Lane Cove River CMC

Water Quality Index - November 1998

This report contains information about all the sub-catchments in the lane Cove River Valley.

In relation to Chatswood West,there are two sub-catchments identified. These are:

14 Blue Gum Creek

Water Quality Ranking: 32 / 43
Data Reliability Ranking: 31 / 43
Constituent Council(s):Ku-ring-gai Municipal Council
Constituent stream(s):Blue Gum Creek

Rainfall Station(s): R09
Sewerage Overflows: 2
Stormwater outlets: 16
Water Quality sampling points: WQ018
Pollution Control Device Numbers: none

Landuse:

Landuse

Area (ha)

% sub-catchment

% LCR catchment

Open space

53

43

2.7

Residential

60

49

1.3

Business

2

2

1.5

Industrial

0

0

0

Special Uses

8

7

0.9

Special Zones

0

0

0

Total

123

100

1.5

Period of sampling records: August 1989 - March 1998 % wet days: 16
Number of sampling occasions (N):33

Compliance of key indicators to guidelines - % of time guidelines met under all conditions.

Parameter

pH

Faecal Coliforms

% Diss. Oxygen

Diss. Solids

Total P

Total N

Ammonia

Chl. - A

87

10

23

0

10

3

10

0

Summary:

Water quality in this sub-catchment is very poor. A large number of samples have been taken including those on wet days and has shown faecal contamination, nutrient loads and deoxygenation of the water to be high. Old sewerage infrastructure is one possible cause of this.

Issues:

Only 2 designed overflows exist in this sub-catchment. It is clear that sewage is present much of the time in Blue Gum creek. Exfiltration may be a contributing factor.

Knowledge Gaps:

Information on exfiltration rates is available from SWCs Licensing Sewerage Overflows EIS but rates suburbs as high, medium or low. It does not provide details on where specific problems arise but the Sewerage and Stormwater overlay may be of some assistance in identifying the location of sewerage mains and possible leaks..

Recommendations:

An investigation of possible leaking sewerage pipes is suggested for this sub-catchment. It may be beneficial to place an additional sampling point in the upper reaches of the sub-catchment to determine where the bulk of the problem is coming from.

15 Swaines Creek

Water Quality Ranking: 34 / 43
Data Reliability Ranking: 35 / 43
Constituent Council(s):Willoughby City Council, Lane Cove Council
Constituent stream(s):Swaines Creek

Rainfall Station(s)R09
Sewerage Overflows: 2
Stormwater outlets: 37
Water Quality sampling points: WQ026, WQ027, WQ034
Pollution Control Device Numbers: D018

Landuse:

Landuse

Area (ha)

% sub-catchment

% LCR catchment

Open space

72

52

3.6

Residential

56

40

1.2

Business

2

1

1.5

Industrial

1

1

0.5

Special Uses

7.5

5

0.9

Special Zones

0.5

0

0.2

Total

139

100

1.7

Period of sampling records: December 1996, March 1998 % wet days: unknown
Number of sampling occasions (N): 4

Compliance of key indicators to guidelines - % of time guidelines met under all conditions.

Parameter:

pH

Faecal Coliforms

% Diss. Oxygen

Diss. Solids

Total P

Total N

Ammonia

Chl. - A

75

67

25

50

0

50

no test

no test

Summary:

Water quality in this sub-catchment is poor. Swaines creek is largely urbanised, contains Chatswood golf course, bowling greens and a number of ovals and playing fields.

Issues:

This area of the catchment is quite old and sewerage infrastructure is failing. Large trees penetrate and choke sewerage lines with their roots and the pipes crack and leak. There is little flow in the stream and so stagnation can occur, reducing the DO levels.

Knowledge Gaps:

More information regarding exfiltration and other sewerage overflows is required. The effectiveness of PCDs is unknown.

Recommendations:

Creek treatments such as that in Ferndale park need to be assessed for their effectiveness. If they are deemed to be successful, more devices need to be installed. A rapid improvement would be achieved if the sewerage system were expanded to allow for greater volumes and relined to reduce leakage.

R09 LANE COVE WEIR, LADY GAME DR.

(1992 - 1998)
Station number : NPWS1 Station name :
Locality : CHATSWOOD WEST
Lat : Long:
Map: U0952 E: 2914 N: 5930
Elevation : metres
Opened on : 02-08-92
Still open -

Sampling Sites

WQ018: Blue Gum Creek
Map U0952
Easting 2977; Northing 5928

WQ026: Swaines Creek - Chatswood Golf Club
Map U0952
Easting 2953; Northing 5842

WQ027: Lane Cove River 200m upstream Swaines Creek
Map U0952
Easting 2938; Northing 6863

WQ034: Mowbray Park Athletic Field
Map U0952
Easting 2835; Northing 5832

Sewerage Overflow Points

Swaines Creek Overflows
Site #67 Swaines Creek: Swaines Creek Sub-main; Easting 2968; Northing 5840. SWCRef: NS251MH
Site #68 Swaines Creek: suburban: Easting 2897; Northing 5798. SWCRef: NS085

Blue Gum Creek Overflow
Site #69 Blue Gum Creek: Blue Gum Creek submain; Easting 2977; Northing 5918. SWCRef: NS250MH
Site #71 Blue Gum Creek SPS 278 suburban; Easting 2942; Northing 5850; SWCRef: NS139

Pollution Control Devices

D018: Willoughby Council creek treatment installed `1996 Ferndale Park, Chatswood; Easting 3075; Northing5795

DNNN: Willoughby Council stormwater overflow treatment installed 1996 (?); O.H.Reid Reserve; Easting ????; Northing ????

 

 

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