 <10 41 10 <10 10 <10 <10 <10 31 10 <10 <10 10 The Dell <10 10 10 <10 <10 10 ^ <10 <10 <10 41 <10 97 <10 20 Portarlington 20 <10 230 20 10 <10 <10 10 <10 <10 20 63 <10 <10 <10 St Leonards <10 10 10 <10 20 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 10 20 20 <10 10 Queenscliff 20 350 <10 10 160 30 10 <10 <10 63 <10 <10 20 20 <10

^ No sample was collected at The Dell due to difficulties in accessing the site.

Rainfall (mm) (from 9 am to 9 am on the previous day)

Laverton 0 0.2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.2 0 1.0 - 0 Avalon 0 0 0 0.2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2.6 0 0.8 0 0

Blue ≤35 orgs/100mL Green >35 and ≤150 orgs/100mL Yellow >150 and ≤500 orgs/100mL Orange >500 orgs/100mL

7 BEACH REPORT 2007–08 Table 3: Enterococci results (orgs/100 mL) from the Melbourne region and Mornington Peninsula in 2007–08 BEACH 28 Nov 5 Dec 12 Dec 19 Dec 27 Dec 2 Jan 9 Jan 16 Jan 23 Jan 30 Jan 6 Feb 7 Feb 13 Feb 20 Feb 27 Feb 5 Mar Portsea <10 <10 10 <10 <10 <10 <10 10 <10 20 10 41 <10 10 <10 Sorrento <10 10 20 <10 <10 10 63 <10 810 30 41 10 <10 <10 <10 Blairgowrie 20 10 <10 10 <10 10 <10 <10 <10 <10 97 20 <10 10 <10 Rye 41 31 52 170 52 <10 <10 41 <10 <10 31 <10 20 <10 <10 Rosebud <10 31 <10 <10 10 <10 31 10 20 20 52 31 <10 10 <10 Dromana 52 <10 <10 <10 <10 31 <10 <10 10 <10 640 10 <10 <10 20 Safety Beach <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 10 <10 <10 390 <10 10 <10 <10 Mt Martha 31 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 30 10 20 <10 <10 Mornington 74 74 <10 <10 <10 10 10 <10 <10 150 <10 <10 20 110 20 Canadian Bay 120 10 <10 <10 <10 10 41 <10 10 <10 20 10 10 <10 <10 Frankston CG 30 31 <10 31 <10 <10 <10 95 31 20 20 <10 10 <10 <10 Frankston LSC 10 20 10 20 <10 10 <10 <10 <10 10 74 31 30 10 <10 Seaford 41 <10 <10 20 <10 10 <10 30 <10 <10 52 10 10 <10 10 Carrum <10 20 10 10 <10 10 10 31 <10 <10 41 <10 31 <10 <10 Aspendale North <10 <10 <10 20 31 85 1600 <10 <10 <10 83 10 10 <10 10 Mordialloc <10 10 <10 <10 85 20 20 <10 <10 <10 10 <10 <10 <10 <10 Mentone 30 20 20 10 20 94 10 10 <10 <10 10 <10 52 <10 <10 Beaumaris <10 10 <10 10 <10 10 <10 41 20 <10 63 <10 63 <10 <10 Half Moon Bay <10 31 <10 10 20 <10 41 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 10 <10 <10 Sandringham 10 <10 <10 <10 <10 20 86 <10 20 <10 <10 <10 120 <10 <10 Hampton <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 52 <10 <10 Brighton <10 <10 20 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 10 <10 <10 <10 20 <10 <10 Elwood <10 40 <10 10 <10 52 10 <10 41 20 20 52 <10 <10 <10 St Kilda 20 200 10 10 10 20 160 10 63 <10 41 74 41 <10 <10 Middle Park <10 31 <10 <10 31 <10 20 74 <10 <10 <10 20 10 <10 <10 Port Melbourne <10 63 <10 <10 <10 10 10 52 <10 <10 <10 31 41 <10 <10 Sandridge <10 31 20 <10 <10 20 31 20 <10 <10 10 10 10 10 <10 Williamstown <10 10 <10 <10 20 20 <10 20 30 <10 <10 20 20 <10 <10 Altona 10 <10 31 31 86 41 20 110 10 <10 130 20 790 <10 63 Rainfall (mm) (from 9 am to 9 am on the previous day) Cerberus 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.2 2.2 0.2 1.0 0.2 0 Moorabbin 0 0.2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.8 0.2 0.6 0 0 Melbourne 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.4 0.2 0.6 0 0

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APPENDIX 3: WHO and NHMRC microbial assessment categories Table 4: Enterococci 95th percentiles1 for the last five years2

Dry days All data Beach (<1.0 mm)3,4 (dry days plus wet days)4 Portsea 76 115 Sorrento 95 104 Blairgowrie 74 115 Rye 397 519 Rosebud 153 200 Dromana 64 441 Safety Beach 31 47 Mt Martha 69 240 Mornington 145 544 Canadian Bay 69 141 Frankston CG 121 590 Frankston LSC 63 256 Seaford 32 122 Carrum 69 256 Aspendale North 56 548 Mordialloc 46 270 Mentone 122 335 Beaumaris 70 135 Half Moon Bay 52 140 Sandringham 48 147 Hampton 55 103 Brighton 22 63 Elwood 79 375 St Kilda 216 851 Middle Park 105 305 Port Melbourne 74 348 Sandridge 160 186 Williamstown 65 396 Altona 425 717 Werribee South 97 164 St Helens 150 1217 Eastern 239 273 The Dell5 90 89 Portarlington 215 278 St Leonards 44 104 Queenscliff 269 269 1 Percentiles calculated using non-parametric Hazen approach. No follow-up results included in data set. 2 Blue ≤40 orgs/100 mL indicates ‘A’ category, green >40 and ≤200 orgs/100 mL indicates ‘B’ category, yellow >200 and ≤500 orgs/100 mL indicates ‘C’ category, orange >500 orgs/100 mL indicates ‘D’ category. 3 Dry weather (<1.0mm rain in the previous 24 hours) separated from the data set using Bureau of Meteorology data. 4 ‘Dry days’ calculated with 65 to 67 samples, ‘All data’ calculated with 80 samples. 5 Monitoring at The Dell beach conducted for the last two years only (2006—07 and 2007—08) (24 samples).

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APPENDIX 4: Sampling methods Water sampling was conducted on a weekly basis throughout the season. Samples were collected mid-week between 7 am and 11 am to allow processing of results before the weekend when beach use is typically the highest. Sterile 70 mL plastic sample bottles (without preservative) were supplied by the laboratory. Three water samples were collected at each beach, 20 metres apart, at the same approximate location each time. Samples were collected, by hand, in knee to thigh-depth water at about 30 cm below the surface. During rough weather a sampling pole was used to aid sample collection. Samples were placed on ice in an esky and delivered to a National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) accredited laboratory within six hours. At the lab the samples were composited (pooled together) before being analysed using the Enterolert method to produce a single enterococci value (organisms/100 mL) for each beach.

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APPENDIX 5: Risk assessment matrix The risk assessment matrix below was used to forecast beach water quality based on five factors, each weighted for importance. Data on microbiological history was sourced from EPA monitoring. Rainfall information was sourced from the Bureau of Meteorology. The matrix assigned a lower weighting to enterococci results that were more than a day old (sampling has shown that enterococci levels can change substantially within 24 hours). Table 5: The 2006–07 water quality forecast matrix

Factor Criteria Score Weighting ≤35 0 If number of days 36—150 1 Most recent since sampling: enterococci level 151—500 2 Microbiological >500 3 >1 =0 history (recent and long-term) ≥3500 Unacceptable 1 =1 Very good/good 0 Beach history (four- 2 year 95th percentile) Fair 1 Poor 2 None 0 0.2 to 2.4 mm/drizzle 1 Past rainfall (based on BOM rainfall range 2.5 to 4.9 mm/showers 2 2 forecast on 5.0 to 9.9 mm/rain 3 weekdays) 10.0 to 19.9 mm/heavy rain 4 >20 mm/storms 5 None 0 Rainfall Drizzle 1 Forecast rainfall Showers 2 3 Rain 3 Heavy rain/storms 4 Fine 0 Cloud cover Patchy 1 1 Cloudy 2

The scores for each of the five factors were added together and the overall score used to generate a water quality forecast for that beach. If the enterococci level is greater than 3500 orgs/100 mL a water quality forecast of ‘unacceptable’ is assigned and a ‘no swim advisory’ is issued for that beach. Forecasts were distributed by approximately 3 pm on the preceding afternoon.

Table 6: Predicted water quality

Overall score Forecast <10 Good 10—16 Fair >16 Poor Enterococci >3500 Unacceptable

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APPENDIX 6: 2007–08 rainfall data Table 7: Comparison of 2007–08 monthly and summer rainfall totals against historical averages.

Monthly rainfall (mm) December January February March Summer 2007— Mean 2007 Mean 2008 Mean 2008 Mean 2008 Mean Rainfall Station 08 Avalon 30.3 48.2 31.6 9.2 32.6 21.6 27.7 24.4 30.6 25.9 Laverton 45.1 69.8 39.9 10.2 46.3 16.8 35.2 20.6 41.6 29.4 Melbourne 59.1 71.2 47.9 32.8 47.6 24.6 50.1 70.8 51.2 49.9 Moorabbin 59.0 127.2 45.2 15.0 44.6 26.0 45.6 25.4 48.6 48.4 Cerberus 49.7 83.4 40.8 0.8 40.4 30.8 45.0 23.2 44.0 34.6 5 Station Average 48.6 80.0 41.1 13.6 42.3 24.0 40.7 32.9 43.2 37.6 * Mean refers to the mean monthly rainfall, calculated from the Bureau of Meteorology’s historical record. Accessed via the website (www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/ca_vic_names.shtml)

90 Historical 80 Mean 70 2007-08 60 50 40 30 20 Total Rainfall (mm) 10 0 December January February March Summer Month

Figure 4: Monthly and summer rainfall (average of five sites: Avalon, Cerberus, Laverton, Melbourne, Moorabbin) during the 2007—08 Beach Report season.

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