Bacteria detected at weir

Residents are on notice to avoid swimming and drinking water from the Barrett Street Weir as Shire of Augusta-Margaret River health officers await the outcome of further testing today.

The Shire issued the warning late last week after samples from the Margaret River showed “potentially unsafe levels of Escherichia coli and Enterococci”.

Officers believed warm and stagnant water was the likely cause of the outbreak.

It was the only site among those tested which revealed the potentially harmful bacteria.

Environmental health officer Jacinta McKinlay said monitoring of key sites would continue, with residents asked to check the signs.

“We put up signs based on bacterial levels but river users also need to use their own judgment when considering swimming in any natural water body,” she said.

“Levels can increase or decrease between testing periods and we can’t test every spot in every local waterway.”