DNA tests will show source of pollution at Terrigal

DNA testing is being used to determine whether humans or animals are to blame for poo in the water off Terrigal Beach which has already been blamed for making people sick.

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DNA testing is being used to determine who or what is responsible for poo in water off Terrigal Beach, The Haven and Terrigal Bay.

Office of Environment and Heritage staff and University of Technology experts are testing the water to work out whether faecal pollution comes from humans or animals.

The techniques should further reveal if humans, dogs, cows, ducks, seagulls, pigs, cats, marsupials or rabbits are to blame and to what degree.

Office of Environment and Heritage Staff with Terrigal residents.

The testing is being done over a six week period at various locations and will also seek to determine exactly where the pollution is entering the water and from which part of the catchment.

Samples are being taken at two Haven beach locations, one at south Terrigal, one between the flags in front of the surf club, one on the beach off the Terrigal lagoon entrance, and one at Wamberal as a control.

Testing water at Terrigal.

Community members will be asked to assist with water sampling immediately after rain because they can get to sites more quickly than government staff.

Analysis of the samples is expected to take at least four weeks with early results expected by the end of June.

Meanwhile Central Coast Council is conducting a detailed audit of the local storm water system to identify any illegal sewer connections and other possible pollution sources.

Results will help to inform the next stage of action to solve water quality issues.

Storm water pipe discharging onto Terrigal Beach.

Back in February the NSW Government promised $500,000 to start the process of cleaning up Terrigal’s notoriously dirty water, following a public meeting attended by hundreds of people.

The meeting was told that annual Beachwatch data showed that even on the best day at Terrigal Beach there was a five to ten per cent chance of getting sick just from swimming in the water.

Concerned Terrigal resident Don Woods asks a question during the public meeting on water quality at Terrigal last year.

The beach and lagoon water has repeatedly been rated poor or very poor in annual government surveys.

The chance of contracting a gastrointestinal condition is “extremely high” and the water “grossly exceeds safe swimming limits” according to NSW Government’s own figures.