Water Quality guidelines (WQ Guidelines) are the desirable ranges
and maximum levels for particular parameters within a waterway that
are needed to sustain and protect the uses and values
(Environmental Values). The uses and values of water and waterways
include water for farm use (stock watering, irrigating, etc.),
mining and industrial use, boating, fishing, and swimming, for
enjoyment and visual appreciation, drinking, and ensuring healthy
waterways for fish and other aquatic organisms.
The WQ guidelines for aquatic ecosystems are being developed based
on sites with the best water quality in the Fitzroy. Data from
these “reference” sites is being collated and analysed
by the Department of Environment and Resource Management. This
analysis will determine the water quality guideline concentrations
for a set of physio-chemical parameters including pH, salinity,
turbidity, total suspended solids, sulphate and nutrients (nitrogen
and phosphorus).
Download
the latest WQ guidelines for aquatic ecosystems here.
The WQ guidelines for other (human) uses and values are largely
based on national guidelines e.g. the Australian and New Zealand
Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality.
View an
example of the WQ guidelines for human use environmental values.
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Reference site
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The WQ guidelines are used as trigger values that if exceeded would
indicate a potential environmental problem and
‘trigger’ an investigation into the cause of the
exceedance (e.g. by further monitoring, investigation, refinement
of guideline according to local conditions, etc.).
Current Water Quality data can be found on the following websites:
