NSW introduces new real-time updates on beach water quality

Swimmers can now “check before they swim” across NSW’s beaches and inland swimming spots, with the state’s new real-time water quality monitoring system now up and running.

From Saturday, the government’s beachwatch website delivers live updates on water quality, with the state’s beaches, rivers and inland swim spots rated on five quality levels – very good, good, fair, poor and very poor.

Very good means the location has generally excellent microbial water quality and very few potential sources of faecal pollution, the NSW State of the Beaches 2023-24 report says.

Good means the location has generally good microbial water quality and water is considered suitable for swimming most of the time.

Swimming should be avoided during and for up to one day following heavy rain at ocean beaches and up to three days at estuarine sites.

Fair means microbial water quality is generally suitable for swimming but because of the presence of significant

sources of faecal contamination, extra care should be taken to avoid swimming during and for up to three days following rainfall or if there are signs of pollution such as discoloured water or odour or debris in the water.

Poor means the location is susceptible to faecal pollution and microbial water quality is not always suitable for swimming.

Very poor means the location is very susceptible to faecal pollution and microbial water quality may often be unsuitable for swimming.

Some of Sydney’s star beaches received a poor rating in the report.

Bondi Beach is rated good while Coogee and Bronte Beach both received a poor grade.

Maroubra Beach, south of the city, received a good rating, while the Oatley Bay Baths receive a poor grade.

Swimming in contaminated water poses serious health risks, the report also warns.

“Contamination of recreational waters with faecal material from animal and human sources can pose

significant health problems to beach users owing to the presence of pathogens (disease-causing microorganisms) in the faecal material,” the report states.

“The most common groups of pathogens found in recreational waters are bacteria, protozoans and viruses.

“Exposure to contaminated water can cause gastroenteritis, with symptoms including vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach-ache, nausea, headache and fever.

“Eye, ear, skin and upper respiratory tract infections can also be contracted when pathogens come into contact with small breaks and tears in the skin or ruptures of the delicate membranes in the ear or nose.”

Monitored sites include coastal beaches from Eurobodalla in the south through to Sydney and Port Stephens and then up to Ballina near the NSW and Queensland border.

Parts of western Sydney are also now monitored.

“I’m excited that this summer, a range of popular inland swimming spots including the hugely popular Penrith Beach will be added to the live Beachwatch water quality site,” NSW Environment Minister Penny Sharpe said.

“This site also gives swimmers information about swells and tides.

“Our beaches almost always have good to very good water quality but after rain it’s important to check before you swim.

“The Bureau of Meteorology is predicting a wet summer so check the Beachwatch website as the weather warms up.”

The report shows 72 per cent of all monitored swim sites across NSW achieved a very good or good grading for 2023-24, including 95 per cent of ocean beaches.

In 2021-22, 80 per cent of all monitored sites were graded very good or good.