NSW Environmental Protection Agency NSW Government

Water and sediment sampling results

Return to the Water sampling – Turon River near Lithgow webpage.

Tables

Table 1: Water results vs Recreational Water Guideline values

  Upper Daylight Creek
(Point 1)		Lower Daylight Creek
(Point 2)		Williwa Creek
(Point 3)
Sample dateSpring 23Autumn 24Winter 24Spring 24Summer 25Spring 23Autumn 24Winter 24Spring 24Summer 25Spring 23Autumn 24Winter 24Spring 24Summer 25
AnalytesRecreational Water Guideline value1mg/Lmg/Lmg/L
Aluminium2^-3.74.755.6<0.04<0.04<0.04<0.04<0.04<0.040.05<0.040.09<0.04
Arsenic0.1-0.0030.0020.0030.004<0.0010.001<0.0010.0010.001<0.0010.002<0.0010.0010.0013
Chromium0.5 (CrVI)-<0.001<0.001<0.001<0.0005<0.001<0.001<0.001<0.001<0.0005<0.001<0.001<0.001<0.001<0.0005
CobaltNo value-0.0220.0170.0220.0240.00230.0060.00470.00050.0032<0.00010.0003<0.00010.00020.00008
Copper20-0.80.70.940.940.0550.0450.190.0610.090.00270.00280.00220.00190.0025
Lead0.05-0.830.30.740.620.0110.00790.0710.0160.0230.00020.00080.00030.00030.0002
Nickel0.2-0.0350.0290.0370.0380.0110.010.0120.0120.0160.00120.00110.00110.0010.001
Zinc30^-262435316.68101013.00.20.090.370.140.19

 

 Jews Creek
(Point 4)		Woolshed Flat Campground
(Point 5)		The Diggings Campground
(Point 6)
Sample dateSpring 23Autumn 24Winter 24Autumn 24Summer 25Spring 23Autumn 24Winter 24Spring 24Summer 25Spring 23Autumn 24Winter 24Spring 24Summer 25
AnalytesRecreational Water Guideline values (NHMRC 2008)1mg/Lmg/Lmg/L
Aluminium2^<0.04<0.04<0.04<0.04<0.04<0.04<0.04<0.04<0.04<0.04<0.04<0.04<0.04<0.04<0.04
Arsenic0.1<0.0010.001<0.0010.0010.0014<0.0010.002<0.0010.0010.0015<0.0010.002<0.0010.0010.0015
Chromium0.5 (CrVI)<0.001<0.001<0.001<0.001<0.0005<0.001<0.001<0.001<0.001<0.0005<0.001<0.001<0.001<0.001<0.0005
CobaltNo value0.00020.0001<0.0001<0.00010.0001<0.0001<0.0001<0.0001<0.00010.00006<0.00010.0001<0.0001<0.00010.00006
Copper200.0009<0.0005<0.0005<0.0005<0.00020.00160.00150.00130.0010.00110.00140.00120.00130.00130.0013
Lead0.05<0.0001<0.0001<0.0001<0.0001<0.00010.00010.00020.0003<0.00010.00010.00010.00030.00010.00020.0002
Nickel0.20.0040.00350.00290.0030.00320.00120.00180.00110.00150.00120.00110.00170.0010.00140.0012
Zinc30^0.0030.002<0.001<0.001<0.0010.0270.0220.0610.0240.0130.0210.0210.050.0220.013

 

 Turon River Campground
(Point 7)
Sample dateSpring 23Autumn 24Winter 24Spring 24Summer 25
AnalytesRecreational Water Guideline
values (NHMRC 2008)1		 mg/L
Aluminium2^<0.04<0.040.04<0.04<0.04
Arsenic0.1<0.0010.002<0.0010.0010.0015
Chromium0.5 (CrVI)<0.001<0.001<0.001<0.001<0.0005
CobaltNo value<0.0001<0.0001<0.0001<0.00010.00007
Copper200.00140.00140.00130.00110.0012
Lead0.050.00010.00030.00020.00010.0002
Nickel0.20.00110.00150.0010.00130.0012
Zinc30^0.0210.0190.0470.0220.014
  • ^ No health-based guideline value for drinking water. Based on guideline value for aesthetic (visual/taste) risks for drinking water.
  • 1 NHMRC (2008) Guideline for managing risks in recreational water (suggests 10 x drinking water guideline value can be used to screen recreational water quality).
  • Results in Table 1 are for ‘acid extractable’ (total) metals using ICPAES and ICPMS laboratory methodologies
  • Bolded results highlights an exceedance of this guideline value

Table 2: Water results compared to Aquatic Water Quality Guideline Values for upland river aquatic ecosystems (95% species protection unless indicated) 

 Upper Daylight Ck
(Point 1)		Lower Daylight Ck
(Point 2)		Williwa Creek
(Point 3)
Sample dateSpring 23Autumn 24Winter 24Spring 24Summer 25Spring 23Autumn 24Winter 24Spring 24Summer 25Spring 23Autumn 24Winter 24Spring 24Summer 25
AnalytesDefault guideline value#mg/Lmg/Lmg/L
Dissolved oxygen (% sat.) ‡90-11097.892.2--93.1115.171.8--125.7119.764.9--108.8
Electrical conductivity (µS/cm) ‡350381417349525480191207174228226462419360564314
pH ‡6.5-86.03.93.84.13.76.05.95.06.55.66.08.28.28.48.1
Turbidity (NTU) ‡254.30.00.01.40.13.30.02.40.20.12.316.02.413.92.2
AluminiumpH <6.5 (0.0008)+-3.64.85.04.6<0.04<0.04<0.04 <0.04<0.04    
AluminiumpH >6.5
(0.055)		        <0.04  <0.04<0.04<0.04<0.04
Arsenic0.013 (AsV)-0.0030.0020.0030.0038<0.0010.001<0.0010.0010.0009<0.0010.001<0.0010.0010.0012
Cadmium0.0002-0.0910.0790.110.10.0240.0270.0310.0340.0430.00080.00020.0010.00030.00075
Chromium0.001 (CrVI)-<0.001<0.001<0.001<0.0005<0.001<0.001<0.001<0.001<0.0005<0.001<0.001<0.001<0.001<0.0005
Cobalt0.0014+-0.0210.0180.0220.0240.0020.00050.00490.00050.0032<0.00010.0002<0.00010.00020.00007
Copper0.0014-0.790.720.970.960.0410.0290.1600.0560.0820.0020.00130.00180.00150.002
Cyanide0.007-<0.004<0.004<0.004<0.004<0.004<0.004<0.004<0.004<0.004<0.004<0.004<0.004<0.004<0.004
Lead0.0034-0.80.310.740.620.0110.0080.0590.0120.017<0.00010.00020.00010.0001<0.0001
Manganese1.9-1.61.01.61.70.170.070.310.0520.310.0110.10.0130.0680.029
Mercury0.00006*-<0.00005<0.00004<0.00004<0.00005<0.00005<0.00005<0.00004<0.00004<0.00005<0.00005<0.00005<0.00004<0.00004<0.00005
Nickel0.011-0.0350.030.0380.040.00950.00980.0130.0120.0160.00120.00110.00120.0010.001
Selenium0.005*-<0.005<0.005<0.005<0.002<0.005<0.005<0.005<0.005<0.002<0.005<0.005<0.005<0.005<0.002
Silver0.00005-0.00010.00020.00020.00024<0.0001<0.0001<0.0001<0.0001<0.00005<0.0001<0.0001<0.0001<0.0001<0.00005
Zinc0.008-262433316.77.811.010.013.00.190.0680.330.140.19
 Jews Creek
(Point 4)		Woolshed Flat Campground
(Point 5)
Sample dateSpring 23Autumn 24Winter 24Spring 24Summer 25Spring 23Autumn 24Winter 24Spring 24Summer 25
AnalytesWQGs upland river (95% protection) #mg/Lmg/L
Dissolved oxygen (% sat.) ‡90-11010290.2--179.287.9101.2--79.7
Electrical conductivity (µS/cm) ‡)35013701530111014401370703949559995642
pH ‡6.5-88.48.48.38.88.58.27.97.78.27.9
Turbidity (NTU) ‡252.82.31.50.50.61.33.01.70.61.0
AluminiumpH <6.5 (0.0008)+          
AluminiumpH >6.5 
(0.055)		<0.04<0.04<0.04<0.04<0.04<0.04<0.04<0.04<0.04<0.04
Arsenic0.013 (AsV)<0.0010.001<0.0010.0010.0013<0.0010.002<0.0010.0010.0014
Cadmium0.0002<0.0001<0.0001<0.0001<0.0001<0.000050.0001<0.00010.0001<0.0001<0.00005
Chromium0.001 (CrVI)<0.001<0.001<0.001<0.001<0.0005<0.001<0.001<0.001<0.001<0.0005
Cobalt0.0014+0.00010.0001<0.0001<0.0001<0.0001<0.0001<0.0001<0.0001<0.00010.00006
Copper0.0014<0.0005<0.0005<0.0005<0.00050.00020.00090.00090.00090.00090.001
Cyanide0.007<0.004<0.004<0.004<0.004<0.004<0.004<0.004<0.004<0.004<0.004
Lead0.0034<0.0001<0.0001<0.0001<0.0001<0.0001<0.00010.0032<0.0001<0.0001<0.0001
Manganese1.90.030.030.0180.0090.0190.0120.050.0110.0290.021
Mercury0.00006*<0.00005<0.00005<0.00004<0.00004<0.00005<0.00005<0.00005<0.0004<0.00004<0.00005
Nickel0.0110.00340.00340.00290.0030.00320.00110.00180.0010.00150.0012
Selenium0.005*<0.005<0.005<0.005<0.005<0.002<0.005<0.005<0.005<0.005<0.002
Silver0.00005<0.0001<0.0001<0.0001<0.0001<0.0001<0.0001<0.0001<0.0001<0.0001<0.00005
Zinc0.008<0.001<0.001<0.0010.002<0.0010.0190.0180.050.0210.011
 The Diggings Campground
(Point 6)		Turon River Campground
(Point 7)
Sample dateSpring 23Autumn 24Winter 24Spring 24Summer 25Spring 23Autumn 24Winter 24Spring 24Summer 25
AnalytesWQGs upland river (95% protection) #mg/Lmg/L
Dissolved oxygen (% sat.) ‡90-11097.652.0--99.985.363.4--124.1
Electrical conductivity (µS/cm) ‡350710882560908637689842547876625
pH ‡6.5-88.17.36.57.96.98.17.97.58.27.7
Turbidity (NTU) ‡256.47.71.311.42.07.51.51.72.3
AluminiumpH <6.5 (0.0008)+          
AluminiumpH >6.5 
(0.055)		<0.04<0.04<0.04<0.04<0.04<0.04<0.04<0.04<0.04<0.04
Arsenic0.013 (AsV)<0.0010.002<0.0010.0010.0015<0.0010.002<0.0010.0010.0013
Cadmium0.00020.0001<0.00010.0002<0.00010.000060.0001<0.00010.0001<0.0001<0.00005
Chromium0.001 (CrVI)<0.001<0.001<0.001<0.001<0.0005<0.001<0.001<0.001<0.001<0.0005
Cobalt0.0014+<0.0001<0.0001<0.0001<0.00010.00006<0.0001<0.0001<0.0001<0.00010.00005
Copper0.00140.00090.00150.00190.0010.00110.00090.00130.00090.00110.001
Cyanide0.007<0.004<0.004<0.004<0.004<0.004<0.004<0.004<0.004<0.004<0.004
Lead0.0034<0.00010.00010.0002<0.0001<0.0001<0.00010.0001<0.0001<0.0001<0.0001
Manganese1.90.0070.050.0080.0310.0210.0070.030.000.0280.015
Mercury0.00006*<0.00005<0.00005<0.00004<0.00004<0.00004<0.00005<0.00005<0.00004<0.00004<0.00005
Nickel0.0110.0010.0020.0010.00130.00120.0010.00170.00090.00130.0012
Selenium0.005*<0.005<0.005<0.005<0.005<0.005<0.005<0.005<0.005<0.005<0.002
Silver0.00005<0.0001<0.0001<0.0001<0.0001<0.0001<0.0001<0.0001<0.0001<0.0001<0.00005
Zinc0.0080.0170.0180.0440.020.0120.0170.01850.0370.0190.011
  • # ANZG (2018). Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality: Default Guideline Values,
  • All results reported are for ‘dissolved metals’ (field filtered; <0.45 µm)
  • + Low reliability guideline value.
  • * 99% species protection used to account for the bioaccumulating nature of the toxicant.
  • ‡ Field measurement (using Horiba U52 Water Quality Monitor)
  • Bold results highlights an exceedance of this guideline value
  • Italics result – Limit of reporting above guideline value

Table 3: Sediment results compared to Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality

 Upper Daylight Ck
(Point 1)		Lower Daylight Ck
(Point 2)		Williwa Creek
(Point 3)
Sample dateSpring 23Autumn 24Winter 24Spring 24Summer 25Spring 23Autumn 24Winter 24Spring 24Summer 25Spring 23Autumn 24Winter 24Spring 24Summer 25
AnalytesaDGV b for sedimentGV-highc for sedimentmg/kgmg/kgmg/kg
Arsenic2070-260250260180-1617135-20202720
Cadmium1.510-7332-8464-4<144
Chromium80370-13182212-19261615-6675
Copper65270-28025013085-691313056-34123643
Lead50220-940560440260-8614012057-49167472
Mercury0.151.0-0.0680.0360.2300.180-0.0160.0170.031<0.05-0.019<0.010.026<0.05
Nickel2152-81175-1212128-119139
Silver14-3.61.11.6<0.6-<0.6<0.8<0.6<0.6-<0.6<0.7<0.6<0.6
Tin9d70d <22<2<2-<2<3<2<2-<2<2<2<2
Zinc200410-580330320120-1300890930880-520190800900
 Jews Creek
(Point 4)		Woolshed Flat Campground
(Point 5)
Sample dateSpring 23Autumn 24Winter 24Spring 24Summer 25Spring 23Autumn 24Winter 24Spring 24Summer 25
AnalytesaDGVb for sedimentGV-highc for sedimentmg/kgmg/kg
Arsenic2070-16<5<36-1214710
Cadmium1.510-<1<2<1<1-<12<1<1
Chromium80370-2112816-12211313
Copper65270-5543-9261113
Lead50220-11638-16411934
Mercury0.151.0-<0.01<0.01<0.015<0.05-<0.010.012<0.013<0.05
Nickel2152-149712-91699
Silver14-<0.6<1<0.6<0.6-<0.6<0.9<0.6<0.6
Tin9d70d-<2<3<2<2-<2<3<2<2
Zinc200410-42331832-26540290330
 The Diggings Campground
(Point 6)		Turon River Campground
(Point 7)
Sample dateSpring 23Autumn 24Winter 24Spring 24Summer 25Spring 23Autumn 24Winter 24Spring 24Summer 25
AnalytesaDGVb for sedimentGV-highc for sedimentmg/kgmg/kg
Arsenic2070-1013<314-917610
Cadmium1.510-2<1<1<1-<12<11
Chromium80370-1115179-13211313
Copper65270-1010615-826716
Lead50220-1620438-14481222
Mercury0.151.0-<0.01<0.01<0.012<0.05-<0.010.016<0.012<0.05
Nickel2152-71046-81398
Silver14-<0.6<0.6<0.6<0.6-<0.60.8<0.6<0.6
Tin9d70d-<2<2<2<2-<2<3<2<2
Zinc200410-23031056260-200460210310
  • a = Samples analysed by ICPAES and ICVAASW (mercury)
  • b = Default Guideline Value (DGV) - recommended toxicant default guideline values for sediment quality (ANZ Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality). Bolded results highlights an exceedance of this guideline value.
  • c = GV-high - the ‘upper’ guideline values provide an indication of concentrations at which you might already expect to observe toxicity-related adverse effects (ANZ Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality). Bolded italics results highlight exceedances of this GV-high guideline value.
  • d = Guideline value for tributyltin

References

ANZG (2018). Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality: Default Guideline Values, http://www.waterquality.gov.au/guidelines/anz-fresh-marine.

Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (2011), https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/about-us/publications/australian-drinking-water-guidelines#block-views-block-file-attachments-content-block-1.

Hayes, W. J., Chaudry T. M., Buckney, R.T., and Khan, A.G. (2003). Phytoaccumulation of Trace Metals at the Sunny Corner Mine, New South Wales, with Suggestions for a Possible Remediation Strategy. Australasian Journal of Ecotoxicology Vol. 9. PP. 69-82.

National Health and Medical Research Council (2008). Guidelines for Managing Risks in Recreational Water. https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/about-us/publications/guidelines-managing-risks-recreational-water#block-views-block-file-attachments-content-block-1