421-605 Project Assessment B

421-605 Managing Water Borne Risks

Department of Environmental Engineering
University of Melbourne

Project B: Sampling and Monitoring

Port Phillip Bay Water Quality Monitoring Scheme

1 2

3 4

5 6

Group Members
Michelle Bills, 306470
Nilufar Khundakar, 346605 (Group Leader)
Jigme Tsering, 331469

Course Coordinator: Dr Graham Moore

Date: 9th October 2009

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 421-605 Project Assessment B

Executive Summary
The Port Phillip Bay Water Quality Monitoring Scheme (PPBWQMS) has set both short-term
and long-term monitoring objectives to assess the possibility of algal blooms occurring in
Port Phillip Bay,
This proposal has the overall objective of increasing the Victorian Government’s ability to
understand and manage the impact of nitrogen inputs to the Bay (a complex system). It will
also provide the mechanisms to determine the effectiveness of nutrient management
activities in protecting Bay.
Nitrogen can enter water environments from a number of sources such as agricultural
fertilisers and drainage, septic tanks, sewage discharges, animal wastes and urban
stormwater. Eleven sites have been selected to inform the monitoring objectives, including
two reference sites. The main parameters being assessed event based/fortnightly/monthly
include:
• Chlorophyll A (key indicator for nutrients)
• Nitrogen (NH3, NOX and total – assessing the extent eutrophication)
• Suspended solids (assessing water clarity)
• Dissolved Oxygen, pH, Salinity, turbidity and temperature (Best Management
Practice).
Instantaneous (alert levels) and yearly (statistical analysis) reporting will provide the Victoria
Government with the required information to inform management (e.g. enforcement, better
practice, water sensitive urban design, education).
The PPBWQMS is a five year program that deals specifically with water quality (nitrogen)
and algal communities of Port Phillip Bay. The delivery of this proposal has a budgeted cost
of $750,000 (including data analysis and reporting).

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Contents Page
Executive Summary ............................................................................................................ 2
1 Context ......................................................................................................................... 4
1.1 Port Philip Bay ....................................................................................................... 4
1.2 Algal Blooms ......................................................................................................... 5
2 Monitoring Objectives ................................................................................................. 6
2.1 SEPP Guidelines ................................................................................................... 7
2.2 National Water Quality Management Strategy ....................................................... 7
2.3 Current management............................................................................................. 8
3 Monitoring Program..................................................................................................... 8
3.1 Sampling Sites....................................................................................................... 8
3.2 Water Quality Parameters ..................................................................................... 9
3.3 Water Quality Analysis........................................................................................... 9
3.4 Sampling Frequency.............................................................................................. 9
3.5 Effectiveness of monitoring program.................................................................... 10
4 Data Analysis and Reporting .................................................................................... 11
4.1 Nitrogen and Algal Statistical Analysis ................................................................. 11
4.2 Data Storage ....................................................................................................... 11
4.3 Comparison with Guidelines ................................................................................ 11
4.4 Reporting............................................................................................................. 11
5 Adaptive Management ............................................................................................... 12
6 Monitoring Budget ..................................................................................................... 12
7 References ................................................................................................................. 13
8 Appendices ................................................................................................................ 14
Appendix A: Major waterway outfalls into Port Phillip Bay ........................................... 14
Appendix B: Port Phillip Bay Nutrient Monitoring Sampling Sites................................ 15
Appendix C: Sampling Sites - Physical and Descriptive Attributes .............................. 16

Front cover photos:

1&2: Algal Bloom (1) and Spider Crab Mortality (2) (Victorian Government, 2008)
3,4,5&6: Marine and Coastal Pollution (3), Urban and Industrial Sources (4,5&6) (Molloy,
2009)

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1 Context
This Port Phillip Bay Water Quality Monitoring Scheme (PPBWQMS) is intended to provide
the Victorian Government with a prioritised set of specific monitoring actions to be
undertaken to inform the possibility of algal blooms occurring via nitrogen inputs into Port
Phillip Bay.
Ongoing monitoring and reporting to assess the inputs of nitrogen entering the Bay is an
essential component of future management and evaluation. Monitoring options have been
recommended to:
• Set clear and measurable objectives
• Establish trigger levels, where management intervention may be required
• Monitoring program to assess the major inputs of nitrogen into the Bay
• Provide an evaluation and reporting process.

1.1 Port Philip Bay

The Port Philip Bay is an important port for Australia, it also supports major commercial and
recreational fishing, providing habitat for 300 fish species and several hundred species of
crustaceans, jellyfish, corals and sea sponges (Victorian Government, 2008).
Port Phillip Bay is a large (surface area = 1930km2) and shallow (maximum depth = 24m)
coastal embayment. However the catchment area that influences the health of the Bay is
large (9790km) as well as a population of over 3.7 million people living around the Bay
(EPA, 2002).
A four year Environmental Study (CSIRO, 1996) concluded that the number one threat to the
Bay was the nitrogen input from the surrounding catchment (Dr Vincent Pettigrove,
Melbourne Water, pers. comm., 2009).

“Strategies to reduce Nitrogen loads to the Bay should give this recommendation highest
priority” (CSIRO, 1996, p28).

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Figure 1: Port Phillip Bay and its surrounding catchments

1.2 Algal Blooms

While nitrogen is important for plants and animal growth, if an excessive amount of nitrogen
is present, algal blooms and nuisance plant growths could occur in the Bay. This can lead to
a reduction in habitat for plants and animals and can threaten the valuable aquatic
ecosystems the Bay supports (e.g. depleted oxygen levels that cause extensive fish kills)
(EPA, 2003).

Event: shellfisheries in Port Phillip Bay were affected in 1987 by a bloom of the diatom,
Rhizolenia chunii. As a consequence of this bloom, mussels, flat oysters and scallops
within the Bay developed a bitter flavour making them unmarketable for seven months
causing an estimated loss of $1 million (Robinson and Cully, 2009).

This monitoring program is targeting nitrogen inputs into the Bay, however it is recognised
that there are many other environmental influences on the Bay (e.g. high temperatures,
toxicants, exotic species).
The design of this monitoring program is based on the current understanding that increased
nitrogen inputs to the Bay will be rapidly transformed to phytoplankton biomass potentially
causing severe problems for the Bay.

“In Port Phillip Bay it is now well understood that nitrogen is the nutrient primarily
controlling the extent of eutrophication” (EPA, 2002, p5).

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2 Monitoring Objectives
Monitoring of the Bay commenced in 1984, although some sites have been discontinued and
chemical analysis methods have changed (EPA, 2003). Therefore the PPBWQMS has
established both short-term and long-term monitoring objectives with regard to assessing the
potential of algal blooms in the Bay.
The short-term objectives focus on providing the Victorian Government with information on
the current state of nitrogen inputs to help identify water quality/algal community threats to
the Bay. For the longer term, monitoring is targeted at developing a baseline dataset to
enable trend analysis and critical assessment of the relationship between nitrogen inputs
and algal bloom development.
Short-term objectives for the monitoring program are to:
o Provide an overview of water quality (nitrogen) in the Port Phillip Bay and various
sites of influence to the Bay.
o Compare annual water quality conditions and assess compliance with guideline and
trigger values recommended in the Victorian State Environment Protection Policy
(SEPP) and National Water Quality Management Strategy.
o Provide an annual time series analysis of nitrogen and algal communities to identify
seasonal changes and interactions.
o Identify management practices that have the potential to improve water quality from
the various inputs that enter the Bay.
Long-term objectives for the monitoring program are to:
o Establish relationships between water quality and management practices.
o Provide a historic time series analysis of nitrogen and algal communities to identify
long-term trends and interactions.
o Identify management practices that have potential to improve water quality in the
Bay.
Long-term condition monitoring will provide information on whether the water quality
(nitrogen) from the various inputs to the Bay are causing a change in or maintaining the
overall condition of the Bay (trend over time).

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2.1 SEPP Guidelines

SEPP objectives have been set to provide assessment criteria to inform water quality in
rivers (upland and lowland), estuaries, freshwater lakes and reservoirs. This information has
been adapted to inform this PPBWQMS and is illustrated in Table 1 below.
Table 1: General SEPP Environmental Objectives in relation to percentage compliance
(EPA, 2002)
Parameter Trigger level Compliance

Low Medium High

Ammonia as N 0.02 mg/L <90% within 90-95% within >95% within

(NH3) guideline guideline guideline

Nitrate and Nitrite 0.04 mg/L <90% within 90-95% within >95% within
as N (NOx) guideline guideline guideline

Total Kjeldahl 0.5 mg/L <90% within 90-95% within >95% within
(TKN) guideline guideline guideline
Total Suspended 50 mg/L <90% within 90-95% within >95% within
Solids (mg/L) guideline guideline guideline

Chlorophyll-a (Cl- 5 µg/L <90% within 90-95% within >95% within

a) & Phaeophytin-a guideline guideline guideline
(1.5-4 µg/L)

2.2 National Water Quality Management Strategy

The following national trigger levels for recreational waters have been set by Australian and
New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality (ANZECC Guidelines). These
levels (Table 2) provide default national guideline values to inform the PPBWQMS
evaluation phase (Moss, Brodie and Furnas, 2004).
Table 2: National Water Quality Guidelines (ANZECC, 2000)
Water Quality Parameter Trigger level

Ammonia as N (NH3) 0.01 mg/L

Nitrate and Nitrite as N (NOx) 0.04 mg/L

Total Nitrogen 0.350 mg/L

Chlorophyll-a 5 µg/L

Dissolved Oxygen >6.5 mg/L (>80% Saturation)

pH 6.5-8.5

Turbidity 20 NTU

Total Dissolved Solids 1,000 mg/L

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2.3 Current management

It is important to briefly mention the work already undertaken to get to the current
understanding of how the Bay interacts with its surrounding environment and aid the design
of the PPBWQMS. The following monitoring programs monitor the Bays water quality:
• Water Quality Monitoring Program
• Beach Monitoring Program
• Turbidity Monitoring Program
• Plume Intensity & Extent Monitoring Program
• Nutrient Cycling Monitoring Program
• Water Quality in Port Phillip & Westernport Catchment Monitoring Program
• Bacterial Contamination in the Yarra River Monitoring Program (Victorian
Government, 2009).
The intention of this monitoring program is to build on the above existing monitoring
programs that will inform the analysis of nitrogen inputs into the Bay.

3 Monitoring Program
This section provides details regarding in situ monitoring of water quality, the collection of
water and algal samples, and the types of analysis performed on the samples.
3.1 Sampling Sites
The relative contributions of major nitrogen input sources have been approximated to:
• Catchment waterways, 35–45%
• Western Treatment Plant1, 40–50%
• Atmospheric inputs, 10–15%
• Groundwater, 5% (DNRE, 2002).
In reviewing the current water quality programs (namely EPA, 2002) the following sites have
been selected for the PPBWQMS:
1. Corio Bay (near industrial and domestic inputs)
2. Werribee (Long Reef site, 1km from the treatment plant)
3. Hobsons Bay (incorporating the Yarra-Maribyrnong rivers influence on the Bay)
4. Mordialloc / Patterson / Kananook Waterways (east side of the Bay)
5. Reference sites (Central and Dromana – considered distant from catchment
influences)
Refer to Appendix A, B and C for further information on the sites selected for the
PPBWQMS.

The average annual Bay Nitrogen load over 1991–1995 was approximately
o 3,500 tonnes from Western Treatment Plant
o 1800 tonnes from the Yarra–Maribyrnong Rivers
o 1300 tonnes from other rivers, creeks and drains
o 1000 tonnes from the atmosphere
Nitrogen inputs also enter major cycling processes through the Bay’s sediments, water,
plants and animals, involving finely balanced transformations and fluxes (CSIRO, 1996).

1
The Western Treatment Plant treats approximately 52% of Melbourne's sewage (485 million litres a day)

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3.2 Water Quality Parameters

Chlorophyll a is considered the key indicator for nutrients and is used as it is an integrative
measure of nutrient status (EPA, 2002). Nitrogen (NH3, NOx and total) and suspended solids
(water clarity) will also be tested for (Refer to Table 3 below).
It is best management practice to monitor for the following additional parameters:
• Dissolved Oxygen, pH, Salinity, turbidity and temperature
This will enable a better understanding of the interactions occurring at the time of sampling
and will be useful in reporting an incident.

3.3 Water Quality Analysis

Melbourne Water personnel will collect water quality and algal samples at each of the five
site areas. Physical and descriptive attributes of each site is listed in Appendix C. The
additional water quality parameters will be tested using a suitable hand hold in situ meter.
Water quality samples collected from each site will be analysed at a National Association of
Testing Authorities (NATA) accredited laboratory. Variables assessed as part of this
monitoring program as well as the methods used are presented in Table 3.
Table 3: Water quality analysis methods and detection limits
Parameter Detection Limit Method

Ammonia as N (NH3) 0.002 mg/L Automated ascorbic acid molybdite

colorimetric analysis

Nitrate and Nitrite as N (NOx) 0.003 mg/L Cd reduction followed by

colorimetric method using
diazotisation

Total Kjeldahl (TKN) 0.01 mg/L Acid digestion using Hg catalyst

followed by colormetric analysis
using salicylate hypochlorite

Chlorophyll-a (Cl-a) & 0.05 µg/L ISO International Standard

Phaeophytin-a Spectrophotometric method using a
UV Spectrophotometer

Suspended Solids N/A Measured by weight after filtering

water sample through a glass filter
membrane (0.45 µm)

3.4 Sampling Frequency

Samples are generally required fortnightly from summer to autumn and monthly from winter
to spring (EPA, 2002). The sampling frequency will vary between each site, with sites known
or considered to be susceptible to algal blooms and/or high nutrient levels monitored more
frequently than others.
Event based monitoring will occur for peak events (e.g. peak rainfall events). This will target
the large proportion of the nitrogen input (80–90%) that occurs during run-off events
occurring for less than 10% of the time (DNRE, 2002).
The Victorian Government will inform the PPBWQMS implementation group should
additional monitoring of the sites be required.

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3.5 Effectiveness of monitoring program

To a large extent, the ability of this program to provide an early warning of a possible algal
bloom event in the Bay (due to changes in the nitrogen cycle) will depend on the type,
magnitude, duration and location of any possible impact (Longmore, 2000).
The temporal variability of surface water in the Bay is substantial, therefore an adaptive
management program has been recommended (refer to Section 5). The temporal and
spatial considerations, site selection, sampling precision, timing and frequency, and
measurement parameters outlined in the PPBWQMS are considered appropriate to inform
the monitoring objectives (refer to Table 4):
• Selection of appropriate sampling sites: a total of eleven sites distributed throughout
the Bay (including known areas of nitrogen inputs and reference sites).
• Parameters to be monitored: Chlorophyll a, Nitrogen and suspended solids to inform
the likelihood of an algal bloom event
• Frequency of sampling: fortnightly / monthly
Table 4: PPBWQMS scale triplet (adapted from: Grayson and Moore, 2009)
Space Time
Spacing 11 sites Fortnightly to Monthly
Support Water quality and algal Instantaneous measurement
samples at time of sample collected
Extent 11 sites assessing an area of Five years initially,
approximately 100 metres information from existing
each programs will be
incorporated into the analysis

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4 Data Analysis and Reporting

In achieving the monitoring objectives (stated in Section 2) the following statistical analyses
of data, storing of data and results and analysis the results will be undertaken.
4.1 Nitrogen and Algal Statistical Analysis
To aid the evaluation of nitrogen inputs and algal bloom potential, the following analysis
activities will be undertaken:
• Descriptive summary statistics and time series analysis of water quality and algal
communities for each monitoring year. The range of data between the 25th and 75th
percentiles will indicate the values that are considered to be “normal” or “expected”.
• Comparison of test data with background data (reference sites) and trigger values.
• Comparison to long-term statistics (data from other monitoring programs will be
utilised.
• Water quality modelling: methods of inference, multivariate analysis, power analysis,
regression techniques, trend analysis (Longmore, 2000 and EPA, 2003).
4.2 Data Storage
The water quality information collected will be stored in a database (MS Access) and
uploaded to the Victorian Water Quality Database (www.vicwaterdata.net).
4.3 Comparison with Guidelines
The general health of the Bay will be assessed by comparing water quality and algal
communities with guideline and trigger values recommended by the Victorian SEPP for
Waters of Victoria (EPA, 2003) and the National Water Quality Management Strategy
(ANZECC, 2000). Following comparison with the guidelines, the percentage compliance of
each parameter tested will be calculated using the equation below.
% Compliance = (Number of samples within guidelines / Total number of samples) x 100

A rating system will be employed to categorise the sites into a low, medium or high risk for
an algal bloom event.
4.4 Reporting
After each monitoring event a brief status report will be provided to the Victorian
Government to report on the possibility of algal blooms occurring in the Bay. The following
alert system outlined in Table 5 will be used.
Table 5: Alert Level triggers for PPBWQMS (Adapted from ANZECC, 2000 and EPA, 2003)
Toxic species not dominant Toxic species dominant

Alert Level 1 - Low 0.05 - <0.5 µg/L 0.05 - <0.4 µg/L

Alert Level 2 - Medium ≥0.5 - 10 µg/L ≥0.5 - 5 µg/L

Alert Level 3 - High ≥10 µg/L >5 µg/L

At the end of each monitoring year a report detailing the statistical analysis and compliance
with water quality guidelines will be compiled (short-term monitoring objectives). At the end
of the five year implementation of the PPBWQMS a major report will be provided to the
Victorian Government to assess and evaluate whether the program is answering the long-
term monitoring objectives.

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5 Adaptive Management
Predicting how the Bay will respond to different levels of nitrogen inputs is difficult as the
interactions between water, processes and biota are extremely complex. Adaptive
management will provide the means through which this monitoring program and
management interventions will be refined over time as new information and data become
available. The proposed adaptive management framework for the PPBWQMS is shown in
Figure 2.

Figure 2: PPBWQMS Adaptive Management Program

6 Monitoring Budget
It is proposed that this monitoring program occurs for the next five years. On completion of
this period the program will be formally reviewed to determine whether the program is
providing adequate information into the long-term monitoring objectives.
It is anticipated that this five year program will cost $750,000 (including data analysis and
reporting).

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7 References
ANZECC, 2000. Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water
Quality. Vol 1, Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council and
Agriculture and Resource Management Council of Australia and New Zealand, Canberra.
CSIRO, 1996. Port Phillip Bay Environmental Study, Melbourne. [Date accessed: 30
September 2009], available at: http://www.melbournewater.com.au/content/library/
publications/reports/rivers_and_creeks_reports/Port_Phillip_Bay_Environmental_Study.pdf
DNRE 2002, Port Phillip Bay Environmental Management Plan: Background Document,
Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Melbourne.
EPA Victoria, 2003. State Environment Protection Policy. Waters of Victoria. Policy Impact
Statement, June 2003
EPA Victoria, 2001. Environment Report: Port Phillip Bay Water Quality – Long-term trends
in nutrient status and clarity, 1984-1999. Melbourne.
Grayson, R. and Moore, G., 2009. Sampling Issues and Instrumentation, Centre for
Environmental Applied Hydrology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne.
Longmore, A., 2000. Port Phillip Bay Nutrient Monitoring Proposal – Scientific and Technical
Advice. Marine and Freshwater Resources Institute Report No 16. Fisheries Victoria,
Melbourne.
Molloy, R., 2009. Marine and Coastal Pollution – Urban and Industrial Sources, Presentation
– 421-605 Managing Water Bourne Risks, University of Melbourne, 10 September
Moss, A., Brodie, J. and Furnas, M., 2004. Water quality guidelines for the Great Barrier
Reef World Heritage Area: a basis for development and preliminary values, Queensland
Environmental Protection Agency, Brisbane.
Robinson, J. and Cully, T., 2009. Australian Online Coastal Information, Coastal CRC [Date
accessed: 30 September 2009], available at: http://www.ozcoasts.org.au/indicators/econ_
cons_algal_blooms.jsp
Victorian Government, 2008. Port Phillip Bay Natural Events, Office of Environmental
Monitor, Melbourne.

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8 Appendices
Appendix A: Major waterway outfalls into Port Phillip Bay

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Appendix B: Port Phillip Bay Nutrient Monitoring Sampling Sites

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Appendix C: Sampling Sites - Physical and Descriptive Attributes

Site Area
Corio Bay
(Near industrial and
domestic inputs)
Werribee
(Long Reef site, 1km from
the treatment plant)
Hobsons Bay
(Incorporating the Yarra-
Maribyrnong rivers
influence on the Bay)
Mordialloc / Patterson /
Kananook Waterways
(East side of the Bay)
Reference sites
Central Bay and Dromana –
considered distant from
catchment influences
PPBWQMS Costs:
Sampling: $50 per sample (~$10,000 per year)
Reporting: Instant and yearly reports ($100,000 per year)
Five year program: $750,000 excl GST
Number of sites Frequency Comments
1. Moolap outlet site October-March - Fortnightly
2. Avalon outlet site April-September - Monthly
3. Bay site (downstream of
influences)
4. Downstream of two WTP October-March - Fortnightly
outlet sites
April-September - Monthly
5. Downstream of Little River –
Bay
6. Downstream of the Werribee
River
7. Yarra River (Upstream of October-March - Fortnightly
outfall to the Bay)
April-September - Monthly
8. Bay site (downstream of
Yarra/Maribyrnong entrance
to the Bay)
9. Patterson River entrance to All year: Monthly Potential “Hot Spot” – Sandringham Beach (may
the Bay) require more intensive monitoring)
10. Dromana All year: Monthly
11. Central Bay
Water quality analysis: $200 per sample (including chlorophyll a) (~$40,000 per year)

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