Onkaparinga Estuary

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Archived water quality assessments

Water quality within the Onkaparinga Estuary is assessed as being in good, moderate or poor condition by interpreting water chemistry and algal (chlorophyll) data. >> More

Water quality classification for October 2005 to March 2006

Indicator	Ecosystem
Ammonia	Poor
Oxidised Nitrogen	Good
Total Nitrogen	Good
Soluble Phosphorus	Moderate
Total Phosphorus	Good
Turbidity	Moderate
Chlorophyll (a)	Poor
Heavy Metals	Poor

NA = not applicable

The amount of nutrients can be increased by fertilisers, animal wastes or detergents being washed into urban stormwater drains. There is also evidence that the SA Water sewage sludge lagoons leak ammonia through groundwater into the estuary. The excess nutrients can cause algal blooms and increase turbidity.

Heavy metals were classified as poor (due to zinc and copper), which is most likely due to urban runoff containing heavy metals washed off roads and galvanised iron roofs.

Some nutrients have improved slightly from the last 6 months. This is likely to be due to decreased flow of water from higher in the catchment due to less rain during summer.

Water quality classification for April to September 2005

Indicator	Ecosystem	Recreation	Aquaculture
Ammonia	Poor	NA	NA
Oxidised Nitrogen	Moderate	NA	NA
Total Nitrogen	Good	NA	NA
Soluble Phosphorus	Moderate	NA	NA
Total Phosphorus	Good	NA	NA
Turbidity	Moderate	NA	NA
Chlorophyll (a)	Poor	NA	NA
Heavy Metals	Poor	NA	NA

NA = not applicable

The amount of nutrients can be increased by fertilisers, animal wastes or detergents being washed into urban stormwater drains. There is also evidence that the SA Water sewage sludge lagoons leak ammonia through groundwater into the estuary. The excess nutrients can cause algal blooms and increase turbidity.

Heavy metals were classified as poor, which is most likely due to urban runoff containing heavy metals washed off roads and galvanised iron roofs.

This page was last modified 31-07-2007