Lakes & Waterways

Our Water Quality – what can you do?
- Avoid swimming near stormwater, creek or river outlets 24-48 hours after heavy rain
- Swimming in Lake Colac and estuaries is not recommended and at swimmer's own risk
- Prevent pollution: do not litter and pick up after your dog to reduce rubbish and waste washing into waterways
Our Water Quality – your health
The responsibility for managing the water quality of Lake Colac falls to a number of agencies and organisations such as DEECA, Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions, CCMA, EPA, Barwon Water and Colac Otway Shire Council.
Council is conducting monthly tests from October – March at the Lake Colac beach area and the boat ramp at Meredith Park, Colac.
As yet, no specific point source/polluter has been identified; a number of possible sources for poor water quality in Lake Colac, Wye River and Kennett River.
The Australia and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council (ANZECC) advises that until 100 samples have been gathered, analysis is difficult, and therefore water users should consider the results of water testing currently undertaken as a “snapshot”, and swimming in Lake Colac and estuaries is at the swimmer’s risk.
Council has a public health responsibility when it comes to providing advice to members of the public on the suitability of Lake Colac, Kennett River and Wye River for swimming/recreational activity.
While Lake Colac had experienced low water levels and a lack of activity over a number of years, higher rainfall in recent years and Council’s work to improve the foreshore area has encouraged more visitors to the foreshore and enabled recreational water use to occur.
The return of yachts and other lake users prompted Council to test the water quality from December 2018 and develop a water testing plan to provide information to the community.
According to the Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council (ANZECC) guidelines for primary contact the median enterococci organisms per 100mL over the season should not exceed 35 org/100mL.
Similarly, for secondary contact the median enterococci organisms per 100mL over the season should not exceed 230 org/100mL.
Primary contact is defined as recreation where you are in direct contact with the water, can be fully immersed and could swallow water; this includes water skiing, diving and swimming.
Secondary contact includes boating.
Direct sunlight certainly plays an important part in improving the water quality because enterococci is susceptible to sunlight.
However, any lake or river which can be contaminated with animal faeces from wildlife and other animals such as dogs will have levels of enterococci.
Water quality tests at Lake Colac, Wye River and Kennett River can assist the public make informed decisions about recreational water use.
|
Lake Colac Boat Ramp |
Lake Colac Meredith Park |
Wye River |
Kennett River |
Test Date |
Enterococci organisms/100ml |
Enterococci organisms/100ml |
Enterococci organisms/100ml |
Enterococci organisms/100ml |
December 2018 |
88 |
103 |
330 |
24 |
8 January 2019 |
>2400 |
>2400 |
Not taken |
Not taken |
18 January 2019 |
>2400 |
>2400 |
350 |
250 |
4 February 2019 |
1000 |
550 |
Not taken |
Not taken |
18 February 2019 |
400 |
260 |
Not taken |
Not taken |
April 2019 |
20 |
10 |
74 |
120 |
22 October 2019 |
26 |
6 |
27
|
16
|
21 November 2019 |
|
|
86 |
140 |
28 November 2019 |
20 |
20 |
|
|
17 December 2019 |
800 |
<10 |
41 |
52 |
16 January 2020 |
17 |
|
|
|
26 February 2020 |
2900 |
2600 |
410 |
880 |
12 March 2020 |
110 |
52 |
63 |
41 |
10 October 2020 |
470 |
330 |
120 |
10 |
14 December 2020 |
4000 |
1800 |
180 |
20 |
5 January 2021 |
2800 |
1200 |
74 |
52 |
17 February 2021 |
63 |
270 |
310 |
41 |
4 August 2021 |
|
|
|
42 |
1 September 2021 |
|
|
|
8 |
14 December 2021 |
41 |
10 |
41 |
130 |
5 January 2022 |
180 |
110 |
680 |
1200 |
8 February 2022 |
160 |
41 |
120 |
20 |
5 April 2022 |
41 |
<10 |
240 |
150 |
12 October 2022 |
31 |
10 |
<10 |
31 |
9 November 2022 |
<10 |
20 |
10 |
10 |
14 December 2022* |
E.coli: 52 |
E.coli: 63 |
E.coli: 220 |
E.coli: 20 |
11 January 2023 |
30 |
20 |
590 |
2300 |
8 February 2023 |
86 |
360 |
820 |
710 |
8 March 2023 |
10 |
210 |
3900 |
1700 |
12 April 2023 |
180 |
10 |
3900 |
190 |
*Due to a lab error, only E.coli results were obtained in December 2022.