West Beach

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Introduction

West Beach is slightly north of the Holdfast Bay boat ramp and breakwaters. The surrounding land is heavily urbanised and this beach is close to the Torrens River, the Glenelg wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) and the Patawalonga Basin. >> More

>> More on Adelaide's metropolitan beaches

Water quality assessment

Water quality at West 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	Ecosystem	Recreation	Aquaculture
Ammonia	Moderate	NA	Good
Oxidised Nitrogen	Good	NA	NA
Total Nitrogen	Good	NA	NA
Total Phosphorus	Moderate	NA	NA
Turbidity	Good	Good	NA
Chlorophyll (a)	Poor	NA	NA
Heavy Metals	Poor	NA	Good
Bacteria	NA	Good	NA

NA = not applicable

Recent ammonia and total phosphorus results were classified as moderate and chlorophyll (a) was classified as poor at West Beach. This is most likely due to nutrient-rich discharges from the Glenelg WWTP and urban stormwater. Increased nutrients promote algal growth, particularly during the warmer months.

Heavy metals were classified as poor (copper and zinc). The source of the elevated heavy metals is most likely general urban runoff (stormwater) washing off roads and galvanised iron roofs into the marine environments during rain events. In July 2006, a new analytical method for heavy metals was introduced, which can detect metals at much lower concentrations in seawater than before. It is now possible to confidently compare concentrations to National Water Quality Guidelines for marine waters.

>> Archived results

Download water quality graphs

• Ammonia at West Beach
  
• Oxidised Nitrogen at West Beach
  
• Total Nitrogen at West Beach
  
• Total Phosphorus at West Beach
  
• Turbidity at West Beach
  
• Chlorophyll (a) at West Beach
  
• Cadmium at West Beach
  
• Copper at West Beach
  
• Mercury at West Beach
  
• Lead at West Beach
• Nickel at West Beach
  
• Zinc at West Beach
  
• Enterococci at West Beach

Download water quality data

• Water Quality at West Beach

Is the water quality at West Beach safe to swim?

The EPA provides a monthly update (fortnightly in summer) on beach water quality. >> More

What is being done to improve the condition of West Beach?

The EPA established the Adelaide Coastal Waters Study in 2001 in response to concerns about the decline in coastal water quality. This study is expected to be completed at the end of 2006 and is designed to answer the main questions we have about coastal waters, including how to rehabilitate the seagrass and reef ecosystems.

Reports

Gulf St Vincent Metropolitan Bathing Waters - Report No 1 (493KB) Nov 1997
Gulf St Vincent Metropolitan Coastal Waters - Report No 2 (1.7MB) Jan 2004
Water Quality of Adelaide's Metropolitan Coastal Waters - a community summary (776KB) (This brochure summarises the Gulf St Vincent Report No. 2)

This page was last modified 31-07-2007