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More than 30 Victoria beaches have been declared unsafe for swimming following heavy rain across the state.
The Environmental Protection Agency reviewed and rated the water quality in Victoria’s Port Phillip Bay as “poor.”
No beaches in the bay have been classed as safe for swimming, with affected beaches stretching from Portsea to Mentone and as far as Altona.
In total 36 beaches received this rating.
EPA chief environmental scientist Mark Taylor said the bay was often dirty and polluted after major weather events.
The water in Victoria’s Port Phillip Bay has been rated ‘poor’ due to the presence of contaminants such as oil and faeces.
“When it rains a lot, everything goes into the river – vehicles, faeces – everything goes into the water system and out into the ocean,” Taylor told AAP.
“Ultimately, this is a health warning for people not to expose themselves to pollution.”
He said oil and debris, including pieces of wood, could be found in the water among the rest of the dirt.
Port Phillip beaches have been declared unsafe for swimming. Thirty-six beaches lack quality water
The contaminated water comes after a spate of heavy rain in Victoria, with a month’s worth of rain falling on Monday.
Some parts of the state saw rainfall totals that surpassed 150-year records.
Emergency services received more than 500 calls on Monday, including 117 flood-related concerns and 267 reports of building damage.
The outer east and west were some of the worst affected areas in Melbourne, with 53mm of rain recorded in the city’s Olympic Park, exceeding the city’s average rainfall total for all of April.
READ MORE: Woman falls into flooded drain as rain lashes Victoria; no one heard cries for help
Woman nearly drowns after being swept into a stormwater drain amid wild weather hitting Victoria, with no one able to hear her screams for help over rushing water (file image of wild weather in Melbourne)