Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) water sampling at 36 of Port Philip Bay’s beaches has found there is currently poor water quality at St Kilda Beach and people should avoid swimming there.
EPA’s forecast for the other 35 beaches it monitors around the Bay is for a mixture of good and fair water quality conditions.
Good forecasts equate to suitable swimming conditions, fair means beaches may not be suitable while poor forecasts advise that beaches are not suitable for swimming.
Heavy rain, such as that experienced earlier this week, is often associated with poor water quality at beaches across Port Phillip Bay.
EPA advises against swimming at all waterways and beaches for up to 48 hours after heavy rain as there could be a higher risk of illness to swimmers from increased bacterial levels.
EPA issues twice-daily water quality forecasts of good, fair and poor for Port Phillip Bay’s 36 beaches online and via twitter @EPA_Victoria. People can also sign up for SMS alerts at yarraandbay.vic.gov.au
Water quality information is also displayed on signs at 28 Life Saving Victoria clubs around the Bay.
EPA also issues forecasts for popular Yarra River locations in Kew, Warrandyte, Healesville and Launching Place.
Heavy rain and storms can create a risk to the public as they can flood stormwater systems that then carry pollution that has built up in the drains into waterways.
EPA forecasts predict water quality based on the latest weather conditions, 26 years of water quality history, recent bacterial sampling results and pollution reports.
EPA’s Beach Report forecasts run until Labour Day weekend, March 2018.