Families flock to popular beaches on the Fleurieu Peninsula despite murky waters caused by floodwaters meeting the ocean

The quality of the water has been impacted by floodwaters meeting the ocean, so are our beaches safe?

Murky water caused by floodwaters meeting the ocean at the mouth of the River Murray has failed to deter swimmers from some of South Australia’s most popular beaches.

With temperatures soaring into the mid-30s over the weekend, families flocked to Middleton and Goolwa to enjoy the sunshine.

But in some places, the water itself was much less appealing than the weather.

With the River Murray experiencing its highest flow in over 60 years, onshore winds are pushing some of the fresh water – that has entered the ocean at the mouth – to those beaches.

But SA Health have advised there are no health risks associated with the water.

“There has been no evidence of increased microbial contamination, including E.coli, in flood waters that could affect Goolwa Beach,” a spokesman said.

“SA Health is aware that water visibility at Goolwa Beach has been impacted due to the large volume of water passing through the mouth of the Murray River.

Kids swim in dirty-brown waves at Middleton Beach on Saturday, January 7, 2023.

“If water visibility is poor, swimmers are advised to move to areas where water visibility is not impacted.”

Goolwa Surf Life Saving president Matthew Burragage said the situation changes daily.

“It was actually worse last week when we had those onshore winds, but on Sunday the water was actually quite clear,” he said.

“The advice changes depending on the winds and tides. It obviously becomes very murky and dirtier when we have those winds blowing it in.”

He said people needed to make their own smart decisions when deciding to swim.

“It’s a case of stop, think and make good assessment,” he said.

Brown floodwaters meet the milky water of the Coorong and dark-blue Southern Ocean water. Picture: Troy Johnson

Aerial images of flood water mixing with seawater at Victor Harbor. Picture: John Laundy

“Consider your own safety and swim between patrol flags, during patrolled hours.”

The coming together of fresh and salt water was a much more incredible sight from the sky as captured by photographer Troy Johnson.

“Very distinct halocline at the mouth of the Murray River at the moment which is very interesting to see but even more so where the milky water of the Coorong coast forms its own with the blue Southern Ocean water making for three distinct bodies of water,” he posted to Twitter.