Coast & Estuaries
Page 201
Table 37: Port Adelaide River - Barker Inlet waterways water quality
classification - April to September 2007.
Indicator
Ecosystem
Recreation
Aquaculture
Ammonia
poor
NA
good
Oxidised
Nitrogen
poor
NA
NA
Total Nitrogen
moderate
NA
NA
Soluble
Phosphorus
poor
NA
NA
Total
Phosphorus
poor
NA
NA
Turbidity
good
good
NA
Chlorophyll
a
poor
NA
NA
Heavy metals
poor
NA
poor
Bacteria
NA
good
good
Note: NA = not applicable
The EPA water quality monitoring in 2007 occurred at each site generally
once a month between January and November.
The high chlorophyll (a) indicates significant phytoplankton growth is
common in the Port River, particularly in the inner harbour near Site 1 and
Site 9. Ammonia, nitrogen and phosphorus also were classified as poor.
This is likely due to the industrial discharges of Penrice Soda Products,
historical contamination from the now closed Port Adelaide Wastewater
Treatment Plant, and the large number of stormwater drains that discharge
into the Port waterways.
Areas with heavy metals present (copper and zinc) are classified as ‘poor’,
and may also be attributable to historic and ongoing industrial and urban
stormwater discharges (heavy metals on roads or from industrial activities)
to the river.
Toxicant Indicators
The Penrice Soda Products plant at Osborne has discharged large
quantities of ammonia into the Port Adelaide River for many years. With
improved environmental knowledge and more stringent EPA requirements,
Penrice now manage their lime wastes onsite and are investigating re-use
opportunities.
The Penrice Osborne site operates under an environmental licence from the
South Australian Environmental Protection Authority. One of the licence
