NATIONAL WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT STRATEGY

AUSTRALIAN AND 4
NEW ZEALAND GUIDELINES
FOR FRESH AND MARINE
WATER QUALITY
2000

Australian and New Zealand Environment and

Conservation Council
Agriculture and Resource Management Council
of Australia and New Zealand
NATIONAL WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT STRATEGY

PAPER No. 4

Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for

Fresh and Marine Water Quality

Volume 1

The Guidelines

(Chapters 1–7)

October 2000

Australian and New Zealand Agriculture and Resource

Environment and Conservation Management Council of Australia
Council and New Zealand
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The contents of this document have been
Australian and New Zealand guidelines for fresh and compiled using a range of source materials and
marine water quality. Volume 1, The guidelines / while reasonable care has been taken in its
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(National water quality management strategy; no.4)

Printed in Australia on recycled paper for the
ISBN 09578245 0 5 (set) Australian and New Zealand Environment and
ISSN 1038 7072 Conservation Council and the Agriculture and
Resource Management Council of Australia
1. Water quality – Australia – Measurement. and New Zealand.
2. Water quality – New Zealand – Measurement.
3. Water – Pollution – Environmental aspects –
Australia. 4. Water – Pollution – Environmental
aspects – New Zealand. 5. Water quality
management – Australia. 6. Water quality
management – New Zealand. I. Australian and New
Zealand Environment and Conservation Council.
II. Agriculture and Resource Management Council of
Australia and New Zealand. III. Series

628.161’0994-dc21
Contents
Figures vii
Tables viii
Boxes xi
Case studies xi
Preamble xii
Acknowledgments xv

1 Introduction 1–1
1.1 Background 1–3
1.2 Guiding principles 1–5
1.3 Objectives 1–6

2 A framework for applying the guidelines 2–1

2.1 Water quality management framework 2–1
2.1.1 The broad strategy 2–1
2.1.2 Stakeholder involvement 2–4
2.1.3 Environmental values 2–6
2.1.4 Water quality guidelines 2–9
2.1.5 Water quality objectives 2–11
2.2 Application of the guidelines for water quality management 2–11
2.2.1 Philosophical approach to applying the guidelines 2–12
2.2.2 Mixing zones 2–17
2.2.3 Application of water quality prediction models 2–18
2.2.4 Deriving guidelines for compounds where no guidelines currently
exist 2–19

3 Aquatic ecosystems 3.1–1

3.1 Issues for all indicator types 3.1–1
3.1.1 Philosophy and steps to applying the guidelines 3.1–1
3.1.2 Features and classification of aquatic ecosystems in Australia and
New Zealand 3.1–7
3.1.3 Assigning a level of protection 3.1–9
3.1.4 Defining a reference condition 3.1–14
3.1.5 Decision frameworks for assessing test site data and deriving site-
specific water quality guidelines 3.1–17

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3.1.6 Using management goals to integrate water quality assessment 3.1–19

3.1.7 Decision criteria and trigger values 3.1–20
3.1.8 Guidelines for highly disturbed ecosystems 3.1–22
3.2 Biological assessment 3.2–1
3.2.1 Introduction and outline 3.2–1
3.2.2 Matching indicators to problems 3.2–6
3.2.3 Recommended experimental design and analysis procedures for
generic protocols 3.2–10
3.2.4 Guidelines for determining an unacceptable level of change 3.2–13
3.2.5 Assessing the success of remedial actions 3.2–20
3.3 Physical and chemical stressors 3.3–1
3.3.1 Introduction 3.3–1
3.3.2 Philosophy used in developing guidelines for physical and chemical
stressors 3.3–3
3.3.3 Guideline packages for applying the guideline trigger values to sites 3.3–21
3.4 Water quality guidelines for toxicants 3.4–1
3.4.1 Introduction 3.4–1
3.4.2 How guidelines are developed for toxicants 3.4–1
3.4.3 Applying guideline trigger values to sites 3.4–11
3.5 Sediment quality guidelines 3.5–1
3.5.1 Introduction 3.5–1
3.5.2 Underlying philosophy of sediment guidelines 3.5–1
3.5.3 Approach and methodology used in trigger value derivation 3.5–2
3.5.4 Recommended guideline values 3.5–3
3.5.5 Applying the sediment quality guidelines 3.5–5

4 Primary industries 4.1–1

4.1 Introduction 4.1–1
4.2 Water quality for irrigation and general water use 4.2–1
4.2.1 Philosophy 4.2–1
4.2.2 Scope 4.2–1
4.2.3 Biological parameters 4.2–2
4.2.4 Irrigation salinity and sodicity 4.2–4
4.2.5 Major ions of concern for irrigation water quality 4.2–9
4.2.6 Heavy metals and metalloids 4.2–11
4.2.7 Nitrogen and phosphorus 4.2–12

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4.2.8 Pesticides 4.2–13

4.2.9 Radiological quality of irrigation water 4.2–13
4.2.10 General water uses 4.2–15
4.3 Livestock drinking water quality 4.3–1
4.3.1 Derivation and use of guidelines 4.3–1
4.3.2 Biological parameters 4.3–1
4.3.3 Major ions of concern for livestock drinking water quality 4.3–2
4.3.4 Heavy metals and metalloids 4.3–4
4.3.5 Pesticides and other organic contaminants 4.3–5
4.3.6 Radiological quality of livestock drinking water 4.3–6
4.4 Aquaculture and human consumption of aquatic foods 4.4–1
4.4.1 Background 4.4–1
4.4.2 Philosophy 4.4–2
4.4.3 Scope 4.4–2
4.4.4 Water quality guidelines for the protection of cultured fish, molluscs
and crustaceans 4.4–3
4.4.5 Water quality guidelines for the protection of human consumers of
aquatic foods 4.4–12
4.4.6 Some precautionary comments 4.4–18
4.4.7 Priorities for research and development 4.4–19

5 Guidelines for recreational water quality and aesthetics 5–1

5.1 Guidelines for users in New Zealand 5–1
5.2 Guidelines for users in Australia 5–1
5.2.1 Introduction 5–2
5.2.2 Recreational categories 5–3
5.2.3 Detailed water quality guidelines 5–4

6 Drinking water 6–1

6.1 Guidelines for users in New Zealand 6–1
6.2 Guidelines for users in Australia 6–1
6.2.1 Microbiological quality of drinking water 6–1
6.2.2 Chemical and radiological quality of drinking water 6–2
6.2.3 Small water supplies 6–2
6.2.4 Individual household supplies 6–3
6.2.5 Guideline values 6–3

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7 Monitoring and assessment 7.1–1

7.1 Introduction 7.1–1
7.1.1 Integrated monitoring strategies 7.1–1
7.1.2 Framework for a monitoring and assessment program 7.1–4
7.2 Choosing a study design 7.2–1
7.2.1 Recommendations for combinations of indicators for aquatic
ecosystems 7.2–1
7.2.2 Broad classes of monitoring design 7.2–3
7.2.3 Checklist of issues in refining program design 7.2–5
7.2.4 Sampling protocols and documentation 7.2–18
7.2.5 Sample processing and analysis 7.2–18
7.2.6 Data analysis, evaluation and reporting 7.2–19
7.3 Specific issues for biological indicators 7.3–1
7.3.1 Issues for univariate indicators 7.3–1
7.3.2 Issues for multivariate indicators 7.3–1
7.3.3 Use of AUSRIVAS 7.3–3
7.4 Specific issues for physical and chemical indicators (including
toxicants) of water and sediment 7.4–1
7.4.1 Hydrology and representative sampling 7.4–2
7.4.2 Chemical speciation in water samples 7.4–2
7.4.3 Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC) 7.4–3
7.4.4 Comparing test data with guideline trigger values 7.4–3

References
Chapter 1 Introduction R1–1
Chapter 2 A framework for applying the guidelines R2–1
Chapter 3 Aquatic ecosystems R3–1
Section 3.1 Introduction R3.1–1
Section 3.2 Biological assessment R3.2–1
Section 3.3 Physical and chemical stressors R3.3–1
Section 3.4 Water quality guidelines for toxicants R3.4–1
Section 3.5 Sediment quality guidelines R3.5–1
Chapter 4 Primary industries R4–1
Sections 4.1 Introduction R4.1–1
Sections 4.2 & 4.3 Agricultural water uses (irrigation and general water
use; livestock drinking water quality) R4.2/3–1

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Section 4.4 Aquaculture and human consumers of aquatic foods R4.4–1

Chapter 5 Guidelines for recreational water quality and aesthetics R5–1
Chapter 6 Drinking water R6–1
Chapter 7 Monitoring and assessment R7–1

Appendices
Appendix 1 Acronyms and glossary of terms A–1
Appendix 2 The National Water Quality Management Strategy A–21
Appendix 3 Recent water quality documents of the NZ Ministry for the
Environment A–23
Appendix 4 Development of the revised guidelines A–25
Appendix 5 Basis of the proposed guidelines for recreational water
quality and aesthetics in Australia A–29

Index index 1

Figures
Figure 2.1.1 Management framework for applying the guidelines 2–2
Figure 3.1.1 Flow chart of the steps involved in applying the guidelines
for protection of aquatic ecosystems 3.1–4
Figure 3.1.2 Procedures for deriving and refining trigger values for
physical and chemical stressors and toxicants in water and
sediment 3.1–6
Figure 3.1.3 Classification of ecosystem type for each of the broad
categories of indicators 3.1–9
Figure 3.1.4 Graphical depiction of the relationship between indicator
response and strength of disturbance, and threshold for
management intervention 3.1–20
Figure 3.2.1 Decision tree for biological assessment of water quality 3.2–3
Figure 3.3.1 Decision tree framework (‘guideline packages’) for
assessing the physico-chemical stressors in ambient waters 3.3–2
Figure 3.3.2 Types of physical and chemical stressors 3.3–3
Figure 3.4.1 Simplified decision tree for assessing toxicants in ambient
waters 3.4–14
Figure 3.4.2 Decision tree for metal speciation guidelines 3.4–19
Figure 3.5.1 Decision tree for the assessment of contaminated
sediments 3.5–6
Figure 4.2.1 Flow diagram for evaluating salinity and sodicity impacts of
irrigation water quality 4.2–5

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Figure 4.2.2 Relationship between SAR and EC of irrigation water for

prediction of soil structural stability 4.2–9
Figure 4.4.1 Decision tree for determining water quality acceptable for
the protection of aquaculture species 4.4–6
Figure 7.1.1 Procedural framework for the monitoring and assessment
of water quality (the shaded area). 7.1–5
Figure 7.2.1 Flow chart depicting the broad categories of designs for
monitoring and assessment that apply in different contexts. 7.2–6
Figure 7.3.1 Schematic diagram of a river system with paired upstream
and downstream sites on each tributary. 7.3–2
Figure 7.4.1 Control chart showing physical and chemical data for test
and reference sites plotted against time and recommended actions 7.4–7
Figure 7.4.2 Control chart showing physical and chemical data for test
site plotted against default trigger value, time and recommended
actions 7.4–8
Figure A1 National Water Quality Management Strategy A–21

Tables
Table 3.1.1 Some features of Australian and New Zealand ecosystems
that have possible consequences for water quality assessment and
ecosystem protection 3.1–8
Table 3.1.2 Recommended levels of protection defined for each indicator
type 3.1–13
Table 3.2.1 Biological assessment objectives for different management
situations and the recommended methods and indicators 3.2–7
Table 3.2.2 Water quality issues and recommended biological indicators
for different ecosystem types 3.2–11
Table 3.2.3 Experimental design and analysis procedures to apply to
generic protocols 3.2–13
Table 3.2.4 Division of AUSRIVAS O/E indices into bands or categories
for reporting 3.2–16
Table 3.3.1 Summary of the condition indicators, performance indicators,
and location of default trigger value tables, for each issue 3.3–5
Table 3.3.2 Default trigger values for physical and chemical stressors for
south-east Australia for slightly disturbed ecosystems 3.3–10
Table 3.3.3 Ranges of default trigger values for conductivity, turbidity and
suspended particulate matter indicative of slightly disturbed
ecosystems in south-east Australia 3.3–11
Table 3.3.4 Default trigger values for physical and chemical stressors for
tropical Australia for slightly disturbed ecosystems 3.3–12

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Table 3.3.5 Ranges of default trigger values for conductivity, turbidity and
suspended particulate matter indicative of slightly disturbed
ecosystems in tropical Australia 3.3–13
Table 3.3.6 Default trigger values for physical and chemical stressors for
south-west Australia for slightly disturbed ecosystems 3.3–14
Table 3.3.7 Range of default trigger values for conductivity, turbidity and
suspended particulate matter indicative of slightly disturbed
ecosystems in south-west Australia 3.3–15
Table 3.3.8 Default trigger values for physical and chemical stressors for
south central Australia — low rainfall areas — for slightly disturbed
ecosystems 3.3–16
Table 3.3.9 Ranges of default trigger values for conductivity, turbidity and
suspended particulate matter indicative of slightly disturbed
ecosystems in south central Australia — low rainfall areas 3.3–16
Table 3.3.10 Default trigger values for physical and chemical stressors in
New Zealand for slightly disturbed ecosystems 3.3–17
Table 3.3.11 Default trigger values for water clarity and turbidity indicative
of unmodified or slightly disturbed ecosystems in New Zealand 3.3–18
Table 3.4.1 Trigger values for toxicants at alternative levels of protection 3.4–5
Table 3.4.2 General framework for applying levels of protection for
toxicants to different ecosystem conditions 3.4–11
Table 3.4.3 General form of the hardness-dependent algorithms
describing guideline values for selected metals in freshwaters 3.4–21
Table 3.4.4 Approximate factors to apply to soft water trigger values for
selected metals in freshwaters of varying water hardness 3.4–21
Table 3.5.1 Recommended sediment quality guidelines 3.5–4
Table 4.2.1 Key issues concerning irrigation water quality effects on soil,
plants and water resources 4.2–2
Table 4.2.2 Trigger values for thermotolerant coliforms in irrigation waters
used for food and non-food crops 4.2–3
Table 4.2.3 Soil type and average root zone leaching fraction 4.2–6
Table 4.2.4 Soil and water salinity criteria based on plant salt tolerance
groupings 4.2–7
Table 4.2.5 Tolerance of plants to salinity in irrigation water 4.2–8
Table 4.2.6 Chloride concentrations causing foliar injury in crops of
varying sensitivity 4.2–10
Table 4.2.7 Risks of increasing cadmium concentrations in crops due to
chloride in irrigation waters 4.2–10
Table 4.2.8 Sodium concentration causing foliar injury in crops of varying
sensitivity 4.2–10

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Table 4.2.9 Effect of sodium expressed as sodium adsorption ratio on

crop yield and quality under non-saline conditions 4.2–11
Table 4.2.10 Agricultural irrigation water long-term trigger value, short-
term trigger value and soil cumulative contaminant loading limit
triggers for heavy metals and metalloids 4.2–11
Table 4.2.11 Agricultural irrigation water long-term trigger value and
short-term trigger value guidelines for nitrogen and phosphorus 4.2–13
Table 4.2.12 Interim trigger value concentrations for a range of herbicides
registered in Australia for use in or near waters 4.2–14
Table 4.2.13 Trigger values for radiological contaminants for irrigation
water 4.2–15
Table 4.2.14 Corrosion potential of waters on metal surfaces as indicated
by pH, hardness, Langelier index, Ryznar index and the log of
chloride:carbonate ratio 4.2–15
Table 4.2.15 Fouling potential of waters as indicated by pH, hardness,
Langelier index, Ryznar index and the log of chloride:carbonate ratio 4.2–16
Table 4.3.1 Tolerances of livestock to total dissolved solids in drinking
water 4.3–4
Table 4.3.2 Recommended water quality trigger values for heavy metals
and metalloids in livestock drinking water 4.3–5
Table 4.3.3 Trigger values for radiological contaminants in livestock
drinking water 4.3–6
Table 4.4.1 Representative aquaculture species, occurrence and culture
status 4.4–4
Table 4.4.2 Physico-chemical stressor guidelines for the protection of
aquaculture species 4.4–7
Table 4.4.3 Toxicant guidelines for the protection of aquaculture species 4.4–8
Table 4.4.4 Guidelines for the protection of human consumers of fish and
other aquatic organisms from bacterial infection 4.4–14
Table 4.4.5 Guidelines for chemical compounds in water found to cause
tainting of fish flesh and other aquatic organisms 4.4–16
Table 5.2.1 Water quality characteristics relevant to recreational use 5–2
Table 5.2.2 Summary of water quality guidelines for recreational waters 5–3
Table 5.2.3 Summary of water quality guidelines for recreational
purposes: general chemicals 5–9
Table 5.2.4 Summary of water quality guidelines for recreational
purposes: pesticides 5–10
Table 7.2.1 Broad categories of design relevant to the Guidelines listed
together with the assessment objectives that could be fulfilled by
each category 7.2–7

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Table 7.4.1 Checklist for sampling and analysis of physical and chemical
indicators with cross-reference to details provided in the Monitoring
Guidelines 7.4–1

Boxes
Box 1.1 Water quality guidelines may be used to trigger action 1–2
Box 1.2 Application of the guidelines to groundwater 1–2
Box 2.1 Examples of stakeholder involvement in Australia and New
Zealand 2–5
Box 2.2 Cultural importance of water 2–7
Box 2.3 An alternative approach to statistical decision making 2–14
Box 2.4 Mixing zones adjacent to effluent outfalls 2–17
Box 3.1.1 Human activities affecting aquatic ecosystems 3.1–2
Box 3.1.2 Protecting biodiversity 3.1–3
Box 3.1.3 How to apply the guidelines 3.1–3
Box 3.1.4 Examples of water quality assessment programs conducted
in major urban regions of Australia 3.1–24
Box 3.2.1 A cautionary note on the use of the AUSRIVAS RBA
approach for site-specific assessments 3.2–9
Box 3.3.1. Sources of information for use when deriving low-risk trigger
values 3.3–6
Box 7.1.1 Enhancing inferences and defraying costs in environmental
monitoring programs 7.1–3
Box 7.2.1 Issues for restoration and rehabilitation 7.2–10
Box 7.2.2 Hypothesis testing in environmental monitoring and
assessment 7.2–12
Box 7.2.3 Application of ‘bioequivalence testing’ for environmental
restoration 7.2–13
Box 7.2.4 Effect sizes are implicit in some procedures 7.2–15
Box 7.2.5 Some suggestions for setting an effect size 7.2–16

Case studies
Case Study 1. Assessing the risk of cyanobacterial blooms in a lowland
river 3.3–28
Case Study 2. Establishing sustainable organic matter loads for
standing waterbodies 3.3–29

Version — October 2000 page xi

Preamble
The Australian National Water Quality Management Strategy (NWQMS) aims to
achieve the sustainable use of Australia’s and New Zealand’s water resources by
protecting and enhancing their quality while maintaining economic and social
development. The NWQMS is a joint strategy developed by two Ministerial
Councils — the Agriculture and Resources Management Council of Australia and
New Zealand (ARMCANZ) and the Australian and New Zealand Environment and
Conservation Council (ANZECC). The Australian National Health and Medical
Research Council (NHMRC) is involved in aspects of the strategy that affect public
health. The NWQMS aims to meet future needs by providing policies, a process
and national guidelines for water quality management.
Further information on the National Water Quality Management Strategy is
provided in Appendix 2.
The Australian Water Quality Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Waters (ANZECC
1992) was one of a suite of 21 documents forming the NWQMS and was released
in 1992 as one of the first guideline documents. In 1993 the ANZECC Standing
Committee on Environmental Protection (SCEP) agreed to review the water quality
guidelines to incorporate current scientific, international and national information
in a clear and understandable document.
Since the ANZECC Guidelines were published in 1992 there have been a number
of important advances. First, there have been some major policy initiatives at
federal and state level that, combined with the National Water Quality
Management Strategy, have increased the focus of attention on ecologically
sustainable management of water resources in Australia and New Zealand (e.g.
Council of Australian Governments (COAG) reform framework, State of the
Environment reporting, and modification and implementation of the NZ Resource
Management Act). Second, there is a pleasing trend towards a more holistic
approach to the management of aquatic systems. Third, as initially recommended
in the 1992 ANZECC Guidelines, there has been an increased use of biological
indicators to assess and monitor the ‘health’ of aquatic ecosystems. Finally, a
number of major environmental studies (e.g. the Port Phillip Bay Study in Victoria,
the Southern Metropolitan Coastal Waters Study in Western Australia) have led to
significant advances in knowledge about estuarine and coastal ecosystems.
The scope of this revised version, the Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for
Fresh and Marine Water Quality, has also been extended to include a consideration
of both Australia’s and New Zealand’s water resources. The review program is
outlined in Appendix 4.
The Guidelines have been revised using data, relevant literature, and other
information available to at least 1996, specifically:
• Databases used to derive guideline values for toxicants and sediments
(Chapter 3) and aquaculture and human consumers of aquatic foods
(Chapter 4) have been updated to include information available to late 1996,
while default guidelines for physical and chemical stressors (Chapter 3) have
been derived from databases current to early 2000.
• The guidelines for biological indicators (Chapter 3), advice for monitoring and
assessment (Chapter 7) and support text for physical and chemical stressors

page xii Version — October 2000

Preamble

(Chapter 3) have been revised to include information available to late 1998.

However, all support text for aquatic ecosystems (Chapters 3 and 8) and
aquaculture and human consumers of aquatic foods (Chapters 4 and 9) capture
important developments and key references available to early 2000.
• The guidelines for agricultural water uses (irrigation and general water use and
livestock drinking water, Chapters 4 and 9) have been revised to include
information available to early 2000.
• The guidelines for recreational water quality and aesthetics (Chapter 5) are still
in revision in Australia, while New Zealand readers are referred to the relevant
1999 guidelines. For guidelines for drinking water (Chapter 6), Australian and
New Zealand readers are referred to the relevant 1996 and 1995 guidelines
respectively.

To be continuously relevant to its users, the Australian and New Zealand

Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality, like other NWQMS benchmark
documents, will require ongoing review and revision. The present version was
current up to October 2000. Users are invited to comment on the Australian and
New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality by contacting the
offices listed on the next page. These addresses can also receive comments on the
Australian Guidelines for Water Quality Monitoring and Reporting, so users
should name the document to which their comments apply.

Version — October 2000 page xiii

Contacts for comments and information
For information and advice about the Water Quality Guidelines and to advise of possible errors, omissions and
changes required for future revisions, please contact the designated agency for your state or territory in
Australia or for New Zealand. The agency contacts are listed below.

Australian Capital Territory Tasmania

Bob Neil Director of Environmental Management
Environment ACT Environmental Planning and Scientific Services
PO Box 144, Lyneham, ACT 2602 Scientific and Technical Branch, Water Section
Tel: (02) 6207 2581 Fax: (02) 6207 6084 Department of Primary Industries, Water and
e-mail: [Link]@[Link] Environment
GPO Box 44A, Hobart, TAS 7001
New South Wales Tel: (03) 6233 6518 Fax: (03) 6233 3800
Pollution Line e-mail: waterinfo@[Link]
NSW Environment Protection Authority
PO Box A290, Sydney South NSW 1232 Victoria
Tel: 131 555 Fax: (02) 9995 5911 Lisa Dixon
e-mail: info@[Link] Manager Freshwater Sciences
Environment Protection Authority
Northern Territory GPO Box 4395QQ, Melbourne VIC 3001
Director Resource Management Tel: (03) 9616 2361 Fax: (03) 9614 3575
Natural Resources Division e-mail: [Link]@[Link]
Department of Lands Planning & Environment
PO Box 30, Palmerston NT 0831 Western Australia
Tel: (08) 8999 4455 Fax: (08) 8999 4403 Victor Talbot
e-mail: [Link]@[Link] Department of Environmental Protection
PO Box K822, Perth WA 6842
Queensland Tel: (08) 9222 8655 Fax: (08) 9322 1598
All enquiries for Chapter 4 (volume 1) and Volume e-mail: victor_talbot@[Link]
3 should be addressed to:
Heather Hunter
NEW ZEALAND
Department of Natural Resources
Block B 80 Meiers Road Nigel Bradly
Indooroopilly, QLD 4068 Land and Water Group
Tel: (07) 3896 9637 Fax: (07) 3896 9591 Ministry for the Environment
e-mail: [Link]@[Link] PO Box 10362
Wellington NEW ZEALAND
All other enquiries to: Tel: NZ (04) 917 7489 Fax: NZ (04) 917 7523
Andrew Moss Mobile: NZ 025 379 391
Environmental Protection Agency e-mail: [Link]@[Link]
PO Box 155
Brisbane Albert Street, QLD 4002
Tel: (07) 3896 9245 Fax: (07) 3896 9232
e-mail: [Link]@[Link]
South Australia
Manager
Evaluation Branch
South Australian Environment Protection Agency
GPO Box 2607, Adelaide SA 5001
Tel: (08) 8204 2055 Fax: (08) 8204-2107
e-mail: [Link]@[Link]

page xiv Version – October 2000

Acknowledgments
The revision of the Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine
Water Quality with its extended scope was a challenging and difficult task given
the complexity of the issues and the many advances made recently in water
resource management worldwide. The task could not have been possible without
the substantial assistance received from a large number of people and organisations
across Australia and New Zealand over the last four years.
Both the Project Committee and ANZECC and ARMCANZ Contact Group and its
working parties (Appendix 4) co-ordinated input from all the relevant government
jurisdictions, water quality experts, industry and conservation groups, and kept the
revision on track.
ANZECC and ARMCANZ would like to acknowledge the efforts of the following
organisations which coordinated the drafting of key chapters or sections of the
Guidelines:
• eriss
Overall coordination, Chapters 1 & 2, biological assessment for ecosystem
protection and monitoring and assessment;
• CRC for Freshwater Ecology
Physical and chemical stressors for ecosystem protection;
• NSW EPA
Toxicants for ecosystem protection;
• NIWA (NZ)
Metal data for toxicants;
• CSIRO Energy Technology
Sediment quality for ecosystem protection;
• QLD Dept Natural Resources
Primary Industries, Agriculture: irrigation, livestock & general water use;
• CSIRO Land and Water
Primary Industries, Agriculture: irrigation;
• PSM Group P/L and Dosaqua
Primary Industries, Aquaculture and harvesting of aquatic foods;
• NH&MRC
Recreation and aesthetics and drinking water.
A large number of individuals contributed to the review, some on an unpaid basis,
and by way of each of the disciplines and sections we would like to give particular
thanks to: Introduction, philosophical approach and general coordination: Kevin
McAlpine and Chris Humphrey; Aquatic ecosystems: Biological assessment — Chris
Humphrey, Leon Barmuta, Peter Davies (UTas), Jenny Davis, Bruce Mapstone,
Kerry Trayler, Trevor Ward and Barry Biggs, and for additional specific protocols
or regional information, James Boyden, Peter Davies (UWA), Terry Hume, Ross
Jeffree, Chris Madden, Rob Murdoch, Mika Peck, Bob Pidgeon, Abbie Spiers and
Rick van Dam; Physical and chemical stressors — Barry Hart, Ian Lawrence, Bill
Maher, Mark O’Donohue, Wendy van Dok and David Buckley; Toxicants — John
Chapman, Michael Warne, Scott Markich, Rick van Dam, Meenatchi Sunderam,
Fleur Pablo, Rebecca Rose, Graeme Batley, Simon Apte, Jenny Stauber, Paul
Brown and Chris Hickey; Sediment quality — Graeme Batley, Bill Maher and Chris
Hickey; Primary industries, aquaculture and harvesting of aquatic foods: Dos
O’Sullivan, Eva-Maria Bernoth, Susan Duda, Peter Montague, Barry Munday, Paul
Martin, Barbara Nowak, John Purser and Rick van Dam; Primary industries,

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Acknowledgments

agriculture: Irrigation (salinity, sodicity, major ions, biological parameters and pesticides),
livestock and general water use — Heather Hunter, Rob DeHayr, Nicole Diatloff, Ian
Gordon and Roger Shaw; Irrigation (metals, metalloids, nitrogen and phosphorus) —
Steve Rogers, Mike McLaughlin and Daryl Stevens; Recreation and aesthetics:
Richard Lugg and Phil Callan; Drinking water: Richard Lugg and Phil Callan;
Monitoring and assessment: Leon Barmuta, Chris le Gras, David Fox, Bruce
Mapstone, Chris Humphrey, Peter Davies (UTas), Bill Maher, Graham Skyring and
Trevor Ward.
The basis of the risk-based approach used for applying the guidelines to aquatic
ecosystem protection was developed at a workshop attended by Barry Hart, Ian
Lawrence, Bill Maher, Wendy van Dok, Graeme Batley, Peter Cullen, Chris Bell,
Bill Dennison, Graham Harris, Graeme McBride, John Parslow and Eric Pyle, with
later input from Kevin McAlpine, Chris Humphrey and John Chapman. Additional
contributions to the Guidelines arose from the following agencies — MfE (NZ),
NIWA (NZ), Australian Radiation Laboratory, and QDPI. We also wish to thank
Ann Webb, Professor Arthur McComb and Ann Milligan for editing of the
documents and Paul Bainton, Peter Breen, Mike Burch, Stephanie Butcher, Bruce
Chessman, Geoff Coade, Malcolm Cooper, Carolyn Davies, Jim Fitzgerald, Terry
Hume, Gary Jones, Peter Liston, Ray Masini, Keith McGuinness, Robert
McLaughlan Rob Murdoch, Jon Nevill, Eric Pyle, Tim Riding, Jane Roberts, Liz
Rogers, Alan Thomas, Rod Thomas, Michael Tyler, Bob Zuur and Robin Wilson
for minor contributions and useful comments made upon early guidelines drafts.
During the public consultation phase held over July–October 1999, 96 submissions
were received from individuals and agencies from across Australia and New
Zealand. The comments received in these submissions were used as the basis for
the final drafting conducted in early 2000 and these resulted in substantial
improvements to the Guidelines. There are also many other organisations and
individuals who contributed to the review and, although they are too numerous to
list here, we would like to thank them all.
Finally, a special thanks to eriss who co-funded the review and whose staff co-
ordinated technical aspects of the revision and provided logistical support.

Photography on ring-binder cover of the Guidelines (from top left)

Child drinking, Ministry for the Environment, New Zealand;
Logan River (Qld), Qld EPA;
Maori war boat, Photosource New Zealand Limited Image Library;
Hereford, Qld EPA;
Irrigation channels, Bruce Cooper, NSW DLWC;
Water quality monitoring, Bruce Cooper;
Bondi Beach (NSW), Brian Robson;
Rakaia River, South Island, New Zealand, Clint McCullough, eriss;
Aquaculture, Qld EPA;
Beenleigh Rum distillery (Qld), Qld EPA;
Aboriginal cultural ceremony on upper Katherine River (NT), Diane Lucas:
‘Because our great grandmothers and grandfathers been here before, their spirits are still here.
Now the spirits smell your sweat and it goes down to the deep water and makes it alright for you
to be here, without any harm’ — Margaret Oenpelli & Penny Long, Barunga, NT. The
washing of people by spraying water on their head is an Arnhem Land ceremony for
newcomers to country to keep away bad health for people and water.

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