Patawalonga Lake

Water quality links:

Home

What is water quality?

Direct to data

Monitoring program & assessments

Major threats & issues

Legislation & programs

Other resources & initiatives

Publications

Glossary

Introduction

The Patawalonga Lake is really an estuary because it is at the point where the Patawalonga catchment meets the sea. >> More on estuaries

Western Beach in Patawalonga Lake is regularly used for recreation such as rowing and canoeing, especially during the warmer months. The surrounding land is heavily urbanised. Patawalonga Lake, including Western Beach, occasionally receives stormwater from a relatively large catchment area. As a result of high stormwater flow and warm weather there have been fish kills.

Water quality assessment

Water quality in the Patawalonga Lake at Western beach is assessed as being in good, moderate or poor condition by interpreting water chemistry and algal data. >> More

Water quality classification for April to September 2006

Indicator	Recreation
Ammonia	Poor
Oxidised Nitrogen	Good
Total Nitrogen	Good
Total Phosphorus	Good
Turbidity	Moderate
Chlorophyll (a)	Poor
Bacteria	Good

The water quality monitoring results for this period were generally consistent with, or lower than previous seasonal results for this site.

Water quality was classified as poor for recreational activities during winter 2005 due to elevated ammonia and chlorophyll (a) levels. The ammonia does not influence recreational activity directly, but it often controls the growth of algae (indicated by chlorophyll (a)), which can appear unpleasant.

The turbidity in the Patawalonga Lake was also elevated, which may have been due to algae and/or suspended solids in the water. Elevated turbidity can make it difficult to see submerged obstacles, reducing the safety of some recreational activities.

The South Australian Department of Health has useful information on the safe use of recreational waters.

The Patawalonga Lake quality was good in terms of bacterial levels, although the Department of Health recommends that people do not swim in the Patawalonga Basin for up to three days after rain and avoid areas of discoloured water.

>> Archived results

Download water quality graphs

• Ammonia in the Patawalonga Lake at Western Beach
  
• Oxidised Nitrogen in the Patawalonga Lake at Western Beach
  
• Total Nitrogen in the Patawalonga Lake at Western Beach
  
• Total Phosphorus in the Patawalonga Lake at Western Beach
  
• Turbidity in the Patawalonga Lake at Western Beach
  
• Chlorophyll (a) in the Patawalonga Lake at Western Beach
• Enterococci in the Patawalonga Lake at Western Beach

Download water quality data

• Water Quality at Western Beach

What is being done to improve the condition of the Patawalonga Basin?

The Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management Board has a management plan (2002-07) that identifies the Patawalonga Basin as an important recreational waterbody. >> More

Go here to see recent news items from the Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management Board.

This page was last modified 31-07-2007