Sydneysiders are being urged to avoid swimming at popular beaches due to hazardous pollution levels following recent floods. Environment NSW has issued a red alert for Tamarama and Bronte beaches, warning that harmful pollution is 'likely'. Swimmers are advised to take care as pollution remains possible at dozens of other beaches along the NSW coast.
The government's Beachwatch program advises beachgoers to check for signs of pollution such as discoloured water and floating debris. A Beachwatch spokesperson said that while it is usually recommended to stay out of the water for one day after rainfall at ocean beaches, the scale of this event means dangers could linger longer due to floodwaters still moving through river systems.
Heavy rainfall has caused runoff from bushland, worksites, and sewage overflow to enter Sydney's waterways and beaches. Enterococci, a bacteria found in sewage, is a key concern as it can cause eye, ear, and skin infections, as well as gastroenteritis. Acceptable levels for recreational water are no more than 104 colony-forming units (cfu) per 100 millilitres, but recent tests recorded 5,800 cfu/100ml at Foreshores Beach and 1,200 cfu/100ml at Queenscliff.
Both Tamarama and Maroubra beaches recorded levels above 500 cfu, posing a significant risk of illness transmission. Beachwatch has advised avoiding swimming at ocean beaches for up to one day after heavy rainfall or as long as stormwater is present, with more wet weather predicted in the coming weeks.
