NSW: Beach water quality OK

AAP General News (Australia)
12-14-2001
NSW: Beach water quality OK

SYDNEY, Dec 14 AAP - Sydney's beaches remained clean enough for swimming despite heavy
rain, the Environment Protection Authority's Beachwatch program said today.

Acting Beachwatch manager Cris Hickey said 34 of Sydney's 35 ocean beaches had passed
its water quality criteria for faecal coliforms and enterococci during November.

Faecal coliforms and enterococci are indicators used to measure swimming water quality.

Maroubra beach, in Sydney's east, was the only beach that had failed to meet the guidelines,
with raised levels during and after intense rainfall between November 18 and 21, Mr Hickey
said.

During those four days, almost 70 per cent of the month's average rainfall had been recorded.

The November results showed there was still room for improvement in water quality in wet weather.

"For the community, the key message continues to be 'the drain is just for rain',"

Mr Hickey said in a statement.

"This means keeping leaves, rubbish and other pollution out of our gutters, so that
when it rains they are not washed into the stormwater drain and then discharged to our
beaches and harbours."

The results also highlighted Beachwatch's message to avoid swimming at Sydney's ocean
beaches for 24 hours after heavy rain, he said.

AAP mk/arb/cjh/

KEYWORD: BEACHWATCH

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