Perth, Western Australia February 10, 2007 Home News Time Out Letters Write a Letter Classifieds Search Real Estate Trades & Services Submit About Contact Us Advertising Legal	Rivers and beaches get the health tick Water at Cottesloe Beach was classed as "good" in the sanitary surveys. Local river spots and beaches have been given the thumbs-up for summer following the first comprehensive survey of bacterial levels in Perth waterways - with Swanbourne and Port beaches coming tops. The survey, conducted by the Environmental Health Directorate of the Department of Health, looked at 34 beaches on Perth's coastal strip from Kwinana to Quinns Rock, 11 beaches at Rottnest and 28 river sites. Over five years, regular sampling of local beaches, including Cottesloe, City Beach, Floreat, Leighton and those on Rottnest, has shown changes in bacterial levels - with Swanbourne and Port Beach named the cleanest in 2006. During the summer months, the directorate monitors bacterial water quality at popular swimming beaches and in the Swan and Canning rivers. Port Beach has shown consistently low bacterial presence since November 2001, as have Leighton, Cottesloe, Swanbourne, City and Floreat beaches. Jim Dodds, Director of Environmental Health, said Port Beach was assigned a "very good" grade. Cottesloe Beach was assigned a "good" grade because it took into account the presence of stormwater drains in the area. At Rottnest, the concentration of organisms in the water was consistently less than 10 per 100ml. But one sample taken in Geordie Bay on April 25 last year was 2100 per 100ml. A sample taken two days later was less than 10 again. The difference between samples coincides with the Easter school holidays. Mr Dodds said the department was satisfied that the water at Rottnest was safe and no conclusive link between boats and high bacterial presence had been found. "All re-samples have shown safe levels," he said. Samples also indicate regular changes in bacterial levels at Thomson Bay, the Thomson Bay jetty, Parker Point and the hotel jetty and fuel jetty areas. Longreach Bay, The Basin and Little Parakeet Bay were shown to have consistently good water quality. Only two of the beaches surveyed, at the southern end of Cockburn Sound, were given a "poor" rating, and Mr Dodds said they were being closely monitored throughout summer. "The study shows that most of our popular coastal beaches experienced excellent water quality over summer," he said. "West Australians should be pleased that the state of our coastal and recreational beaches is in very good health." Beach grades are represented by green, amber and red dots to show the water quality. Green areas indicate good water quality and safe conditions whereas amber and red mean the beaches can experience poor water quality, mostly due to stormwater contamination. Favourite river locations, including areas on Hackett Drive, Crawley, have consistently produced good water samples, as well as Peppermint Grove locations near Keane and Johnston streets. Mr Dodds said this year's survey of Swan and Canning rivers showed a marked improvement in bacterial water quality at a number of locations. "Of the 28 monitored river sites, 19 received a green light for swimming, but people should be careful when swimming in the upper Swan River, as these waters are prone to raised bacteria levels from time to time due to large bird populations and following heavy rainfall," he said. "Activities such as canoeing and kayaking can still be undertaken safely, but putting your head under the water or swallowing water should be avoided." The Environmental Health Directorate works with local governments to get at least 20 samples from November to April each year. For more information visit www.healthyswimming.wa.gov.au. Do you have something to say? Write to us and we may publish your letter next week. BACK TO TOP < PREVIOUS - HOME - NEXT> Copyright © 1999 - 2008 Post Newspapers Pty Ltd. All rights reserved.