Water quality of Victorian beaches ‘poor’ after storms

Not a single beach in the bay has been rated as safe for swimming, with the affected beaches stretching around from Portsea to Mentone all the way to Altona.

More than 30 beaches in Victoria have been declared unsafe for swimming following heavy rain across the state.

The Environmental Protection Agency reviewed and rated the water quality in Victoria’s Port Phillip Bay and deemed it “poor”.

Not a single beach in the bay has been rated as safe for swimming, with the affected beaches stretching around from Portsea to Mentone all the way to Altona.

Melbourne experienced severe, record-breaking rainfall on Monday. PICTURE: NCA Newswire / Nicki Connolly

A total of 36 beaches have been slapped with the rating.

EPA chief environmental scientist Mark Taylor said the bay was often dirty and polluted following major weather events.

“With heavy rains, everything gets flushed into the river — vehicles, faeces — it all gets into water system and out into the ocean,” Mr Taylor said to AAP.

“Ultimately it’s a health-based warning for people not to (be) exposed to contamination.”

He said oil and debris, including pieces of wood, could be found in the water among the other muck.

Melbourne copped 53mm of rain on Monday. PICTURE: NCA Newswire / Nicki Connolly

The polluted water comes after a spate of heavy rain in Victoria, with the equivalent of one month’s worth of rain dumping down on Monday.

Some parts of the state recorded rainfall totals surpassing records of 150 years.

Emergency services received more than 500 calls on Monday, including 117 flood-related concerns and 267 reports of building damage.

The outer east and west were some of the hardest hit areas in Melbourne, and 53mm of rain were recorded in the city’s Olympic Park – surpassing the city’s average rainfall total for all of April.

Originally published as Water quality of Victorian beaches ‘poor’ after storms