Melbourne Water
Social and Environment Data
2005 / 2006

• OVERVIEW
• WATERWAYS OPERATING CHARTER
• DRINKING WATER QUALITY PERFORMANCE
• ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE
• Environment Policy (PDF, 57kb)
• Eastern Treatment Plant inputs and discharges
• Western Treatment Plant inputs and discharges
• Rivers and creeks water quality monitoring
• Energy and greenhouse data

Rivers and creeks water quality monitoring

• State Environment Protection Policy (SEPP) objectives for greater Melbourne's rivers and creeks
• Rivers and creeks water quality monitoring results
• Alerting EPA Victoria to problem spots in rivers and creeks

Melbourne Water monitors the water quality of rivers and creeks at over 70 sites throughout the Melbourne and metropolitan area, which are highlighted on the following map. The data collected from these sites assists Melbourne Water in determining the priorities for rehabilitation of rivers and creeks. The following information outlines Melbourne Water’s compliance with the State environment protection policy from 1 July 2005 to 30 June 2006 and the results of our monitoring of rivers and creeks and our performance in meeting EPA Victoria requirements to alert the agency to problem spots in rivers and creeks.

Melbourne Water has been publishing water quality data regularly in our annual reports for several years. Data from our long-term monitoring program varies little over the years. Key features are:

• Water quality varies considerably across the Port Phillip and Westernport Region. While some sites are in excellent condition, others will have very poor quality
• Typically water quality reflects the catchment and, as such, tends to be poorer within urban rivers and creeks subject to excessive stormwater volumes and associated pollutants. For example, E.coli and nitrogen levels were higher than the SEPP standard in Watsons Creek at Dandenong-Hastings Road, Somerville most probably due to fertiliser run-off from market gardens upstream. On the other hand, rivers and creeks flowing through forested catchments within the region tend to have very good water quality.
• Many sites do not currently meet State Environment Protection Policy (SEPP) objectives, although waterway and catchment management aims to achieve them over the life of the SEPP. Such activities include the treatment of urban stormwater through Water Sensitive Urban Design and uptake of environmental best practice land management in rural areas, and through the investigation and mitigation of point sources of pollution
• Currently Melbourne Water, in conjunction with a range of stakeholders (including EPA Victoria, Department of Sustainability and Environment, Department of Primary Industry, Department of Human Services, Municipal Association of Victoria and the Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority) and part funding from the Department of Environment and Heritage, is developing a Water Quality Improvement Plan for the Port Phillip and Westernport catchments. This plan will provide important direction for the ongoing improvement and protection of water quality in the region.

Please note: the following tables refer to the monitoring sites depicted in the map.

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State Environment Protection Policy (SEPP) objectives for greater Melbourne's rivers and creeks

Please note: for explanations of the terms below, click here.

SEPP	DO mg/L min	Turb NTU/FTU Median	SS mg/L Median	TN mg/L Max	TP mg/L max	E. coli org/100mL Geomean	Pb mg/L max	Zn mg/L max
Waters of the Yarra Catchment
Rural eastern waterways	>6.0	<15	<20	<0.60	<0.05	<200	<0.002	<0.005
Rural western waterways	>6.0	<25	<25	<0.60	<0.05	<200	<0.002	<0.005
Yarra tributaries – southern	>6.0	<25	<25	<1.00	<0.10	<1000	<0.002	<0.005
Yarra tributaries – northern	>6.0	<25	<25	<1.00	<0.10	<1000	<0.002	<0.005
Urban waterways - Yarra mainstream	>6.0	<25a/30b	<25a/50b	<0.90	<0.08	<200	<0.002	<0.005
Waters of Western Port and catchment
Western Port waterways – peninsula	>6.0	<15	<15	<0.6	<0.05	<200	<0.01	<0.005
Western Port waterways – eastern*	>6.5	<15	<15	<0.6	<0.05	<200	<0.01	<0.005

Waters of Victoria
SEPP	DO % saturation 25th %	Turb NTU 75th %	SS	TN mg/L 75th %	TP mg/L 75th %	E.coli organisms/100 mL median of 5 samples within 30 days	Pb mg/L 95th %	Zn mg/L 95th %
Balcombe Creek	≥ 85	≤ 10	NS	≤ 0.6	≤ 0.045	≤ 150	≤ 0.034	≤ 0.08
Maribyrnong River and tributaries	≥ 85	≤ 10	NS	≤ 0.6	≤ 0.045	≤ 150	≤ 0.034	≤ 0.08
Maribyrnong River – estuarine	≥ 85	≤ 10	NS	≤ 0.6	≤ 0.045	≤ 150	≤ 0.034	≤ 0.08
Dandenong Creek and major tributaries	≥ 85	≤ 10	NS	≤ 0.6	≤ 0.045	≤ 150	≤ 0.034	≤ 0.08
Mordialloc and Kananook creeks	≥ 85	≤ 10	NS	≤ 0.6	≤ 0.045	≤ 150	≤ 0.034	≤ 0.08
Mordialloc and Kananook creek tributaries	≥ 85	≤ 10	NS	≤ 0.6	≤ 0.045	≤ 150	≤ 0.034	≤ 0.08

Note:
(a) - Yarra mainstream u/s of Diamond Creek confluence
(b) - Yarra mainstream d/s of Diamond Creek confluence.
*The Waters of Western Port & Catchment State environment protection policy waterways objectives for the “South Eastern Rural” and the “Lowland & Phillip Island” segments are the same and Melbourne Water has grouped these together.

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Rivers and creeks water quality monitoring results

The following tables show results from the river and creek monitoring sites in annual medians except for dissolved oxygen that shows the 25th percentile result. The map on the previous page shows site locations.

Site No.	Description	DO % saturation 25th percentile	DO mg/L	Turb NTU	SS mg/L	Total-N mg/L	Total P mg/L	E. coli org/100 mL	Pb mg/L	Zn mg/L
Maribyrnong River and tributaries and other western waterways
66	Maribyrnong River at Brimbank Park Ford, Keilor	62		13		1.1995	0.0665	130	0.0005	0.008
68	Steele Creek at Rose Avenue, Niddrie	78.25		15		0.5115	0.04	110	0.001	0.038
67	Maribyrnong River at Canning Street Ford, Avondale Heights	59.75		15		1.025	0.065	240	0.001	0.01
71	Kororoit Creek at Racecourse Road Ford, Altona	58		24		1.111	0.145	410	0.005	0.0265
70	Kororoit Creek at Millbank Drive, Deer Park	69.5		9		0.5825	0.043	150	0.0005	0.009
72	Skeleton Creek at Ayr Street, Laverton	54		16.5		0.7335	0.11	440	0.0025	0.0175
69	Stony Creek at Bena Street, Yarraville	74.75		14.5		2.835	0.38	4600	0.004	0.0855
73	Maribyrnong River at Newsom St, Maribyrnong
Mordialloc and Kananook creeks and Mornington Peninsula waterways
43	Mordialloc Creek at Wells Road, Mordialloc	48.5		45.5		1.6245	0.185	310	0.004	0.0625
44	Kananook Creek at Wells Street, Frankston	64.75		6		0.7045	0.088	460	0.005	0.0325
52	Warrangine Creek at Frankston-Flinders Road, Hastings	59.5		15		1.0495	0.0455	420	0.001	0.0145
50	Watsons Creek at Dandenong-Hastings Road, Somerville	60.5		26		8.023	0.39	860	0.0015	0.0125
46	Balcombe Creek at Uralla Dve footbridge, Mt Martha	53.75		13		0.982	0.041	480	0.0005	0.01
48	Chinamans Creek at Eastbourne Road, Rosebud West	31		6		1.6245	0.053	390	0.001	0.026
49	Main Creek at Boneo Road, Flinders	87.75		5.5		0.639	0.022	90	0.0005	0.0035
47	Dunns Creek at Marine Drive, Safety Beach	63.25		7.5		0.5685	0.036	480	0.0005	0.01
Waters of Dandenong Valley
39	Mile Creek at Cheltenham Road, Keysborough	62.25		24.5		1.6275	0.0805	1040	0.004	0.23
42	Eumemmerring Creek at Worsley Road, Bangholme	60.25		35.5		1.632	0.16	600	0.003	0.0405
40	Patterson River at National Water Sports Centre outlet, Bangholme	71		54.5		1.485	0.12	210	0.005	0.066
35	Dandenong Creek at Boronia Road, Wantirna	55.75		29.5		1.3945	0.11	370	0.004	0.155
41	Hallam Main Drain at South Gippsland Highway Hampton Park	56		32.5		0.999	0.067	190	0.002	0.0165
36	Dandenong Creek at Stud Road, Dandenong North	64.75		41		1.1485	0.0805	190	0.004	0.059
37	Dandenong Creek at Pillars Crossing, Dandenong South	70		48		1.257	0.092	840	0.006	0.1
38	Corhanwarrabul Creek at Wellington Road, Rowville	62.75		29		1.1955	0.0785	130	0.003	0.04
34	Dandenong Creek at Sheffield Road, Doongalla Forest	67.25		14.5		1.335	0.018	50	0.0005	0.005
45	Elster Creek at Cochrane Street, Elwood	88		11.5		2.064	0.097	790	0.003	0.26
Western Port waterways
55	Toomuc Creek at Princes Highway, Pakenham	61.75	7.3	22	7	0.9315	0.059	250	0.001	0.018
54	Cardinia Creek at Ballarto Road, Cardinia	64.75	7.65	21.5	9	0.6895	0.049	110	0.001	0.008
57	Deep Creek at Ballarto Road, Rythdale	43.25	5.45	99	56.5	1.5795	0.52	390	0.003	0.0205
51	Merricks Creek, Bridge Street Merricks	33.5	6.5	20.5	8	0.9935	0.0605	610	0.00075	0.01
65	Lang Lang River at Douin-Poowong Road, Athlone	61.5	7.15	25.5	10.5	1.9275	0.185	390	0.0005	0.0065
61	Bunyip River at Little Road, Iona	79	8.35	14	8	0.6665	0.04	540	0.0005	0.0065
58	Tarago River at Morrisons Road, Labertouche	71.25	8.15	13	7	0.552	0.0455	440	0.0005	0.0045
64	Lang Lang River at South Gippsland Highway, Lang Lang	55.75	7.05	29.5	17.5	1.321	0.145	230	0.001	0.0085
63	Yallock Outfall at South Gippsland Highway, Monomeith	49.5	5.65	46	30.5	2.098	0.0915	130	0.002	0.008
59	Bunyip River at North Labertouche Road, Tonimbuk	73	8.5	20.5	12	0.71	0.0215	85	0.001	0.006
60	Bunyip River downstream Cannibal Creek, Longwarry North	74.75	8.15	18.5	8.5	0.726	0.0365	300	0.0005	0.0055
62	Bunyip River at Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road, Koo Wee Rup	68	7.45	19.5	9.5	0.7675	0.039	185	0.0005	0.0065
53	Cardinia Creek at Cadwick Road, Upper Beaconsfield	76.5	8.15	10	5	0.564	0.0265	160	0.0005	0.005
56	Toomuc Creek at Ballarto Road, Rythdale	47	5.5	37	13.5	0.902	0.05	110	0.001	0.0085
Yarra Catchment - northern urban tributaries
32	Merri Creek at Roseneath Street, Yarra Bend	85.5	9.35	12	6.5	1.0835	0.1035	220	0.004	0.048
33	Moonee Ponds Creek at Mt Alexander Road, Parkville	74.5	8.2	16	11	1.4925	0.0705	1190	0.003	0.0295
31	Darebin Creek at Clark Road footbridge, Ivanhoe	74.5	8.4	9.5	5.5	0.8875	0.083	1100	0.003	0.0685
30	Plenty River at Henty Road, Lower Plenty	49.25	5.95	36	21.5	1.0255	0.0755	720	0.005	0.029
29	Diamond Creek at Main Road, Eltham	60.75	7.25	32	12	1.035	0.0755	400	0.003	0.039
Yarra Catchment - rural eastern and western waterways
16	Watsons Creek at Henley Road, Kangaroo Ground	88.75	8.8	5	4	0.4445	0.0165	40	0.0005	0.0035
20	Merri Creek at Summerhill Road, Craigieburn	58.75	6.95	8.5	7.5	1.033	0.059	140	0.0005	0.0055
19	Plenty River at Plenty Gorge, South Morang	63.5	7	16.5	5	0.9335	0.051	185	0.001	0.006
17	Arthurs Creek at Burkes Bridge, Hurstbridge	53.5	6.8	24.5	7	0.582	0.038	160	0.001	0.006
18	Diamond Creek at Cottles Bridge-Strathewen Road, Cottles Bridge	28.75	4.1	29	10.5	1.215	0.0635	120	0.002	0.009
14	Steels Creek at Healesville Road, Yarra Glen	51	7.6	16	14	0.9785	0.036	120	0.0015	0.016
13	Watts River at Healesville-Kinglake Road, Healesville	60.75	7.55	9	6.5	1.0845	0.03	430	0.0005	0.009
12	Wandin Yallock Creek at Killara Road, Gruyere	63	7.55	11.5	6.5	1.2265	0.0245	140	0.0005	0.006
9	Woori Yallock Creek at Warburton Highway, Woori Yallock	66.5	7.65	22	7.5	1.1505	0.033	250	0.0005	0.006
10	Woori Yallock Creek at Macclesfield Road, Yellingbo	70.5	8.05	21	9	1.242	0.028	150	0.0005	0.0055
11	Cockatoo Creek at Tschampions Road, Macclesfield	68	7.6	20	5.5	1.193	0.0295	55	0.0005	0.005
8	Little Yarra River at Corduroy Road, Yarra Junction	68.75	8.35	13.5	11.5	0.6885	0.025	330	0.0005	0.006
15	Stringybark Creek at Melba Highway, Yering	58.75	7	15	5.5	0.928	0.0325	265	0.0005	0.008
Yarra Catchment - southern urban tributaries
28	Gardiners Creek at South Eastern Freeway, Hawthorn	80.25	8.55	19	7.5	1.265	0.077	490	0.004	0.0685
27	Koonung Creek at Bulleen Road, Bulleen	71.75	7.8	11	7	1.1105	0.0855	550	0.002	0.063
25	Mullum Mullum Creek at Deep Creek Reserve, Warrandyte	77.25	8.3	25	14	1.99	0.2	430	0.003	0.034
24	Andersons Creek at Everard Drive, Warrandyte	84	8.55	17	10	2.7845	0.195	520	0.002	0.015
22	Brushy Creek at Lower Homestead Road, Wonga Park	66.5	7.7	14	9.5	5.4765	0.19	430	0.001	0.038
23	Jumping Creek at Jumping Creek Road, Wonga Park	75	8.8	8.5	5	0.7885	0.034	690	0.0005	0.0095
26	Ruffey Creek at Parker Street, Templestowe	84.5	8.8	8	4	1.597	0.175	460	0.001	0.047
21	Olinda Creek at Macintyre Lane, Coldstream	65.75	7.15	17	13.5	2.473	0.094	400	0.002	0.0105
Yarra Catchment - Yarra mainstream and estuary
6	Yarra River at Chandler Highway, Kew	57	7.8	37	18	1.157	0.071	310	0.004	0.022
7	Yarra River at Princes Bridge, South Melbourne	65.75	7.15	17.5	19.5	0.984	0.0775	640	0.005	0.025
5	Yarra River at Kangaroo Ground-Warrandyte Road, Warrandyte	76.5	9.05	12	6	0.9935	0.0405	65	0.0005	0.006
4	Yarra River at Spadonis Reserve, Coldstream	69	8.65	16.5	9	0.85	0.0315	160	0.0005	0.006
3	Yarra River at Maroondah Highway, Healesville	73.25	8.05	12.5	7	0.776	0.029	225	0.0005	0.007
2	Yarra River at Don Road, Launching Place	71.75	8.5	6.5	5	0.5865	0.018	200	0.0005	0.006
1	Yarra River at McKenzie-King Drive, Millgrove	70.25	8.85	3.5	2	0.5195	0.0155	230	0.0005	0.005

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Terms used

DO : Dissolved Oxygen
E. coli : Eschericha coli
Pb : Total Lead
SS : Total Suspended Solids
TN : Total Nitrogen
TP : Total Phosphorus
Turb : Turbidity
Zn : Total Zinc

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Alerting EPA Victoria to problem spots in rivers and creeks

Alert levels are generally well above water quality objectives specified in relevant State environment protection policies, representing instances of particularly undesirable water quality. Melbourne Water is required to report all alert-level exceedances that occur within our operating area to EPA Victoria. The notifications identify sites that often experience poor water quality and also provide a mechanism for locating and mitigating chronic pollution problems.

During 2005/06, there were a total of 348 alert level exceedances reported to EPA Victoria, or less than 2 % of the analyses performed.

The key problem sites for the year included:

• Watsons Creek at Dandenong-Hastings Road, Somerville, most probably due to fertiliser run-off
• from market gardens upstream Stony Creek at Bena Street, Yarraville, due to the highly urbanised and industrial catchment of Stony Creek.
• Elster Creek at Cochrane Street, Brighton, due to the highly urbanised residential area of Elwood and Elsternwick.
• Brushy Creek at Lower Homestead Road Bridge, Wonga Park, most probably associated with upstream wastewater treatment plant discharges.
• Chinamans Creek at Eastbourne Rd, possibly due to a lack of sewering in the catchment.

The following table shows how alert level exceedances have varied over the past five years.

Year	Alert level exceedances
2000/01	511
2001/02	246
2002/03	343
2003/04	395
2004/05	431
2005/06	348

Click on the following links for information on Melbourne Water’s:

• Environment Policy (PDF, 57kb)
• Eastern Treatment Plant inputs and discharges
• Western Treatment Plant inputs and discharges
• Energy and greenhouse data

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