Water Quality Monitoring
Council has water quality monitoring programs in place to monitor the health of the river, creeks and lakes that make up Camden’s waterways.
The Camden Local Government Area has two main catchments: Nepean River (including Narellan Creek) and Wianamatta South Creek. Both catchments drain into the Hawkesbury-Nepean River and eventually the ocean, so it is important we prevent litter, sediment and other pollutants from entering our waterways.
Blue-Green Algae Monitoring
Algae is a natural part of the aquatic ecosystem, with most species safe or non-toxic. However, blue-green algae can produce toxins that may be damaging to humans, domestic animals and livestock that come in contact with the water.
In normal conditions, blue-green algae exist in low numbers and are part of a healthy ecosystem. However, under certain conditions, the algae can grow rapidly, producing an algal bloom. Blooms tend to be more common in the warmer months due to high levels of sunlight, low rainfall and high nutrients in waterways.
Council undertakes routine blue-green algae monitoring at a number of local waterbodies, including the Nepean River, over the warmer months and notifies the community if a red alert occurs. Residents and their pets should not come into physical contact with water in waterways signposted with blue-green algae warning signs.
To view current blue-green algae alerts, please refer to the Water Quality Map below:
Identifying Blue-Green Algae
There are many species of naturally occurring blue-green algae with some known to be potentially toxin producing. A blue-green algae bloom may be occurring in a waterbody if there are small green, red or brown flecks well-spaced or as a thick scum, with a green cloudiness/colour to the water and musty odour.
Some examples of blue-green algae in the Camden area are shown here:
It is easy to mistake harmless, free-floating aquatic plants for blue-green algae. Some of these common, native plants are featured in the Our Waterways webpage.
Water Quality Monitoring
Council’s Water Quality Monitoring Program covers 20 environmental and recreational sites across the Local Government Area.
This includes five Nepean River sites, five creeks in different sub-catchments, and ten lakes in urban catchments. The monitoring program collects physical, chemical, microbiological and biological data from our waterways to monitor trends over time and identify the suitability of local waterways for recreational uses and environmental health. The water quality data also helps Council prioritise water quality improvement programs and waterway projects.
The water quality results can be viewed in the Our Waterway Health report which is updated every year.
Our Waterway Health
Council recognises that the community has a keen interest in the health and condition of the Nepean River, as well as other waterways in the local area.
Council’s Water Quality Monitoring Program monitors the physical, chemical, microbiological and biological features of our waterways. Together this data helps to inform us on the condition of our waterways.
The Our Waterway Health report provides a summary of the condition of our waterways, and the Council projects that are focused on improving the health of our waterways. The Our Waterway Health report will be updated yearly and include the latest sampling results.