Avoid swimming in Mooball Creek at Pottsville

12 October 2018

Bacteria levels elevated by rain and worsened by blocked creek

Council is recommending against swimming in Mooball Creek at Pottsville for the time being following recent and expected rain.

Council has been taking water samples from the creek in recent days to monitor bacteria levels while the creek mouth is blocked by sand.

Test results from one sample received today have revealed an elevated level of bacteria. Samples taken throughout the week had shown good to fair levels of bacteria.

Council’s Acting Director Community and Natural Resources, Jane Lofthouse, said while elevated bacteria levels didn’t necessarily indicate poor ecosystem health, swimming and other activities where water could enter the ears, eyes, nose, mouth and broken skin were best avoided.

“Bacteria always increases in our coastal creeks after heavy rain due to urban and rural runoff, so it’s never advisable to swim at these times,” Ms Lofthouse said.

“But certainly given the lack of tidal flow in Mooball Creek, there’s no doubt the blockage has exacerbated the situation,” Ms Lofthouse said.

“What’s happened today is that one water sample from one location has shown a result which is trending towards poor.

“We need confirmation from a second sample to confirm the result but we won’t get that until tomorrow or Sunday, as the sample needs time to incubate.”

“In the meantime, it’s safest not to swim in the creek, which is generally the case after rain.”

Council will continue to monitor water quality in Mooball Creek over the weekend and throughout next week and will advise when bacteria counts have returned to safe levels

At the same time, Council is progressing relevant State Government permits to open the creek mouth so work can be undertaken if required.

The need to put machinery onto the beach to undertake an artificial opening of the creek mouth will be reassessed on Monday 15 October.