Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) is urging beachgoers to check water quality forecasts, or sign up for SMS alerts, before hitting Port Phillip Bay’s beaches in the coming days.
Today’s water quality forecast for Port Philip Bay’s 36 beaches is poor.
Heavy rain, such as that experienced last night and this morning, 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
Beachgoers should continue to check the Yarra and Bay website for latest water quality forecasts during hot weather forecast for Sunday and Monday.
Water quality information is also displayed on signs at 28 Life Saving Victoria clubs around the bay.
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.
EPA also issues forecasts for popular Yarra River locations in Kew, Warrandyte, Healesville and Launching Place. All four of these sites have poor water quality forecasts too.
Heavy rain and storms are 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, 25 years of water quality history, recent bacterial sampling results and pollution reports.
EPA’s Beach Report forecasts run until March.