Beach Report
Beach Report helps you decide when and where to swim in Port Phillip Bay
Map pins are available via the tab key in a list after the map.
You can pan the map with the keyboard arrows.
Map pins are available via the tab key in a list after the map.
You can move the map using the keyboard arrows.
EPA forecasts water quality for 36 beaches in Port Phillip Bay.
EPA also issues alerts when there is an issue affecting a water body in Victoria.
Beach Report season is now open. Always check for signs of pollution before you swim.
Avoid swimming near stormwater or river outlets 24-48 hours after heavy rain.
Always check for signs of pollution before swimming. For example, stormwater drains flowing, murky water, bad smell, and rubbish.
Updated 3pm 23 March 2023 AEST
Fair
Recent and forecast rain, stormwater pollution possible
Good
Recent rain, however stormwater pollution unlikely
Updated 3pm 23 March 2023 AEST
Fair
Recent and forecast rain, stormwater pollution possible
Good
Recent rain, however stormwater pollution unlikely
Updated 3pm 23 March 2023 AEST
Fair
Recent and forecast rain, stormwater pollution possible
Good
Recent rain, however stormwater pollution unlikely
Updated 3pm 23 March 2023 AEST
Fair
Recent and forecast rain, stormwater pollution possible
Good
Recent rain, however stormwater pollution unlikely
Updated 3pm 23 March 2023 AEST
Fair
Recent and forecast rain, stormwater pollution possible
Good
Recent rain, however stormwater pollution unlikely
Updated 3pm 23 March 2023 AEST
Fair
Recent and forecast rain, stormwater pollution possible
Good
Recent rain, however stormwater pollution unlikely
Updated 3pm 23 March 2023 AEST
Fair
Recent and forecast rain, stormwater pollution possible
Good
Recent rain, however stormwater pollution unlikely
Updated 3pm 23 March 2023 AEST
Fair
Recent and forecast rain, stormwater pollution possible
Good
Recent rain, however stormwater pollution unlikely
Updated 3pm 23 March 2023 AEST
Fair
Recent and forecast rain, stormwater pollution possible
Good
Recent rain, however stormwater pollution unlikely
Updated 3pm 23 March 2023 AEST
Fair
Recent and forecast rain, stormwater pollution possible
Good
Recent rain, however stormwater pollution unlikely
Updated 3pm 23 March 2023 AEST
Poor
Recent and forecast rain, stormwater pollution likely
Poor
Recent and forecast rain, stormwater pollution likely
Updated 3pm 23 March 2023 AEST
Poor
Recent and forecast rain, stormwater pollution likely
Poor
Recent and forecast rain, stormwater pollution likely
Updated 3pm 23 March 2023 AEST
Poor
Recent and forecast rain, stormwater pollution likely
Poor
Recent and forecast rain, stormwater pollution likely
Updated 3pm 23 March 2023 AEST
Poor
Recent and forecast rain, stormwater pollution likely
Poor
Recent and forecast rain, stormwater pollution likely
Updated 3pm 23 March 2023 AEST
Poor
Recent and forecast rain, stormwater pollution likely
Poor
Recent and forecast rain, stormwater pollution likely
Updated 3pm 23 March 2023 AEST
Poor
Recent and forecast rain, stormwater pollution likely
Poor
Recent and forecast rain, stormwater pollution likely
Updated 3pm 23 March 2023 AEST
Poor
Recent and forecast rain, stormwater pollution likely
Poor
Recent and forecast rain, stormwater pollution likely
Updated 3pm 23 March 2023 AEST
Poor
Recent and forecast rain, stormwater pollution likely
Poor
Recent and forecast rain, stormwater pollution likely
Updated 3pm 23 March 2023 AEST
Fair
Recent and forecast rain, stormwater pollution possible
Poor
Recent and forecast rain, stormwater pollution likely
Updated 3pm 23 March 2023 AEST
Fair
Recent and forecast rain, stormwater pollution possible
Poor
Recent and forecast rain, stormwater pollution likely
Updated 3pm 23 March 2023 AEST
Fair
Recent and forecast rain, stormwater pollution possible
Poor
Recent and forecast rain, stormwater pollution likely
Updated 3pm 23 March 2023 AEST
Poor
Recent and forecast rain, stormwater pollution likely
Poor
Recent and forecast rain, stormwater pollution likely
Updated 3pm 23 March 2023 AEST
Fair
Recent and forecast rain, stormwater pollution possible
Poor
Recent and forecast rain, stormwater pollution likely
Updated 3pm 23 March 2023 AEST
Poor
Recent and forecast rain, stormwater pollution likely
Poor
Recent and forecast rain, stormwater pollution likely
Updated 3pm 23 March 2023 AEST
Poor
Recent and forecast rain, stormwater pollution likely
Poor
Recent and forecast rain, stormwater pollution likely
Updated 3pm 23 March 2023 AEST
Poor
Recent and forecast rain, stormwater pollution likely
Poor
Recent and forecast rain, stormwater pollution likely
Updated 3pm 23 March 2023 AEST
Poor
Recent and forecast rain, stormwater pollution likely
Poor
Recent and forecast rain, stormwater pollution likely
Updated 3pm 23 March 2023 AEST
Poor
Recent and forecast rain, stormwater pollution likely
Poor
Recent and forecast rain, stormwater pollution likely
Updated 3pm 23 March 2023 AEST
Poor
Recent and forecast rain, stormwater pollution likely
Poor
Recent and forecast rain, stormwater pollution likely
Updated 3pm 23 March 2023 AEST
Poor
Recent and forecast rain, stormwater pollution likely
Poor
Recent and forecast rain, stormwater pollution likely
Updated 3pm 23 March 2023 AEST
Poor
Recent and forecast rain, stormwater pollution likely
Poor
Recent and forecast rain, stormwater pollution likely
Updated 3pm 23 March 2023 AEST
Fair
Recent and forecast rain, stormwater pollution possible
Fair
Recent rain, stormwater pollution possible
Updated 3pm 23 March 2023 AEST
Fair
Recent and forecast rain, stormwater pollution possible
Fair
Recent rain, stormwater pollution possible
Updated 3pm 23 March 2023 AEST
Fair
Recent and forecast rain, stormwater pollution possible
Fair
Recent rain, stormwater pollution possible
Updated 3pm 23 March 2023 AEST
Fair
Recent and forecast rain, stormwater pollution possible
Fair
Recent rain, stormwater pollution possible
Updated 3pm 23 March 2023 AEST
Good
Recent rain, however stormwater pollution unlikely
Good
Recent rain, however stormwater pollution unlikely
Updated 3pm 23 March 2023 AEST
Poor
Based on historical data
Poor
Based on historical data
Updated 3pm 23 March 2023 AEST
Poor
Based on historical data
Poor
Based on historical data
Updated 3pm 23 March 2023 AEST
Poor
Recent and forecast rain, stormwater pollution likely
Poor
Recent and forecast rain, stormwater pollution possible
Updated 3pm 23 March 2023 AEST
Poor
Based on historical data
Poor
Based on historical data
Suitable for swimming
May not be suitable for swimming
Not suitable for swimming
City bylaws prevent swimming
For healthy swimming:
Children, older people and people with a weakened immune system are most at risk of getting sick from polluted water. You should see your doctor if you suspect you are unwell from swimming.
Daily forecasts are posted twice a day on our website and Twitter. We also work with Life Saving Victoria to have signs showing the water quality forecast at lifesaving clubs on weekends and public holidays during summer.
There are two kinds of recreational water activity:
EPA water quality forecasts of Good, Fair and Poor are for primary contact recreation. Secondary contact with the water poses a reduced risk of illness as you are less likely to ingest the water. EPA long term water quality monitoring shows our microbial indicators only very rarely exceed secondary contact criteria.
Forecasts are issued for varied reasons. Clicking on the forecast pin on the Beach Report map will give more information about the reason for the forecast.
Some examples of forecasts and the reasons behind them are given in the tables below.
Forecast reason | Action/advice |
---|---|
Stormwater pollution is not impacting the beach | Water is suitable for swimming |
Forecast reason | Action/advice |
---|---|
Stormwater due to recent or forecast rain may be impacting the beach |
Water may not be suitable for swimming. Check the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) or Melbourne Water rain gauges near your beach, or BOM forecast to see when rain is due. Check for signs of pollution – drains flowing, murky water, bad smell, rubbish on water’s edge. |
Water quality alert | An event impacting water quality is occurring at the beach. Water may not be safe for swimming. Check what the event is by clicking on pin on Beach Report map or go to water quality alert. |
Sampling results are elevated | Weekly sampling results are elevated for the beach, at levels which may make water quality unsuitable for swimming. Check for signs of pollution before you swim. |
Forecast reason | Action/advice |
---|---|
Stormwater due to recent or forecast rain is impacting the beach |
Water is not suitable for swimming. |
Water quality alert | An event impacting water quality is occurring at the Beach. Water is not suitable for swimming. Check what the event is by clicking on pin on Beach Report map or go to water quality alert. |
Based on sampling results | Water is not safe for swimming. Weekly sampling results are elevated for the beach, at levels which are unsuitable for swimming. |
Samples are collected at 36 beaches on Port Phillip Bay every week. These samples are tested for enterococci, an indicator of faecal pollution (e.g., sewage, animal faeces). Swimmers who ingest water contaminated by faecal pollution may become ill.
Lab analyses to determine enterococci levels take 24 hours. Results are reported to the community the day after samples were collected. If microbial water quality standards are not met and there hasn’t been any recent rain, EPA takes a second sample to investigate further. Water quality is expected to meet standards if there hasn’t not been rain and stormwater pollution.
You can view recent sampling results for Beach Report sites at DataVic.
Sign up to EPA’s free SMS service. You'll get a text when the water at a beach near you is forecast to have poor water quality.
EPA forecasts predict the risk of stormwater pollution during and after rain. The forecasts are based on rain, water quality history, sunlight, weekly sampling, and pollution reports.
The forecasts are informed by weekly water sample results. The samples are tested for bacteria found in faeces called enterococci. Enterococci is the best indicator for measuring pollution from faecal contamination at beaches.
Our weekly water sampling is assessed against water quality standards for swimming in the Environment Reference Standard which came into effect in 2021.
Forecasts predict the risk of stormwater pollution at Bay beaches. Beach Report forecasts are based on:
The reason a forecast has been provided for each beach can be seen when selecting its pin on the Beach Report map on this page.
Beach Report forecasts are a starting point for decision making. Water quality can be variable over large areas and over time. Always check for signs of pollution before entering the water.
If you swim at a time outside of the Beach Report forecasts times of 10 am and 3 pm (e.g., early morning), or at a beach or location not close to a Beach Report site, you can use the following information to support your decision to swim.
Due to higher-than-average rainfall in October and November 2022, Beach Report issued mostly Fair and Poor forecasts. This was due to:
As a precaution, many forecasts were Fair to prompt beach users to check for signs of pollution and use their judgement based on their health/risk profile (e.g., family with young children, people with weakened immune system).
Reviewed 15 March 2022