Coogee Beach water quality found to be poor following heavy rain
Image: A report on pollutants in NSW beaches as fo0und Coogee beach water quality to be 'poor' for 2021/2022. Photo: Flickr.
By ERIN MODARO
Coogee beach’s water quality has been downgraded from ‘good’ to ‘poor’ in water quality report for the past year. The State of the Beaches report for 2021-2022 found that several beaches across Sydney, including Coogee, have increased levels of water pollution brought on from massive amounts of rainwater runoff.
The report describes rainwater as a “major driver of pollution to recreational waters”. As Sydney recorded its wettest year on record, waterway pollution concerns have been revealed in the data collected by the NSW Department of Planning and Environment.
While 94% of beaches were recorded as having “good” or “very good” water quality, in Central Sydney beaches Coogee Beach was the only ocean beach to receive a poor rating. Other Sydney locations given the concerning rating are Rose Bay Beach, Tambourine Bay, Northbridge Baths and Davidson Reserve.
The report states that a poor result means the location “is susceptible to faecal pollution and microbial water quality is not always suitable for swimming”. Ocean water is tested for the presence of a bacteria called ‘enterococci’ which is found in faecal matter.
The report suggests that swimmers avoid entering the water for 3 days after rainfall if a ‘poor’ result is recorded, as research shows high levels of disease in waters where enterococci is found.
Results show slight downward trend
NSW Minister for the Environment James Griffin said that while NSW has seen unprecedented amounts of rainfall “there’s been only a slight decline on last year’s results”.
