Coasts & Estuaries - City of Port Adelaide Enfield - SA.Gov.au

Coast & EstuariesThe most recent summary water quality classification is for October 2005 to March 2006.Table 26: Port Adelaide River – Barker Inlet waterways water quality classification – October 2005 –March 2006Indicator Ecosystem Recreation AquacultureAmmonia Poor NA GoodOxidised Nitrogen Poor NA NATotal Nitrogen Good NA NATotal Phosphorus Moderate NA NATurbidity Good Moderate NAChlorophyll a Moderate NA NAHeavy Metals Poor NA PoorBacteria NA Good GoodNA = not applicableAmmonia, nitrogen and Chlorophyll (a) were classified as poor and soluble phosphorus was elevatedat Site 9. This is likely due to the industrial discharges of Penrice Soda Products, historicalcontamination from the now closed Port Adelaide Wastewater Treatment Plant and the large numberof stormwater drains that discharge into the Port waterways.Heavy metals (copper and zinc) are classified as resulting in a poor rating and may also beattributable to historic and ongoing industrial and urban stormwater discharges (heavy metals onroads) to the river.Elevated turbidity levels were likely as a result of dredging in the Port Adelaide River channel duringthe sampling period.(source: http://www.epa.sa.gov.au/all_port.html )Ammonia as a toxicantThe Penrice Soda Products plant at Osborne has discharged large quantities of ammonia into thePort Adelaide River for many years (EPA, 2005). With improved environmental knowledge, thispractice is now unacceptable and Penrice now manage their lime wastes onsite and are investigatingre-use opportunities.A small fraction of the total ammonia present in the water column will be present as the unionisedform (NH 3 ), this form can have toxic effects on marine organisms such as fish, invertebrates, algaeand plants.Figure 21 shows the extent of ammonia pollution within the Port Adelaide River, sites 1,2,4,5,6,7 and9 were classified by the EPA as poor, exceeding the 90 th percentile ANZECC trigger values forpotential toxicity, with sites 3 and 8 moderate. Sites 1 and 9, located within the Port Adelaide River,had significantly higher concentrations than other locations. The level of ammonia within the PortAdelaide River remains a concern (EPA, 2005).The implementation of the ammonia reduction Environment Improvement Program at Penrice SodaProducts has resulted in an 18% reduction in the discharge of ammonia (EPA, 2005).138