Hi Raj
This is in response to your post where you have asked to provide an example of how a local quality
guidelines are used.
The department of environment and conservation of NSW have released a publication titled marine
water quality objectives for NSW ocean waters for the Sydney Metropolitan and HawkesburyNepean.
As a result of significant growth development along the coastal areas of the Sydney region, it is
inevitable that pressure on ocean waters will intensify.
The main objective of the publication is to simplify and streamline considerations on water quality in
coastal planning and management by recognising the areas of concern in particular urbanised areas
where storm water, sewage outfalls or pollution in the form of pathogens and nutrients have the
possibility to effect the quality of water.
The Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for fresh and Marine Water Quality (ANZECC &
ARMCANZ) 2000 was used as the basis for setting the Marine Water Quality objectives for the
Sydney Metropolitan and Hawkesbury- Nepean region.
5 different marine water quality objectives have been developed to asses environmental values
and uses that the community places on NSW oceans and include the following
1) Aquatic ecosystem health
2) Primary contact recreation
3) Secondary contact recreation
4) Visual amenity
5) Aquatic foods
For the purpose of this discussion only one example of each of 5 objectives will be mentioned. It
is also important to mention that objective 1,2,3 and 5 deal mainly with the chemical or biological
qualities of water whereas objective 4 deals mainly with aesthetics pertaining to water.
Aquatic ecosystem health
The aim of objective 1 is to maintain or improve ecological condition of ocean waters. Biological
investigations include analysing the frequency of algal blooms the determine whether there is any
change from natural conditions or could involve investigations of toxicants in coastal waters (i.e
copper < 1.3ug/l)
Primary contact recreation
The aim of objective 2 is to maintain or improve ocean water quality so that it is suitable for
activities such as swimming and other direct water contact sports. Biological investigation can
include that of Enterococci where the Median over bathing season of less than 35
enterococci/100 mL
Secondary contact recreation
The main aim of objective 3 is to maintain or improve ocean water quality so it is suitable for
activities such as boating and fishing where there is less bodily contact with the waters. Biological
investigation can include that of Faecal coliforms where the Median bacterial content in marine
waters of < 1000 faecal coliforms/ 100ml
Visual amenity
The main aim of objective 4 is to maintain or improve ocean water quality so that it looks clean
and is free of surface films and debris. This may include investigation of surface films and debris
where there shouldn't be any noticeable films such as oil or similarly investigation of nuisance
organisms such as blue-green algae that should not be present in unsightly amounts.
Aquatic foods
The main aim of objective 5 is to maintain or improve ocean water quality for the production of
aquatic foods for human consumption (whether derived from aquaculture or recreational,
commercial or indigenous fishing).
Biological investigation of toxicants such as metals where Copper < 5 ug/L or Physico- chemical
investigation of Suspended solids which must be < 5 ug/L.
These water quality objectives can be used as a fundamental tool to monitor water quality and
also supports decision making which may ultimately affect the coastal marine water quality of the
Hawkesbury- Nepean region.
Hi Raj
This is in response to your post where you have asked to provide an example of how a loc
al quality guidelines are used.
The department of environment and conservation of NSW have released a publication titl
ed
'Marine water quality objectives for NSW ocean waters for the Sydney Metropolitan and
Hawkesbury- Nepean'.
As a result of significant growth development along the coastal areas of the Sydney regio
n, it is inevitable that pressure on ocean waters will intensify. The main objective of the p
ublication is to simplify and streamline considerations on water quality in coastal plannin
g and management by recognising the areas of concern in particular urbanised areas wher
e storm water, sewage outfalls or pollution in the form of pathogens and nutrients have th
e possibility to effect the quality of water.
The Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for fresh and Marine Water Quality (ANZE
CC & ARMCANZ) 2000 was used as the basis for setting the Marine Water Quality obje
ctives for the Sydney Metropolitan and Hawkesbury- Nepean region.
5 different marine water quality objectives have been developed to asses environmental v
alues and uses that the community places on NSW oceans and include the following
1) Aquatic ecosystem health
2) Primary contact recreation
3) Secondary contact recreation
4) Visual amenity
5) Aquatic foods
For the purpose of this discussion only limited examples
each of 5 objectives will be mentioned. It is also important to mention that objective 1,2,3
and 5 deal mainly with the chemical or biological qualities of water whereas objective 4 d
eals mainly with aesthetics pertaining to water.
Aquatic ecosystem health
The aim of objective 1 is to maintain or improve ecological condition of ocean waters. Bi
ological investigations include analysing the frequency of algal blooms the determine wh
ether there is any change from natural conditions or could involve investigations of toxica
nts in coastal waters (i.e copper < 1.3ug/l)
Primary contact recreation
The aim of objective 2 is to maintain or improve ocean water quality so that it is suitable
for activities such as swimming and other direct water contact sports. Biological investiga
tion can include that of Enterococci where the 'Median over bathing season of less than 3
5 enterococci/100 mL'
Secondary contact recreation
The main aim of objective 3 is to maintain or improve ocean water quality so it is suitable
for activities such as boating and fishing where there is less bodily contact with the water
s. Biological investigation can include that of Faecal coliforms where the 'Median bacteri
al content in marine waters of < 1000 faecal coliforms/ 100ml'
Visual amenity
The main aim of objective 4 is to maintain or improve ocean water quality so that it looks
clean and is free of surface films and debris. This may include investigation of surface fil
ms and debris where there shouldn't be any noticeable films such as oil or similarly invest
igation of nuisance organisms such as blue-green algae that should not be present in unsig
htly amounts.
Aquatic foods
The main aim of objective 5 is to maintain or improve ocean water quality for the product
ion of aquatic foods for human consumption (whether derived from aquaculture or recreat
ional, commercial or indigenous fishing).
Biological investigation of toxicants such as metals where Copper <5 ug/L or Physico- ch
emical investigation of Suspended solids which must be < 5 ug/L.
These water quality objectives can be used as a fundamental tool to monitor water quality
and also supports decision making which may ultimately affect the coastal marine water q
uality of the Hawkesbury- Nepean region.