Identifying faecal pollution sources in Gymea Bay Bath using low-cost sensors and microbial source tracking

Overview

Gymea Bay Bath is a public swimming site that has experienced recurring faecal contamination in previous years, as reported through the Beachwatch program. Coonong Creek is the direct upstream creek draining into Gymea Bay Bath and is therefore a likely pathway for contamination entering the bathing area. However, the current monitoring program, which is conducted weekly in summer and monthly in winter, does not provide sufficient spatial or temporal resolution to identify the exact pollution pathways or distinguish between potential contamination sources.

This project will combine low-cost sensors, passive sampling and microbial source tracking (MST) to identify faecal pollution hotspots and likely contamination sources within the Coonong Creek catchment. The project will help determine whether contamination is more likely to originate from human wastewater, animals or other diffuse catchment sources, and will provide evidence to guide future monitoring and management actions.

Research engagement

The student will work with the research team to support one or more components of the project, depending on the study level, project duration and student background. Activities may include reviewing historical water quality data, supporting field monitoring, processing sensor datasets, assisting with passive sampler deployment, interpreting microbial source tracking outputs and preparing research summaries.

Research activities

The student may contribute to the following activities:

1. Review historical Beachwatch, rainfall, wastewater network and water quality datasets to identify contamination patterns.
2. Analyse relationships between rainfall, emergency relief structure activations, enterococci concentrations and other water quality indicators.
3. Support selection of high-priority monitoring sites in Coonong Creek.
4. Assist with deployment and checking of low-cost IoT sensor units for flow and basic water quality monitoring.
5. Work with cloud-based sensor data to assess temporal changes in water quality during dry and wet weather.
6. Support passive sampling design and interpretation for dry-weather and wet-weather conditions.
7. Assist with analysis or interpretation of 16S rRNA sequencing and microbial source tracking outputs.
8. Prepare figures, data summaries and a short research presentation or technical report.

Research skills

The ideal candidate will be a motivated student with an interest in environmental engineering, civil engineering, water quality, environmental science, microbiology, data science or urban water management.

Experience with Excel, R, Python, GIS, field monitoring, laboratory work or environmental data analysis would be useful but is not essential. Training can be provided. The project is suitable for a student who is comfortable working with data, interested in applied water research and willing to participate in field or laboratory activities where required.

Outcomes

The project aims to identify faecal contamination hotspots and source patterns in Coonong Creek and Gymea Bay Bath. Expected outcomes include:

1. A clearer understanding of rainfall-related contamination patterns.
2. Identification of priority monitoring locations within Coonong Creek.
3. Baseline flow and water quality information from low-cost sensor deployment.
4. Initial evidence on possible human wastewater or animal faecal contamination sources.
5. Recommendations for future monitoring and a possible Phase 2 investigation.
6. A technical summary, presentation or research report that may support future publications or stakeholder reporting.

Start date

2 November, 2026

End date

19 February, 2027

Location

QUT Gardens Point

Keywords

• Water quality monitoring
• Faecal contamination
• Low-cost sensors
• IoT monitoring

Contact

Luke Shi

0432832508

luke.shi@qut.edu.au