Non-nutrient contaminants program
The Swan River Trust’s non-nutrient contaminants program was a three-year program to determine the nature of contaminants, other than nutrients, delivered to and present in the Swan Canning river system.
Non-nutrient contaminants include: pathogens; heavy metals; low-level persistent organic compounds such as pesticides and herbicides; polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; polychlorinated biphenyls; and anionic surfactants; and contaminants resulting from disturbed acid sulphate soils and sediments.
The Department of Water undertook the program on behalf of the Trust through a series of assessments conducted in the Swan Canning Catchment.
The technical reports all provide baseline information on contaminants but focused on different areas to get an overall snapshot. The four reports are:
- Baseline study of contaminants in the Swan Canning catchment drainage system
- Baseline study of contaminants at three disused landfill sites
- Baseline study of organic contaminants in the catchment drainage system using passive sampling devices
- Baseline study of contaminants in the Swan Canning estuary sediment.
The results, although typical of an urban area, are an important reminder that stormwater drains across the entire catchment lead to the rivers.
Further testing will soon be carried out in East Perth to get a better picture of whether the contaminants found are affecting aquatic life.
Department of Water website
For the four technical reports, visit the Department of Water website and search for the publication by the titles listed above.
