Baseline water quality of the Gold Coast Broadwater, southern Moreton Bay (Australia)

• Published in: Marine pollution bulletin 2022-12, Vol.185 (Pt A), p.114234-114234, Article 114234
• Main Authors: Dunn, Ryan J.K., Doriean, Nicholas J.C., Bennett, William W., Welsh, David T., Purandare, Jemma, Tomlinson, Rodger B.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bays; Environmental Monitoring; Estuarine; Monitoring; Nitrogen - analysis; Nutrients; Phosphorus - analysis; Rainfall; Total suspended sediments; Urbanisation; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Water Quality; Water quality parameters
• ISSN: 0025-326X; 1879-3363
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114234

This study establishes baseline water quality characteristics for the Gold Coast Broadwater, southern Moreton Bay (Australia) utilising routinely monitored parameters between 2016 and 2021, across 18 sites. Combined site mean concentrations of NOx-N, NH3-N and total nitrogen were 11.4 ± 33.4 μg/L, 12.7 ± 27.2 μg/L, and 169 ± 109 μg/L, respectively, whilst PO4-P and total phosphorous were 7.30 ± 5.10 μg/L and 21.7 ± 14.1 μg/L. Additionally, total suspended solids and turbidity combined site means were 6.6 ± 6.0 mg/L and 3.4 ± 2.9 NTU, respectively. During high rainfall periods nutrient concentrations increased by up to >200-, >150-, 15-, 12- and >12-fold for NOx-N, NH3-N, TN, PO4-P and TP, respectively, compared to quiescent conditions. Furthermore, TSS and NTU values increased by up to 15- and 40-fold during periods of measured rainfall compared to quiescent conditions. •Water quality parameters were measured at 18 sites in the Broadwater (2019–2021).•Parameter values were typical of regional and Australian estuarine settings.•Temporal and spatial variations were apparent within the study region.•Elevated nutrient and TSS concentrations coincide with rainfall events.