"I think the program is vital, it has credibility," Cr Bockholt said.

The Beachwatch program currently samples water to monitor the amount of faecal coliforms and enterococci in recreational swimming areas, to see if they are safe places to swim. Faecal coliforms and enterococci are indicators for faecal contamination. In most cases, faecal contamination comes from sewage. The central coast currently has an efficient secondary sewage system.

The Beachwatch program provides daily assessments of pollution levels at major swimming areas.

Umina and Pearl Beach would be part of the local program.

However, not only sewage but also stormwater run off is a threat to water quality says Environment Minister Pam Allen.

Councillor Lynne Bockholt agrees.

‘Currently, no environmental beach monitoring is done," said Councillor Bockholt.

"There are no figures at all, we assume the beaches are clean, but who knows?"

"I would like to have figures to re-assure the residents our beaches are safe to use," she said.

The community can help to minimise faecal coliform in waterways by preventing septic tank overflows, pet animal faeces and fresh animal manures on gardens from entering the waterways.

The Beachwatch program currently tests all Sydney, Hunter and Illawarra beaches. So far only three Sydney beaches do not meet all of the criteria of a clean beach.

The council says the cost of the local program would be about $50 000 per year. Council said our beaches would be likely to pass all the tests.

The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) runs the Beachwatch program. They believe faecal coliforms and enterococci are a reliable indicator of water contamination. However, they concede there is "considerable debate in the scientific community on the usefulness of faecal coliforms as an indicator of public health risk."

Gosford Council has approached the Beachwatch Program and is devising a co-ordinated water sampling regime between Beachwatch, Council’s health Program and Dr Ken Zimmerman, a marine scientist at Newcastle University’s Ourimbah Campus.

At least five times a month water samples are collected. The samples are taken from the most used swimming areas, such as between flags.

The laboratory takes up to 48 hours to analyse the samples. The most recent results are not included in that day’s bulletin. However, the EPA says it is finding long term trends.

The program started in 1989.