Monitoring water quality
Monitoring water quality gives us a picture of catchment health and can assist with the maintenance and rehabilitation of our waterways and catchments.
Most Waterwatch projects focus on a particular area of a waterway, usually a spot that members are interested in or which is easily accessible. This approach ensures that local people can easily identify problems and implement solutions.
- Creating a Waterwatch action plan
- Waterwatch Australia national technical manual: module 2 - getting started: the team, monitoring plan and site
- Waterwatch code of practice
- Waterwatch safety guidelines
Waterwatch groups conduct biological and habitat assessments plus physical and chemical water tests to build up a picture of the health of their waterways and catchments. Over time, Waterwatch groups can determine if the health of their waterway and catchment are improving, declining or being maintained.
- Environmental action through community monitoring
- Environmental action through community monitoring: case studies
- Waterwatch Australia national technical manual: module 3 - biological monitoring
- Waterwatch Australia national technical manual: module 4 - physical and chemical parameters
- Waterways health check: rating your local waterway
Waterwatch groups collect data using nationally adopted protocols for nine parameters:
- macroinvertebrates (water bugs)
- dissolved oxygen
- temperature
- pH
- conductivity
- turbidity
- reactive phosphorus
- nitrogen
- riparian habitat assessment
The data is recorded using nationally agreed units and national site code systems and then entered into a standard national Waterwatch database. The data can then be pooled, analysed and interpreted for specific catchments or larger regions. This system enables reports to be produced for water management authorities to assist in natural resource management.
Some State/Territory Waterwatch groups have developed additional information about water monitoring and data collection.
- Queensland Waterwatch monitoring and data
- South Australian Waterwatch monitoring and data
- Tasmanian Waterwatch monitoring and data
- Victorian Waterwatch monitoring and data
- Western Australian Waterwatch monitoring and data
For more information about water monitoring contact your local Waterwatch facilitator or coordinator.