March 2025: Chemical, Water Quality and Macroinvertebrate Analysis

Hi everyone,

I trust this email finds you safe, happy and well.

Attached are the results of WQM for March, 2025.

The results are a little varied, so the following explanations are offered for your consideration:

1. There has been considerable rainfall therefore the measurements of Conductivity, Turbidity and Salinity reflect this by being lower than normal.

   
   

2. The quality of water in our streams and rivers is slowly deteriorating: our levels of ORP (Oxidation Reduction Potential) reflects the ability of water to attack pollution. This is lessening over time.

   
   

3. TDS ( Total Dissolved Solids) is also lessened due to increased water flow.

   
   

4. In terms of chemical analyses, the results are variable – parts on the Coomera River are higher  in Phosphates and Ammonia Nitrogen, no doubt due to a local influx of fertilisers and animal manure, whilst others even at Waterhen Lake are variable with the highest levels phosphates, and a singularly high level of ammonia nitrogen at the Ruth Terrace inflow indicating poorly maintained septic system(s).

Last month I bemoaned the lack of fish in Regatta Waters. We have conducted the April survey and found significant numbers of mullet (hooray!) but no return to the previous numbers of bream. Perhaps the low levels of salinity (currently around 5 parts per thousand) may have some negative effect on what is a saline species. Let’s see what happens in the future.

Kindest regards to you all

Steven Gill

CRCG - EXCEL CHEMICAL ANALYSES MARCH, 2025.xlsx

Download XLSX • 12KB

CRCG - SPREADSHEET OF WQM AND MACROS MARCH, 2025.xlsx

Download XLSX • 12KB