Sharing is caring - Real-time reports of pollution, fish deaths and algal blooms in the Port Phillip Bay catchment, Victoria

The Victorian Government website, Cleaner Yarra and Bay was launched in December 2013 as a single point of reference for the community to access up to date information on the water quality of Port Phillip Bay and its... [ view full abstract ]

The Victorian Government website, Cleaner Yarra and Bay was launched in December 2013 as a single point of reference for the community to access up to date information on the water quality of Port Phillip Bay and its catchments. This included website and Twitter reporting of real time reports of pollution, fish deaths and algal blooms visible to the public or that could be a risk to human health. Victoria is the only State in Australia doing this type of reporting, and the benefits are starting to show.
There has been a positive response to the water quality alerts, increasing media and community group awareness of water quality issues, especially when alerts are issued for popular recreational areas or repeatedly for a local waterway under threat from a significant spill. In the 16 months since the start of these alerts, over 50% of alerts issued are for pollution in small creeks from sewer spills or other pollution transported through stormwater drains, highlighting the dominance of diffuse pollution issues in this region. Timely demand for alerts has driven improvements in communication between the Environment Protection Authority, water authorities and councils. It has also motivated the use of other innovative sources of data, such as real time water quality data tracked daily through the bay by the Spirit of Tasmania 1 to trigger response and alerting of potential algal bloom risk.
Although the introduction of this type of reporting has seen some immediate results, their effectiveness and success will also be evaluated through their effect on increasing web and Twitter traffic. Further opportunities will emerge as the delivery of alerts becomes more efficient and automated, and stakeholders and government collaborate further to broaden alerting. With these further enhancements, water quality alerts could contribute to ensure more Victorians are well informed about their environment and water quality posing a risk to human and environmental health.