Port Phillip Bay swimmers urged to keep an eye on water quality reports

Beachgoers are being urged to check seawater quality before swimming in the bay this summer — or risk bouts of gastro. With water conditions changing often, here’s how you can stay informed.

Beachgoing families are urged to keep an eye on the EPA’s daily beach reports. Picture: Jason Edwards

PARENTS are being urged to check water quality before taking their kids to the beach this summer — or risk a bout of gastro.

The EPA warning comes after the agency revealed some bay beaches were unsafe for a total of 14 days over the 2017/18 summer.

According to the EPA, Frankston, Seaford and Carrum beaches were all found to be “poor” or unsuitable for swimming on 14 days between December 1 and March 12.

Aspendale and Mordialloc also had issues with water quality, with swimmers warned against entering the water on 13 days during the same period.

“We know Victorians love their beaches and generally, we enjoy good water quality in the Yarra and Bay but heavy rains can carry stormwater pollution to our favourite swim spots,” EPA chief environmental scientist Dr Andrea Hinwood said.

“This urban soup may contain many substances you can see, such as broken glass, and many you can’t, such as bacteria which can cause gastro.”

Royal Children’s Hospital consultant paediatric gastroenterologist Dr Ed Giles said children’s immune systems were still developing, which made them particularly vulnerable to infection.

“While most cases of gastroenteritis are mild … it is still one of the leading causes of attendance to the emergency department and … can even be life-threatening,” Dr Giles said.

People can sign up to receive SMS alerts when water quality at their nominated beaches is poor and see alerts on issues affecting the bay and its water catchments.

The forecasts cover 36 Port Phillip Bay beaches and four reaches on the Yarra River, in partnership with Melbourne Water.

Beaches are rated as ‘good’, ‘fair’ or ‘poor’.

Under a ‘poor’ rating it is not considered safe to swim while on days of ‘fair’ ratings people are urged to check for signs of pollution such as discoloured water, odour, rubbish and stormwater drains flowing, before deciding whether or not to swim.

The EPA’s twice-daily water quality forecasts are also published online at yarraandbay.vic.gov.au