Melbournians have been given the all-clear to swim again in the city’s beaches after it was reported that heavy rains last Thursday sent large amounts of faecal pollution washing into Port Phillip Bay.

On Monday, Environmental Protection Victoria’s website rated 21 out of the 36 beaches it monitors around the bay as unsuitable for swimming.

The EPA’s spokesman Dr Anthony Boxshall told AAP today, all 36 bay beaches are suitable for swimming and are rated as either good or fair.

But he advised that people should still avoid swimming in discoloured water or near stormwater drains.

Dr Boxshall previously told ABC News 24 : “We have indicators we look for (in water tests), which is an indicator of faecal contamination, which is a really nice way of saying poo.

“It’s bird poo, it’s horse poo, it’s cow poo and it’s people poo,” he said.

“It is everything that washes in from the streets, and everything that comes out through the storm water system.”

– with other agencies