Beachwatch

Overview

Each week during the summer season our water quality is monitored at selected Shoalhaven locations.

The star rating categories come from the microbial (microorganisms characteristics - will it cause disease) assessment categories used in the National Health & Medical Research Council (2008) Guidelines.

Water quality monitoring

Council’s Environmental Health Officers undertake weekly water quality monitoring during the summer months as part of the Beachwatch Partnership Program.

The program is a collaboration between the NSW Department of Planning and Environment and local Councils throughout NSW, providing the community with accurate information on the recreational swimming sites for cleanliness and suitability for swimming.

Ten beaches are sampled as part of the program, stretching from Shoalhaven Heads in the North to Merry Beach in the South.

For a list of current and previous water quality ratings, please view our most recent quality ratings.

State of the Beaches Report

The NSW Department of Planning and Environment releases a yearly 'State of the Beaches Report', which can be found on their website.

View Beachwatch Publications

Most recent quality ratings

February 2024

Beach name Rating
07/02/2024
Rating
14/02/2024
Rating
22/02/2024
Rating
28/02/2024
Shoalhaven Heads Beach Good Good Good
Good
Tilbury Cove Good Good Good
Good
Warrain Beach Good Good Good
Good
Collingwood Beach Good Good Good
Good
Cudmirrah Beach Good Good Good
Good
Mollymook Beach Good Good Good
Good
Rennies Beach Good Good Good
Good
Racecourse Beach Good Good Good
Good
Bawley Point Beach Good Good Good
Good
Merry Beach Good Good Good
Good

January 2024

Beach name Rating
09/01/2024
Rating
16/01/2024
Rating
24/01/2024
Rating
31/01/2024
Shoalhaven Heads Beach Good Good Good Good
Tilbury Cove Good Good Good Good
Warrain Beach Good Good Good Good
Collingwood Beach Good Good Good Good
Cudmirrah Beach Good Good Good Good
Mollymook Beach Good Poor Good Good
Rennies Beach Good Good Good Good
Racecourse Beach Good Good Good Good
Bawley Point Beach Good Good Good Good
Merry Beach Good Good Good Good

December 2023

Beach name Rating
05/12/2023
Rating
13/12/2023
Rating
20/12/2023
Shoalhaven Heads Beach Good Good Good
Tilbury Cove Good Good Good
Warrain Beach Good Good Good
Collingwood Beach Good Good Good
Cudmirrah Beach Good Good Good
Mollymook Beach Good Good Good
Rennies Beach Good Good Good
Racecourse Beach Good Fair Good
Bawley Point Beach Good Fair Good
Merry Beach Good Good Fair

Explanation of ratings

Enterococci (CFU*/100ml) category Rating Meaning
< 41 Good Suitable for swimming
41 - 200 Fair Suitable for swimming
201 - 500 Poor Not suitable for swimming
500 Bad Not suitable for swimming

*CFU = Colony Forming Units

Previous recordings

February 2023

Beach name
Rating
07/02/2023
Rating
14/02/2023
Rating
21/02/2023
Rating
27/02/2023
Shoalhaven Heads Beach Good Good Good Good
Tilbury Cove Good Good Good Good
Warrain Beach Good Good Good Good
Collingwood Beach Good Good Good Good
Cudmirrah Beach Good Good Good Good
Mollymook Beach Good Good Good Good
Rennies Beach Good Good Good Good
Racecourse Beach Good Fair Good Good
Bawley Point Beach Good Good Good Good
Merry Beach Good Good Fair Good

January 2023

Beach name
Rating
10/01/2023
Rating
17/01/2023
Rating
24/01/2023
Shoalhaven Heads Beach Good Good Good
Tilbury Cove Good Good Good
Warrain Beach Good Good Good
Collingwood Beach Good Good Good
Cudmirrah Beach Good Good Good
Mollymook Beach Good Good Good
Rennies Beach Good Good Good
Racecourse Beach Good Good Good
Bawley Point Beach Good Good Good
Merry Beach Good Good Good

December 2022

Beach name
Rating
06/12/2022
Rating
13/12/2022
Rating
19/12/2022
Shoalhaven Heads Beach Good Good Good
Tilbury Cove Good Good Good
Warrain Beach Good Good Beach Closed
Collingwood Beach Good Good Good
Cudmirrah Beach Good Good Beach Closed
Mollymook Beach Good Good Good
Rennies Beach Good Good Good
Racecourse Beach Good Good Good
Bawley Point Beach Good Good Good
Merry Beach Good Good Good

November 2022

Beach name
Rating
22/11/2022
Shoalhaven Heads Beach Good
Tilbury Cove Good
Warrain Beach Good
Collingwood Beach Good
Cudmirrah Beach Good
Mollymook Beach Good
Rennies Beach Good
Racecourse Beach Good
Bawley Point Beach Good
Merry Beach Good

General advice for swimming after rain events

General precautions for swimming at beaches in the Shoalhaven region after heavy rain:

  • avoid swimming during heavy rain and at least one day after heavy rain at ocean beaches
  • avoid swimming for at least three days at lakes, estuaries and creeks
  • avoid swimming near storm water drains or sewage outfalls
  • avoid swimming if you see signs of pollution such as discoloured water, oil or scum on the water, and litter or other debris floating in the water or on the tide line

What you can do to improve water quality

Actions to do more often

  • Pick up litter in the park or on the street
  • Sweep the gutters and driveways regularly and place the sweepings on the garden or in the compost
  • Do not allow soil or mulch to be washed or blown off the garden
  • Clean up pet droppings and dispose of them thoughtfully
  • Rake up leaves or lawn clippings and use them as mulch on the garden or place them in the compost
  • Grass or replant areas of disturbed soil
  • Consider natural alternatives to pest control chemicals
  • Maintain the car, making sure there are no leaks and that the fuel is burned cleanly by keeping the vehicle tuned
  • Use the minimum amount of detergent for cleaning outside
  • Wash brushes and rollers over a sand filter on the lawn
  • Wash cars on the lawn or gravel and use minimal detergent. Empty the soapy water down the sink or toilet. Alternatively, take the car to a car wash where the water gets treated and recycled
  • Make sure sewerage pipes are not connected illegally to stormwater
  • Install a rainwater tank
  • Direct roof runoff from downpipes to the garden
  • Replace concrete or other hardsurfaces with permeable surfaces such as timber decks and pavers with gaps between pavers
  • Get involved with Bushcare, Parkcare or Landcare projects that restore or protect local waterways

Actions to avoid

  • Washing the car in the street
  • Hosing dirt off hard surfaces like paths and driveways or into gutters
  • Dropping packaging or cigarette butts on the ground
  • Leaving rubbish where bins are already full
  • Hosing leaves and grass clippings into gutters
  • Washing cement mixers into the gutter
  • Using too much fertilisers - follow the instructions
  • Piling sand and soil on areas where it can be washed into the stormwater system
  • Using pesticides, fertiliser and herbicides when rain is forecasted for the same day
  • Disposing of oil or chemicals into the gutters
  • Overuse of pesticides and herbicides that could be washed into stormwater from the garden
  • Pouring paint, solvent or cleaners in the gutter or where they may enter drains
  • Covering large areas with impervious surfaces e.g. bitumen, concrete