In the event of a pollution incident which involves serious actual or potential harm to the health or safety of human beings or to ecosystems, the Team Leader for Water and Wastewater must immediately notify the following agencies:

  • EPA Environment Line 131 555
  • NSW Health 1300 555 555 (pager 149 377)
  • WorkCover 131 050
  • Ballina Shire Council Environmental Health Officer 6686 4444 (w) or 6626 6954 after hours
  • Fire & Rescue 000

Depending on the circumstances of the incident, Ballina Shire Council will also consider contacting the following as soon as practical:

  • neighbours affected by the incident
  • Marine Park Authority 6652 3977
  • NSW Shellfish Program Manager
  • NSW Shellfish Richmond River Coordinator
  • oyster farmers
  • Cape Byron Marine Park Authority 6620 9300
  • Fisheries, Dept of Primary Industries 1800 043 536
  • Lifeguards
  • chemical supplier
  • Aboriginal Land Council
  • Police 6681 8699
  • Office of Water 6627 0100
  • Water Extraction License Holders (Maguires Creek) 

Ballina Shire Council operates in accordance with several plans and strategies aimed at ensuring the quality of water is fit for the purpose it is used for.

General

Drinking water

Recycled Water

Stormwater

Ballina Shire Council tests the quality of the water you use in your homes and businesses as well as water at some beaches and swimming areas. This includes:

  • drinking water 
  • recycled water 
  • treated wastewater discharged to waterways
  • water at popular swimming spots

The quality of our drinking water and treated wastewater must meet national and state guidelines.

Click here for more information on the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines

BEACHWATCH

Ballina Shire Council is proud to be involved in the NSW Beachwatch program which provides the public with information about the quality of water in local swimming areas. 

Beachwatch is run by the NSW Department of Environment and Heritage and monitors the quality of popular waterways in NSW. 

In Ballina Shire we test the water quality of six popular swimming spots every week between November and March:

  • Lake Ainsworth, Lennox Head
  • Seven Mile Beach, Lennox Head
  • Shelly Beach, Ballina
  • Lighthouse Beach, Ballina
  • Shaws Bay, Ballina
  • The Serpentine, Ballina

WHAT DO WE TEST FOR?

We test to see if swimming spots are polluted with faecal material from animals and humans which can pose a health risk for swimmers.

We also monitor Lake Ainsworth for outbreaks of blue-green algae.

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