Concerns Raised Over Water Quality at Sydney's Harbour Swimming Sites

Testing reveals elevated bacterial levels at popular locations, prompting calls for more frequent monitoring and pollution control measures.

Recent water testing at Sydney Harbour swimming sites, including Dawn Fraser Baths, found Enterococci bacteria levels up to 10 times above safe thresholds, indicating faecal contamination.
The state government's Beachwatch program rates Dawn Fraser Baths as 'good' annually, but discrepancies with independent testing have raised questions about monitoring accuracy.
Sources of contamination include stormwater runoff, sewage overflow, dog waste, and construction site debris, particularly impacting urban waterways like the Parramatta River.
Local councils and state agencies are being urged to increase testing frequency and invest in pollution mitigation strategies to ensure safe swimming conditions.
Western Sydney sites like Penrith Beach and Lake Parramatta showed significantly better water quality, highlighting the importance of maintaining natural swimming spots as affordable heat refuges.