Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 18, 2026

Vegetated Treatment Systems for Removing Contaminants Associated with Surface Water Toxicity in Agriculture and Urban Runoff
Published on: May 15, 2017
Faecal pollution of ocean swimming pools and stormwater outlets in eastern Sydney
1New South Wales Health Department, Sydney. tbutl@doh.health.nsw.gov.au
Abstract:
We determined the levels of faecal contamination over a three-year period from 1991 to 1993 at selected ocean swimming pools and stormwater outlets to assess whether these levels represented a threat to public health. Three popular ocean swimming pools and three nearby stormwater outlets located in Sydney's eastern suburbs were included in the analysis. The ocean swimming pools consistently had elevated levels of faecal coliform bacteria; the highest microbe levels were observed in a pool used largely by children. Faecal coliform bacteria counts in the ocean pools at times reach levels likely to be associated with illness in bathers. Stormwater outlets at three locations had reducing counts over the three-year period. An improved system of sampling, testing and risk communication appears to be needed to reduce potential health risks to users of these popular ocean pools.
More Related Videos
08:09Wastewater Irrigation Impacts on Soil Hydraulic Conductivity: Coupled Field Sampling and Laboratory Determination of Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity
Published on: August 19, 2018
05:31Sampling, Sorting, and Characterizing Microplastics in Aquatic Environments with High Suspended Sediment Loads and Large Floating Debris
Published on: July 28, 2018
Related Concept Videos
Bioremediation
Acid Mine Drainage
Microbial Wastewater Treatment
Sources of Food Contamination
Biological Treatment of Effluent and Waste Water