This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/apr/27/water-testing-after-the-menindee-fish-kill-shows-a-chronically-sick-river

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Water testing after the Menindee fish kill shows a ‘chronically sick’ river Water testing after Menindee fish kill shows a ‘chronically sick’ river
(about 8 hours later)
New test results from the Darling-Baaka River show the system is ‘supercharged with nutrients’, expert says New results from the Darling-Baaka show system is ‘supercharged with nutrients’, expert says
Water testing results from Darling-Baaka River at Menindee indicate the river is “chronically sick” and raises concerns about the overall health of the Murray-Darling Basin, experts say. Water testing results from the Darling-Baaka River at Menindee indicate the river is “chronically sick” and raise concerns about the health of the Murray-Darling basin, experts say.
The New South Wales Environment Protection Authority (EPA) released the second round of test results days after the state government declared it would treat the deaths of millions of fish at Menindee in far-west NSW as a “pollution incident”. The New South Wales Environment Protection Authority released the second round of test results days after the state government declared it would investigate the deaths of millions of fish at Menindee in far-west NSW as a “pollution incident”.
The terms of reference for that inquiry are expected to be released this month. The latest results were from seven samples collected by WaterNSW and the EPA on 30 March. Five were taken at Menindee and two downstream at Pooncarie.
The latest results were from seven water samples collected by both WaterNSW and EPA staff members on 30 March from the Darling-Baaka River. Five of the samples were taken at Menindee and two downstream at Pooncarie. High levels of ammonia were detected in samples collected on 21 March, five days after the fish kill began. One detected ammonia at 56 times higher than the national guidelines for fresh and marine water quality.
It follows very high levels of ammonia being detected in the first lot of test results from water samples collected on 21 March, five days after the fish kill began. One of the samples detected ammonia at 56 times higher than the national guidelines for fresh and marine water quality. Dr Ian Wright, a professor of environmental science at Western Sydney University, said the first results showed a toxic level of ammonia and it was heartening to see that the levels had decreased.
Dr Ian Wright, a professor of environmental science at Western Sydney University, said the first results showed a “toxic” level of ammonia and it was “heartening” to see that the levels had decreased between the date of the first and second tests. . “It’s … up to five times higher than it should be at some sites but it’s nothing like the 56 times that it was before,” he said.
“It’s still well and truly above [the guidelines] and up to five times higher than it should be at some sites, but it’s nothing like the 56 times that it was before,” he said.
However, Wright said the nutrient levels for nitrogen and phosphorus are still “sky high”, which highlights a “chronic underlying issue” with the health of the river.
“The system is supercharged with nutrients,” he said. “I think it’s a chronically sick river and it doesn’t take much to tip over.”
That nutrient load leads to chronic algae blooms, he said.
“In some ways, I don’t know if a lot of these problems are manageable,” he said. “The nutrients reflect everything that’s going on, right up into Queensland, all over New South Wales. It’s a massive catchment … all soil erosion, fertiliser, animal wastes, sewerage. It’s just massive.”
Blue-green algae was detected in all of the water samples from 21 and 30 March. An amber alert remains in place for the Darling River at Menindee and Pooncarie. This means people should not drink untreated river water, but there are no restrictions on recreational use such as swimming.
Sign up to receive Guardian Australia’s fortnightly Rural Network email newsletterSign up to receive Guardian Australia’s fortnightly Rural Network email newsletter
Sign up to receive Guardian Australia’s fortnightly Rural Network email newsletterSign up to receive Guardian Australia’s fortnightly Rural Network email newsletter
Wright advised people against having contact with the water when an amber alert was in place, particularly after a mass fish kill event. Wright said nitrogen and phosphorus levels were still “sky high”. “The system is supercharged with nutrients,” he said. “I think it’s a chronically sick river and it doesn’t take much to tip over.”
“When you’ve got a fish kill, there’s likely to be bacteria, as in faecal bacteria,” he said. That nutrient load led to algae blooms, he said: “I don’t know if a lot of these problems are manageable. The nutrients reflect everything that’s going on, right up into Queensland, all over New South Wales. It’s a massive catchment … all soil erosion, fertiliser, animal wastes, sewage.”
In response to concerns raised by Wright about the first round of test results – which included not testing for certain bacteria – the EPA told Guardian Australia that bacteria samples were collected as part of the additional rounds testing on 4 and 11 April. Blue-green algae was detected in both sets of samples. An amber alert remains in place for the river at Menindee and Pooncarie. This means people should not drink untreated water but there are no restrictions on recreational use such as swimming.
“The first round of testing on 21 March was to respond to the emergency and the immediate concerns around pesticides,” a spokesperson from the EPA said. “Additional testing rounds will investigate other potential causes.” Wright advised people against having contact with the water when an amber alert was in place. “When you’ve got a fish kill, there’s likely to be bacteria, as in faecal bacteria,” he said.
The EPA also clarified the number of water samples taken, in response to criticism about a lack of samples and that the EPA had not collected the samples themselves. Six samples were collected on 21 March by WaterNSW, seven on 30 March by WaterNSW and EPA officers, five on 3 April by WaterNSW, two on 4 April by EPA officers, and six on 11 April by WaterNSW. In response to concerns raised by Wright about the first round of test results – which included not testing for certain bacteria – the EPA told Guardian Australia that more samples had been taken on 4 and 11 April and would be tested for bacteria.
Wright said he was happy to see two more sample sites added downstream at Pooncarie in the second lot of test results, but added there still were not enough samples and that the testing should include samples taken upstream of Menindee to provide a baseline of the water quality before it hits the site of the fish kills. “The first round of testing on 21 March was to respond to the emergency and the immediate concerns around pesticides,” a spokesperson said. “Additional testing rounds will investigate other potential causes.”
“This is one of the biggest environmental incidents involving rivers ever in Australia,” he said. “I’m still concerned that we’re not seeing results upstream from well above the fish kill.” Sign up to Guardian Australia's Afternoon Update
He said the results were an important reminder of how “finely balanced” river health could be. Our Australian afternoon update email breaks down the key national and international stories of the day and why they matter
A spokesperson for the NSW EPA said WaterNSW conducts water monitoring in the Darling-Baaka river and it has access to upstream water quality data. after newsletter promotion
“The … investigation is continuing and water quality data from before the fish kill will form a part of that investigation,” they said. The EPA also clarified the number of water samples taken, in response to criticism about a lack of samples. Six samples were collected on 21 March by WaterNSW, seven on 30 March by WaterNSW and EPA officers, five on 3 April by WaterNSW, two on 4 April by EPA officers, and six on 11 April by WaterNSW.
Wright said he was happy to see sample sites added at Pooncarie but there still were not enough.
“We’re not seeing results upstream from well above the fish kill,” he said.
The results were an important reminder of how “finely balanced” river health could be.
An EPA spokesperson said it had access to upstream data from WaterNSW: “The … investigation is continuing and water quality data from before the fish kill will form a part of that investigation.”
Sign up for the Rural Network email newsletterSign up for the Rural Network email newsletter
Join the Rural Network group on Facebook to be part of the communityJoin the Rural Network group on Facebook to be part of the community
Sign up for the Rural Network email newsletterSign up for the Rural Network email newsletter
Join the Rural Network group on Facebook to be part of the communityJoin the Rural Network group on Facebook to be part of the community