Alarming reason some of Australia’s busiest beaches should be avoided right now despite scorching heatwaves
Swimmers have been urged to think twice before diving into the water at some of Australia’s busiest beaches this weekend.
The heavy rains that battered Sydney this week have swept pollution and sewage into the harbor and beaches, leading to poor water quality and the threat of bacterial diseases.
The contaminated stretch of coastline stretched from Port Stephens and the Central Coast to the NSW south coast.
Beachwatch has issued a series of warnings in recent days to stay out of the water and watch for signs of pollution such as flowing drains, odors, litter and debris.
Most beaches were deemed unsuitable for swimming in Sydney on Thursday.
Many waterways in Sydney (in red) remain unsuitable for swimming on Friday due to poor water quality
Authorities are urging beachgoers to swim carefully if they head into the water this weekend
These include popular swimming locations such as Balmoral Baths, Rose Bay Beach and Murray Rose Pool.
Sydneysiders are being urged to swim ‘carefully’ at many beaches including Bronte and Tamarama, Malabar and Little Bay.
The same warning applies to most beaches on the Central Coast.
Most ocean pollution is caused by sewage, which can leak into stormwater during heavy rains.
Contaminated water carries the threat of disease-causing bacteria such as E. coli, protozoa and enterococci.
“Enterococci are a good indicator of faecal contamination in the environment because they should not occur there naturally, they are found in the human gut,” said Professor Justin Seymour, leader of the Ocean Microbiology Group at the University of Technology Sydney. Sydney Morning Herald.
His research on Sydney’s beaches also revealed that there were ten times more antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the water after heavy rainfall.
“That’s a problem because if you get an infection from an antibiotic-resistant microbe, it will be difficult to treat,” Professor Seymour added.
Despite the health warnings, Sydneysiders are expected to flock to the beach on Sunday as the city tops out at 32
Most Sydney beaches were deemed unsuitable for swimming on Thursday
Beachwatch advises that it takes up to 72 hours for the water to completely disappear after heavy rainfall.
Sydney will reach a top of 28 degrees Celsius on Friday and Saturday, before the mercury rises to 32 degrees Celsius on Sunday.
Temperatures are also forecast to rise above 30 degrees Celsius from the middle of next week ahead of the Australia Day long weekend.
Seymour’s research on Sydney beaches also revealed that there were ten times more antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the water after heavy rainfall.
“That’s a problem because if you get an infection from an antibiotic-resistant microbe, it will be difficult to treat,” he said.
Sydneysiders aren’t the only ones being advised to stay out of the water.
At the other end of the country, popular swimming spots south of Perth have been forced to close.
There has been an increase in deadly amoebas due to the recent scorching heat wave that has ravaged the West.
Naegleria fowleri – the organism responsible for amoebic meningitis – can cause a fatal infection of the brain if inhaled, especially in children.
Symptoms of amoebic meningitis include severe and persistent headache, high fever, sore throat, nausea, vomiting, neck stiffness, confusion and hallucinations, and drowsiness.