Water Quality

If not managed appropriately using Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD), urban development can lead to significant changes in a catchment’s natural hydrological cycle. For example, the poor water quality and increased quantity of catchment run off to receiving water bodies from land use activities and traditional conveyance stormwater management systems has severely degraded our waterways.

In this regard, the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water is the lead NSW Government agency responsible for developing environmental objectives for water quality and river flows, while providing a framework for councils to develop stormwater management objectives.

Receiving water health (eg ocean, estuaries, lakes, rivers, wetlands and streams etc.) within our commmunities was a significant driver for stormwater management reform in NSW during the 1990′s.  Within this new community driven paradigm emerged Water Sensitive Urban Design.  A decision support (planning and design) framework that promoted sustainable development that integrated the built, natural and social environments while managing the urban water cycle in an integrated manner.

To learn how you can use community values regarding receiving water health as a driver for the uptake of WSUD in your local government area, refer to the Community Planning page of this website.

Refer also to the following resources that can assist the development of best practice receiving water health policy, practices and initiatives.

Botany Bay Coastal Catchments Initiative Read More > The Botany Bay Coastal Catchments Initiative seeks to achieve long-term protection of the surface waters of Botany Bay, its estuaries and its catchment. Cooperative Research Centre for Water Quality and Treatment Read More > Water Quality Research Australia Limited (WQRA) is a national research centre established to succeed the Cooperative Research Centre for Water Quality and Treatment.  WQRA focuses on issues relating to water quality management and health risk reduction from catchment and reservoir management and water treatment to the distribution of drinking water to consumers taps. Greywater Technology Testing Protocol Report Read More > CSIRO’s Greywater Testing Protocol Report is a laboratory based, draft testing protocol that details recommended procedures, methods and analysis techniques.

NSW Diffuse Source Water Pollution Strategy Read More > Produced by the former NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change, the NSW Diffuse Source Water Pollution Strategy provides a framework for coordinating efforts in reducing diffuse source water pollution. Sydney Coastal Councils Group’s Water Quality Monitoring Program Toolkit Read More > The Sydney Coastal Councils’ Group’s (SCCG) Water Quality Monitoring Program Toolkit (launched in January 2010) promotes sustainable environmental management through an improved understanding of monitoring and good decision-making.  The site is a user oriented resource for the design and implementation of environmental monitoring programs. Australian Water Quality Guidelines Read More > Water Quality Research Australia’s website lists those Australian Water Quality Guideline documents that form components of the National Water Quality Management Strategy )NWQMS – the aim of which is to acheive sustainable use of the nation’s water resources by protecting and enhancing their quality while maintaining economic and social development. Guidelines listed include: Australian Drinking Water Guidelines; Australian Guidelines for Water Recycling (4 parts); Guidelines for Managing Risks in Recreational Water; Rainwater Quality; Bottled Water Standards.