Australia-China Environment Development Partnership

River Health and Environmental Flows:National Water Quality Management Strategy

Presentation by Bruce GrayWater Quality Section

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to achievesustainable use of the nation’s water resources byprotecting and enhancing their quality while maintainingeconomic and social development

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River Murray, Barmah, Vic on 08 Apr 09 © NSW DWE

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Outline of the Policies Policies andPrinciples

Implementation Guidelines 1998

Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh andMarine Water Quality 2000

Guidelines for Managing Risks in Recreational Water

Australian Drinking Water Guidelines 2004

Australian Guidelines for Water Quality Monitoringand Reporting 2000

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Guidelines for Groundwater Protection inAustralia 1995

Managing Health and Environmental Risks2006Augmentation of Drinking Water Supply 2008

Managed Aquifer Recharge 2009

Stormwater Harvesting and Reuse 2009

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Identify the environmental values that are to beprotected in a particular water body and thespatial designation of the environmental values(i.e. decide what values will apply where).

Identify management goals and then select therelevant water quality guidelines for measuringperformance. Based on these guidelines, setwater quality objectives that must be met tomaintain the environmental values.

Develop statistical performance criteria toevaluate the results of the monitoring programs(e.g. statistical decision criteria for determiningwhether the water quality objectives have beenexceeded or not).

Develop tactical monitoring programs focusing onthe water quality objectives.

Initiate appropriate management responses toattain (or maintain if already achieved) the waterquality objectives.

Define

PRIMARY MANAGEMENT AIMS

(including environmental values, management goals

and level of protection)

Define

WATER QUALITY OBJECTIVES

(specific water quality to be achieved)

• taking account of social, cultural, political and economic concerns wherenecessary

Establish

MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT PROGRAM

(focused on water quality objectives)

• after defining acceptable performance or decision criteria

Initiate appropriateMANAGEMENT RESPONSE

(based on attaining or maintaining water quality objectives)

Determine appropriate

WATER QUALITY GUIDELINES

(tailored to local environmental conditions)

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Lake Burley Griffin, Canberra, ACT on 06 May 09 © Bruce Gray

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environmental valueswater quality objectives

environmental flow objectives

catchment based managementactions

predictive models ambientmonitoring

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