Beach Water Quality

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The City of Clarence is home to many popular beaches along the River Derwent and council wants to ensure that information on water quality is readily available for people to access when considering using our waterways.

Water monitoring program

Find out more about the water quality monitoring program and recent results for Clarence.

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Howrah Beach - improving water quality

Find out more about the 'poor' water grading at the middle section of Howrah Beach, the area where swimming is not recommended, frequently asked questions, and how council is investigating the source of the pollution.

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Latest News

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Storm water investigations continue in Howrah and Bellerive – 14 December 2022

Derwent Estuary Recreational Water Quality program Annual Report 2021/22 released – Clarence City Council’s plan forward – 4 July 2022

Howrah Beach water quality investigation continues with summer testing in full swing – 22 February 2022

Water quality investigation making inroads at Howrah Beach – 13 November 2021

Howrah Beach water quality investigations continue with more testing to come – 18 October 2021

Howrah Beach water quality investigation continues with new Storm Water Officer onboard – 26 August 2021

Water quality advisory signage installed at Howrah Beach – 30 June 2021

Council taking urgent action on Howrah Beach poor water grading – 28 June 2021

 

Bluebottles jellyfish on beaches

Beaches across the state occasionally see an influx in bluebottles at many locations. Beachgoers are encouraged to make themselves familiar with the identification and treatment for bluebottles.
How to spot a bluebottle jellyfish
Bluebottles are an air-filled sac up to 8cm in length, usually with a single, long, blue main fishing tentacle hanging underneath. This may contract to a few centimetres or extend to cover over 10 metres in length. Some may have numerous main fishing tentacles and can cause painful stinging.
How to treat a bluebottle sting using first aid
1. Do not allow rubbing of the sting area.
2. Adherent blue tentacles may be seen after a sting and are distinctive for Physalia. Remove any adhering tentacles.
3. Rinse the area well with sea water (not freshwater).
4. Place the sting area in hot water – no hotter than the patient can comfortably tolerate for 20 minutes.
5. If the pain is unrelieved by heat, or if hot water is not available, apply cold packs or ice in a dry plastic bag.
6. Send for medical aid if symptoms persist.
For further information and advice please ask a lifesaver/lifeguard if possible or visit the Surf Life Saving website.

Red tide - what does this mean?

From time to time a phenomenon commonly known as a ‘red tide’ can occur at in waterways and at beaches.

A ‘red tide’ is a marine environmental event, where tiny organisms, such as algae, go through an intense growth period (called an algal bloom), which can colour the waters red.

The red colouring comes from the algae and is a natural occurrence, not a pollutant.

You can read more about red tides here on the Derwent Estuary Program website.