Site 7 - Torrens Reach

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Archived water quality assessments

Water quality in the Port waterways 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	Moderate	NA	NA
Total Phosphorus	Good	NA	NA
Turbidity	Good	Good	NA
Chlorophyll a	Poor	NA	NA
Heavy Metals	Good	NA	Good
Bacteria	NA	Good	Good

Notes NA = not applicable

Ammonia and Chlorophyll (a) were classified as poor and soluble phosphorus was elevated at Site 7. 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 and the large number of stormwater drains that discharge into the Port waterways.

Recent phosphorus and nitrogen concentrations appear to be lower than historical results, which may correspond to closure of the Port Adelaide Wastewater Treatment Plant. This will need to be monitored longer-term to confirm a trend.

Water quality classification for April to September 2005

Indicator	Ecosystem	Recreation	Aquaculture
Ammonia	Poor	NA	Good
Oxidised Nitrogen	Poor	NA	NA
Total Nitrogen	Moderate	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

Biologically available (soluble) nutrients were all classified as poor at Site 7. This includes ammonia, oxidised nitrogen, and soluble phosphorus. Chlorophyll (a) was also classified as poor. 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 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