Site 3 - Outer Harbor

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Archived water quality assessments

Water quality in the Port River and Barker Inlet Estuary is assessed as being in good, moderate or poor condition by interpreting water chemistry and algal data. >> More

Water quality classification for October 2005 to March 2006

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

Notes NA = not applicable
Notes NA = no data available this period

Ammonia, heavy metals, turbidity and chlorophyll (a) were classified as poor at Site 3.

Elevated ammonia and chlorophyll results are probably due to industrial discharges into the river such as those from Penrice Soda Products, historical contamination from the now closed Port Adelaide Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) and the large number of stormwater drains that discharge into the Port waterways. Recent ammonia and oxidised nitrogen concentrations may be lower than historical results, although this will need to be monitored longer-term to confirm a trend.

Heavy metals were classified as poor (copper and zinc), which are most likely due to urban runoff containing heavy metals washing off roads and galvanised iron roofs into the marine environments during rain events.

Elevated turbidity results were likely to be attributable to dredging undertaken over the summer in the Port River channel to enable passage of large ships. It is anticipated that the turbidity will now drop to levels observed prior to the dredging, as the main dredging was completed in March 2006.

Water quality classification for April to September 2005

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

Notes NA = not applicable

Ammonia, soluble phosphorus and chlorophyll (a) were classified as poor at Site 3. This is probably due to industrial discharges into the river such as those from Penrice Soda Products, historical contamination from the now closed Port Adelaide Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) and the large number of stormwater drains that discharge into the Port waterways.

Heavy metals were classified as poor, probably due to urban runoff containing heavy metals washing off roads and galvanised iron roofs.

This page was last modified 31-07-2007