Summer may be over, but autumn still hasn't got the memo. As we go into the long weekend with weather forecasts predicting continued warm temperatures, Melbournians will be heading to our bay beaches and EPA Beach Report will continue to provide twice daily updates on bay water quality.

Beach Report data has been used to compile a list of the bay beaches that performed the best over summer based on the number of Good, Fair and Poor forecasts they received.

Port Phillip Bay’s top performing beaches ranked in order were Santa Casa, Portsea, Mt Martha Life Saving Club, then at equal fourth place came Black Rock Life Saving Club, Brighton Life Saving Club, Portarlington, Safety Beach, St Leonards and The Dell with Sandringham at tenth.

St Kilda faired worst ranked 36^th with Mentone and Port Melbourne sharing 34^th place.

“The data shows that the beaches the farthest from the city faired the best, as demonstrated by Santa Casa on the Bellarine Peninsula and Portsea on the Mornington Peninsula coming first and second,” said EPA Chief Environmental Scientist, Professor Mark Taylor.

 “Summer got off to a rocky start in the first two weeks of December. Wet weather always impacts water quality in the bay with our stormwater drains, creeks and rivers collecting pollutants that eventually find their way out to sea. 

“But overall, water quality met swimming and recreational use standards for nearly 90 percent of the time. Water quality in the bay is usually pretty good, especially when you consider how highly urbanised most of the area surrounding it is.” 

Heavy rain washes pollutants from Melbourne’s streets and footpaths through the stormwater drain system to our creeks and waterways, ultimately ending up in the bay. Water pollution after rain might aggravate skin conditions or even cause gastro. Given time, it dilutes and water quality improves. 

Professor Taylor said we can also do our bit to keep the water and beaches clean by leaving the beach with everything we took down and making sure we never let anything but rainwater down stormwater drains. 

“If you’re taking advantage of the longer summer weather this weekend, make sure you pack up your sunscreen, sunhats, beach umbrellas, drink bottles, food packaging and the like, take it home with you and we can all continue to enjoy our magnificent bay beaches,” said Professor Taylor 

The EPA Beach Report (epa.vic.gov.au/for-community/summer-water-quality/beach-report) is available twice a day.