Hydrodynamic and Water Quality Modelling in Sydney Harbour

Abstract

The Sydney Harbour waterway modelling suite examines the changes in water quality in the harbour estuary and its tributaries associated with stormwater runoff and wet weather sewage overflows from the upstream catchments, in Sydney Australia. This paper discusses the development and performance of the numerical models. The models have been used to investigate the spatial variability of catchment pollutant loads and the impacts of sewer overflows on the water quality in the Sydney Harbour estuary. The scenario modelling results demonstrate that sewer overflows have a minimal impact on the Sydney Harbour estuary water quality, with stormwater dominating most changes in water quality.