November 2024: Chemical, Water Quality and Macroinvertebrate Analysis

Alison Loxton
Dec 31, 2024
2 min read

Hi everyone,

Please find attached the sampling results for November, 2024.

The results are certainly a mixed bag, due primarily to adverse weather conditions but also to the presence of higher readings of pollutants than is normal.

In summary please find the following explanatory notes:

Turbidity readings experienced major aberrations to the norm due to the presence of sediment in the in the rivers and streams. This is particularly evident in the Coomera river which had experience significant rainfall, and in Yaun Creek where sediment which appeared to have entered the stream from a nearby subdivision off Old Coach Road. With a turbidity reading of 122 NTU, this was half as much again as some of the readings from Waterhen Lake.
All of the other physical characteristics of the streams were within the expected range.
There were major increases in the amount of nutrient pollution in the Coomera River. Reactive phosphate readings of 0.22 to 0.31mg/l are excessive and would primarily be caused by runoff from recently fertilised crops and gardens. It will be of interest if this trend continues into December, 2024.
There were elevated readings of Ammonia Nitrogen in the Nerang River, one site in the Coomera River and in Yaun Creek. This could be caused by septic tanks in the rural areas and animal waste being washed into the stream in suburban areas.

Overall it is not the most positive of readings on which to end the year however waterways have an amazing ability to recover when weather settles and nutrients are not washed in by heavy rainfall.

My thanks again to Kim, Helen and Ross, and to Brian for their invaluable assistance throughout the year in Water Quality Monitoring.

Our thanks are also extended to Councillors Naomi Fowler and Donna Gates, as well as our state MP Mark Boothman; and to Naturally GC staff members Saraya, Dan and Marcello for their provision of plants and site preparation for our plantings at Regatta Waters.

To all of you I trust you will enjoy Christmas with family and friends and join us again for our activities in 2025.

Kindest regards to you all.

Steven Gill