Swimmers can now “check before you swim” at inland NSW beaches and swimming spots, with the state’s new real-time water quality monitoring system now up and running.
Since Saturday, the government beach watch The website offers live updates on water quality, with the state’s inland beaches, rivers and swimming spots ranked into five quality levels: very good, good, fair, poor and very poor.
Very good means the location has overall excellent microbial water quality and very few potential sources of faecal contamination, according to the NSW State of the Beaches 2023-24 report.
Good means that the location has generally good microbial water quality and the water is considered suitable for swimming most of the time.
Fair means that the microbial quality of the water is generally suitable for swimming, but due to the presence of significant sources of fecal contamination, special care should be taken to avoid swimming during and up to three days after rainfall or if there are signs of contamination, like discolored water. or odor or residue in the water.
Poor means the location is susceptible to fecal contamination and the microbial quality of the water is not always suitable for swimming.
Very poor means the location is very susceptible to fecal contamination and is probably not suitable for swimming.
Some of Sydney’s star beaches received a poor rating in the report.
Swimmers can now ‘check before you swim’ at NSW beaches and inland swimming spots, with the state’s new real-time water quality monitoring system now up and running (pictured , Belongil Beach in Byron Bay).
Bondi Beach has a good rating, while Coogee and Bronte Beach received a poor rating.
Maroubra Beach, south of the city, received a good rating, while Oatley Bay Baths receives a poor rating.
Swimming in contaminated water poses serious health risks, the report also warns.
“Contamination of recreational waters with fecal matter of animal and human origin can pose significant health problems to beach users due to the presence of pathogens (disease-causing microorganisms) in the fecal matter,” the report states.
‘The most common groups of pathogens found in recreational waters are bacteria, protozoa and viruses.
‘Exposure to contaminated water can cause gastroenteritis, with symptoms including vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, nausea, headache and fever.
Starting Saturday, the government’s Beachwatch website offers live updates on water quality (pictured, swimmers at Bondi Beach)
“Infections of the eyes, ears, skin and upper respiratory tract can also be contracted when pathogens come into contact with small breaks and tears in the skin or tears in the delicate membranes of the ear or nose.”
Sites monitored include coastal beaches from Eurobodalla in the south to Sydney and Port Stephens and then to Ballina, near the New South Wales-Queensland border.
Parts of western Sydney are now also under surveillance.
“I’m excited that a range of popular inland swimming spots will be added to Beachwatch’s live water quality site this summer, including the hugely popular Penrith Beach,” said the NSW Environment Minister. , Penny Sharpe.
‘This site also provides swimmers with information on waves and tides.
‘Our beaches almost always have good to very good water quality, but after rain it is important to check before swimming.
“The Bureau of Meteorology predicts a wet summer, so keep an eye on the Beachwatch website as the weather warms.”
The report shows that 72 per cent of all swimming sites monitored in New South Wales achieved a very good or good rating by 2023-24, including 95 per cent of ocean beaches.
In 2021-22, 80 percent of all monitored sites received very good or good ratings.
In general, swimming should be avoided during and up to one day after heavy rain at ocean beaches and up to three days at estuarine sites.
Sites monitored include coastal beaches from Eurobodalla in the south to Sydney and Port Stephens and then to Ballina near the New South Wales/Queensland border (pictured are swimmers at Bondi Beach)
