Update: Friday 20 December 8am
The Department of Health has advised that a sewage treatment plant in the Hobart area has failed resulting in sewage entering the River Derwent near Berriedale.
The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) and TasWater are managing the incident.
Public Health advice is for the public to avoid activities in the River Derwent that involve full immersion in water, such as swimming. The advice applies to the river between Austins Ferry and Old Beach in the north to Sandy Bay across to Howrah in the south.
More about the announcement here.
Update: Thursday 19 December 3.15pm
Water sampling conducted this week has shown improved water quality at Bellerive Beach East and it is once again safe for swimming.
Last week water quality test results deemed the site unsafe, likely due to weather and stormwater impacting the River Derwent – see below.
For updates visit the Derwent Estuary Program – Beach Watch Map and be mindful not to swim for 2 days after heavy rainfall.
Original posted on Friday 13 December 1pm
Recent water sampling tests have shown elevated levels of bacteria at Bellerive Beach East.
This is likely due to the recent wet weather and stormwater impacting the River Derwent.
This means that swimming is not recommended at this section of the beach until further notice and signage is now in place at Bellerive East.
We will continue to conduct water sapling of the beach, and once deemed safe the signage will be changed.
During summer, water sampling is done every week and we will provide an update when this improves on our website and, as always please pay attention to beach signage at your local beach.
More info about the water testing process on the coasts webpage.
