Water quality
Volunteers water monitoring
The focus on our water resources is often on the volume of water available for particular purposes. However, water quality determines the suitability of water for a particular purpose.
Australia is currently facing critical water supply and water quality problems. These problems are expected to become worse over the coming decades due to drought, pollution, over-extraction and climate change.
Managing water quality requires a catchment-based approach as land uses have a major effect on the quality of water resources.
A concerted effort by land managers, industry, catchment groups, the community, environmental groups and Australian, state/territory and local governments is required to protect the quality of our water resources.
The Australian Government is taking a lead role in water quality management through initiatives such as:
- National Water Initiative
- National Water Quality Management Strategy
- National guidelines for water recycling
- National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality
- Water quality targets online
- Aquatic ecosystems
- Water quality improvement plans (Coastal Catchments Initiative)
- Reef Water Quality Protection Plan
- River health
- Wetlands
- Natural resource management
- Tasmanian River Catchment Water Quality Initiative
See also
Key
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