RECREATIONAL WATER QUALITY MONITORING PROGRAM UPDATED
15 June 2006
Melbourne Water today announced that it had completed a recreational water quality assessment of Gunnamatta and St Andrews beaches.
Melbourne Water General Manager of Research and Technology, Peter Scott, said the program assessed the recreational water quality at beaches near the south east outfall at Boags Rocks on the Mornington Peninsula, against National Health and Medical Research Council, Guidelines for Managing Risks in Recreational Waters.
"Melbourne Water has just completed an assessment of its comprehensive additional water quality program against the NHMRC guidelines which were released mid last year.
"Using the results of testing the authority has taken over the last five years, the results show that recreational water quality has consistently been rated 'Very Good' against those guidelines.
"This confirms the results of the independent weekly E. coli and enterococci testing at six sites around the outfall that show there is no significant microbiological health risk to swimmers or surfers at St Andrews and Gunnamatta beaches."
Mr Scott said the additional program, which would continue, involved assessing enterococci levels in each of three samples taken at 18 sites around the outfall over a twelve-month period.
"Testing takes place fortnightly over summer (December to March) and monthly during the cooler months (April - November).
"The testing sites are located in the swim zone, 400 metres offshore, 800 metres offshore, and a reference site two kilometres offshore.
"This data will be published on Melbourne Water's website, with the six site E. coli and enterococci data already published fortnightly."
"This means that surfers and other beach users will have access to the most comprehensive current and historical water quality data for any similar beach in Australia - with over 800 samples taken and independently analysed every year."
Mr Scott said the nature of micro-organisms meant that numbers can vary from sample to sample and from day to day and this was reflected in the raw data.
"For this reason, the NHMRC guidelines specify that water quality assessments not be made on the basis of individual samples.
"Assessment over a period more accurately reflects the beach condition as fluctuations can occur as a result of factors such as bird and boating activity and wind conditions as well as changes that may occasionally occur to samples after collection.
"A proper scientific assessment of the broad data set against the NHMRC guidelines shows the water to be consistently safe for recreational use.
"This confirms the advice of the Victorian Department of Human Services."
Mr Scott said the progress results for the 2005/2006 assessment period were also available on the Melbourne Water.
"While not a comprehensive assessment given the shortened timeframe, the results for the year so far indicate water quality is on track for a sixth consecutive year rated 'Very Good' against the guidelines."
Mr Scott said Melbourne Water recognised that there were some important aesthetic issues associated with the outfall, which Melbourne Water, the Government and other authorities are working to address.
"The State Government is working to find additional uses for recycled water both on the Mornington Peninsula and further afield to reduce the amount of treated effluent discharged.
"One opportunity being investigated is the Eastern Water Recycling Proposal that proposes to send up to 80 per cent of the recycled effluent to the Latrobe Valley for use in brown coal power generators.
"The results of the feasibility study on this proposal are expected later this year.
"An $84 million dollar upgrade of the Eastern Treatment Plant to reduce the amount of ammonia in the treated effluent discharged at Boags Rocks is also underway.
"This will provide substantial benefits for the marine environment," he said.
Further information on our Research and Monitoring Programs.