BEACH REPORT – 2004– 05

Publication 991

May 2005

BEACH REPORT IN 2004– 05 the major daily newspapers, on the EPA website and broadcast over the radio. Keeping an eye on our beaches is one of EPA EPA assesses water quality and litter levels so that Victoria’s priorities. We have been providing we can work towards better beaches. The data we information about beach water quality to the collect assists EPA and local councils in responding community for 15 years. Our weekly monitoring to pollution events when they occur and checking program has evolved over this time, with EPA for long-term changes in water quality. striving to provide the best information about the health of beaches in Port Phillip Bay. Beach Report also highlights actions the wider community can take to protect bay beaches. The main aim of Beach Report is to provide the community with the latest information on water Melbourne’s summer deluge quality so that beachgoers can make informed decisions about visiting the beach. During summer, During summer there were some intense rainfall Beach Report information can be found in events, particularly during January and February. This unseasonable heavy rainfall had significant effects on beach water quality.

On 26 January 2005, heavy rain fell across the Geelong region and south-western Melbourne. Water sampling on the following day detected particularly high bacterial levels at St Helens, Werribee South and Williamstown beaches and EPA advised against swimming at these locations. In contrast, the rest of the bay received very little rain and consequently water Figure 1: The mouth of the Yarra River after the February storm quality remained good in these (Michael Rayner/Fairfax Photos) areas.

BEACH REPORT - 2004-05

Follow-up samples at the three affected beaches These large storm events clearly demonstrate the revealed that bacterial levels had returned to low close relationship between beach water quality and levels by the next day. rainfall. Stormwater drainage inputs can cause short-term beach pollution, which is why EPA The following week on 2 and 3 February, over advises against swimming near stormwater outlets 100 mm of rain fell in Melbourne within a 24-hour after rain. The findings from this summer have period, the highest daily reading on record. confirmed and added to our understanding of severe Significant flooding occurred across the Melbourne storms and their effects on beach water quality. metropolitan and Geelong region, resulting in heavily polluted stormwater flowing into Port Phillip Bay (see Figure 1). In response, EPA issued HOW WAS THE WATER? widespread alerts to avoid bay beaches. Except for the storm events discussed above, water Beach Report sampling conducted on 2 February quality at beaches around Port Phillip Bay was (during the storm) confirmed the presence of high generally good during the 2004–05 summer, and bacterial levels. Fifteen of the 35 monitored beaches consistent with previous years. had poor water quality, considerably more than on any other day over the previous three years of Why do we monitor? monitoring. There are three main reasons why EPA monitors The effect of stormwater pollution on beach water water quality at beaches around Port Phillip Bay: quality generally lasts for up to 24 hours after § to provide information to the public normal rainfall, but the impacts from the storm on 2 and 3 February were more severe. § to identify short-term pollution problems

EPA conducted intensive monitoring of beach water § to look for long-term changes in water quality. quality following the rainfall event. Sample results showed a notable decline in bacterial levels after 24 What do we monitor? hours and a return to low levels within four days. From December to March, EPA was out each week Sediment, litter and other debris remained in the testing the water and checking the beaches. Thirty- bay for some weeks after the storm. However, five beaches around Port Phillip Bay were monitored ongoing Beach Report monitoring indicated bacteria (See Figure 2). levels remained low over the subsequent weeks.

EPA Victoria 2 BEACH REPORT - 2004-05

Figure 2: Beaches sampled in the Beach Report program

EPA measures levels of enterococci bacteria to work Results for 2004–05 out whether beaches are polluted and whether it is Ninety-five per cent of routine samples had safe to swim. Enterococci are a group of bacteria enterococci levels below 500 orgs/100 mL. found in the intestinal tract of warm-blooded Figure 3 provides a summary of the routine animals, whose presence in high numbers indicates monitoring results from 2004–05. The number of a decrease in water quality for swimmers. It is Poor results (above 500 orgs/100 mL) was higher internationally recognised as the best indicator of than in previous years because of the storm events recreational water quality in marine areas. in January and February. When a sample has a high enterococci level (greater than 500 organisms/100 mL), we investigate and collect follow-up samples.

2004-05 Very Good Good Fair Poor

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Percentage of routine samples

Figure 3: Summary of routine enterococci results for the 2004–05 season

Environment Report 3 BEACH REPORT - 2004-05

Water quality forecasting Season Season 75th Beach median percentile For assessing short-term (daily) water quality, beaches are rated through a risk assessment model Objective 35 150 based on scientific information, including Rye 36 bacteriological history of the beach, predicted Elwood 63 178 rainfall, cloud cover and recent monitoring results. St Kilda 217 This enables EPA to forecast or predict water quality Port Melbourne 42 on days when samples are not collected and provide Altona 41 283 a daily service to the public. Queenscliff 41 A water quality forecast was issued every day of the Table 1: Median and 75th percentile enterococci summer period. Overall, beach water quality was levels (orgs/100 mL) at beaches that did not predicted to be suitable for swimming on the great meet Policy objectives majority of occasions. EPA now has three years of enterococci monitoring Monitoring results indicate that the forecasting data (E.coli was used as the bacterial indicator prior system was generally successful in predicting to 2002–03). If data from the past three years is overall beach water quality, with the predictions compiled, all 35 beaches meet the objectives. typically more conservative than actual results. EPA conducted intensive water quality sampling to Work continues to improve this model by improving further understand the risks to beach water quality our knowledge of risks to water quality and at sites that have not previously met the objectives. strengthening our information exchange with the Specific pollution sources were not detected and Bureau of Meteorology. further investigations next summer will focus on

Summer trends stormwater inputs.

To measure long-term (whole-of-summer) water Overall, the 2004–05 results suggest that quality, EPA compares Beach Report results against contaminated stormwater remains the main cause of the objectives in the State Environment Protection bacteriological pollution at Port Phillip Bay beaches.

Policy (Waters of Victoria), referred to as the Policy. Stormwater can carry run-off from the catchment, The Policy details environmental objectives for including litter, animal faeces, fertilisers, septic and swimming (primary-contact recreation) in marine sullage effluent and leakage from old sewers to our waters. waterways and beaches. The community can play an

Across the summer period, there were six out of 35 important role in keeping our stormwater clean and beaches that did not meet one or more of the maintaining the health of our bay beaches. objectives (see Table 1). This figure is higher than in previous years due to the storms in January and February.

EPA Victoria 4 BEACH REPORT - 2004-05

Tips to prevent beach pollution BEACH CARE DAYS

Pollutants from our streets can enter stormwater drains Over the 2004–05 summer, EPA held Beach Care and be transported to our waterways after rain, ending up Days at Portarlington, Altona, Williamstown, at your local beach. Use these tips to help protect bay Dromana and Rye. beaches: The aims of these events were: · put litter in a bin § to demonstrate that we all play a part in · report sewer spills and blockages improving the quality and safety of our beaches · pick up dog droppings § to encourage beach users to care for their · regularly maintain septic tanks beaches

ALL THAT RUBBISH § to increase awareness about water quality, stormwater issues, litter and other pollutants The Beach Report program also includes a series of § to show what marine scientists from EPA do at beach litter surveys. Following the storm on 2 and 3 beaches. February, substantial amounts of litter and vegetation washed into the bay and onto beaches, At the Beach Care Days, EPA staff gave a short requiring councils to undertake significant clean-up. presentation and ran activities for children. Staff were on hand to answer questions and provide Monitoring by Keep Australia Beautiful Victoria information and contact details for key EPA during the 2004–05 summer showed similar trends programs. to the previous six years of beach litter surveys. Generally, the highest amounts of deposited litter were at the most popular beaches.

As with previous years, the most commonly found items of litter were the cigarette butt – which accounted for over half of all the litter found – and plastics.

Results from this work will be presented in the forthcoming publication Port Phillip Bay Beach Litter Surveys 2004–05.

Figure 4: Beach care presentation at Portarlington, January 2005.

Environment Report 5 BEACH REPORT - 2004-05

It is hoped that, by actively engaging people at risks to beach water quality. This information will Beach Care Days, EPA can increase awareness and help us to further improve the risk assessment understanding that the primary responsibility for model and keep delivering high-quality information clean, litter-free beaches lies with the Victorian about beach condition to the Victorian community. community.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS FUTURE DIRECTIONS EPA wishes to thank the following organisations for EPA Victoria will keep working to improve the Beach their support of the 2004–05 Beach Report program: Report program. As part of this commitment we will · Life Saving Victoria continue to develop better methods for monitoring · Bayside City Council and predicting beach water quality. · City of Greater Geelong This season EPA has made improvements to the Beach Report program to provide the community · City of Kingston with the most accurate and up-to-date information · City of Port Phillip possible. The water quality prediction model has been enhanced to increase the accuracy of the · Department of Human Services forecasts. EPA has also conducted intensive water · Frankston City Council quality sampling at selected beaches to further · Hobsons Bay City Council understand the risks to beach water quality. · Melbourne Water EPA will keep updating the Beach Report protocols in line with national and international standards. We · Mornington Peninsula Shire Council will continue to work with councils, water · Shire of Queenscliffe authorities, Department of Human Services and · Wyndham City Council. Melbourne Water to assess local issues influencing beach water quality.

An assessment of rainfall correlations will also be undertaken to improve our ability to predict beach water quality following wet weather. Results of this work will be presented in the forthcoming publication Beach Report Water Quality Results 2004–05.

Next summer, water quality surveys and additional intensive sampling will be conducted at sites around Port Phillip Bay in an effort to further understand the

EPA Victoria 6 BEACH REPORT - 2004-05

FURTHER INFORMATION EPA Information Centre

40 City Road Southbank Victoria 3006 More information about the 2004–05 Beach Report GPO Box 4395QQ Melbourne Victoria 3001 water monitoring program and beach litter surveys Telephone 03 9695 2700 will be detailed in the forthcoming reports: Facsimile 03 9695 2710 § Beach Report Water Quality Results 2004–05 www.epa.vic.gov.au § Port Phillip Bay Beach Litter Surveys 2004–05.

These publications will be available at:

www.epa.vic.gov.au/beachreport

If you notice a pollution incident at any beach, please call the EPA Pollution Watch Line on 9695 2777 or 1800 444 044.

Environment Report 7