Latest Beachwatch report reveals NSW beaches cleanest on record

The latest Beachwatch report has revealed the water quality across NSW beaches and waterways is the cleanest on record.

In the 2019-2020 State of the Beaches report, 89% of 228 swimming sites in NSW have been graded as very good or good.

These Beach Suitability Grades provide a long-term assessment of how suitable a beach is for swimming. The grades are determined from the most recent 100 water quality results (two to four years’ worth of data depending on the sampling frequency) and a risk assessment of potential pollution sources.

The annual report looks into water quality at swimming locations monitored by the Beachwatch and Beachwatch Partnership programs  to provide the community with accurate information on the cleanliness of the water and to enable individuals to make informed decisions about where and when to swim.

Routine assessment also measures the impact of pollution sources, enables the effectiveness of  stormwater and wastewater management practices to be assessed and highlights areas where further work is needed.

The report highlights

• Sydney: 92% of swimming sites were graded as good or very good. This is an increase of 2% from last year

• Central Coast: 59% of swimming spots were graded as good or very good. This is an increase of 9% from last year

• Hunter: 96% of swimming spots were graded as good or very good – consistent results from last year

• North Coast: 83% of swimming spots were graded as good or very good. This is an increase of 5% from last year

• Illawarra: 100% of swimming spots were graded as good or very good – consistent results from last year

• South Coast: 97% of swimming spots were graded as good or very good – consistent results from last year.

Open ocean beaches across NSW also received high results with a 98% rating. Famous Australian beaches including Bondi Beach and Manly Beach were graded as good or very good.

Read the full report here 

Image of Narrabeen Beach. Credit: Karen Sweaney