Beaches in 11 fails on EPA levels

LOCAL beaches have failed to meet Environment Protection Authority water quality targets 11 times, according to a new report.
The EPA Beach Report said the worst level, recorded at Portarlington on January 10, was 8.5 times the limit.
The beach recorded a bacterial level of 3400 compared to the “trigger” of 400.
The report said beaches at St Helens, The Dell, Portarlington, St Leonards and Queenscliff all recorded instances triggering the EPA investigation level last summer.
Geelong’s Eastern Beach was the only monitored area to receive a clean bill of health for bacterial levels.
The report said record rain last summer triggered the increased in EPA water quality alerts.
“Increased stormwater run-off and river flows into the bay after heavy rainfall increased the number of short-term trigger exceedances.
“In most cases, elevated bacterial levels were short-lived, returning below the trigger levels within 24 to 48 hours.”
The EPA monitors 36 beaches in Port Phillip and Corio bays weekly during summer. Reporting this season begins on November 28.
The EPA monitors levels of enterococci per 100 mL because elevated levels are a sign of possible faecal pollution. The investigation trigger is 400 enterococci/100 mL.
The report said a recording of 500 at St Helens on November 22 was investigated because it was a “dry-weather incident”.
“The high bacterial water quality result was attributed to high bacterial levels found in nearby floating and deposited seagrass.”
The report said potential sources of faecal pollution included stormwater run-off and river discharge after rain, bather “shedding” where no toilet facilities were available, leaks from toilets and septic tanks, sewage or wastewater treatment plant discharges, sewage overflows, wastewater reuse run-off, animal faeces, seagrass and boat sewage discharge.
“As a general precaution, EPA advises against swimming near stormwater drains, rivers, streams and other outlets into Port Phillip Bay during rainfall events and for at least 24 to 48 hours afterward,” the report said.