NSW government’s latest state of the beaches report has graded the water quality of a number of swimming locations across the Northern Beaches as ‘poor’.
The annual report provides an overview of water quality at 214 swimming locations across the state, which are monitored under the NSW government’s beachwatch and beachwatch partnership programs.
From 2021 to 2022, 20 estuarine beaches were graded as poor, including, Bayview Baths at Pittwater, as well as 13 lagoon or lake swimming sites including Narrabeen Lagoon.
According to NSW government, estuarine sites are generally not as well-flushed as ocean beaches, allowing more time for pollution to dispense and dilute.
Among the lake and lagoon swimming sites continuing to be graded as poor, these measures have been calculated following the recent heavy rainfall which has caused elevated bacterial levels.
For more information or to view the 2021 to 2022 state of the beaches report, visit: https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/topics/water/beaches/reporting-beach-water-quality/state-of-the-beaches