Surface Water Quality

By measuring both the physicochemical and biological characteristics of our waterways we can better understand and protect aquatic ecosystems. Water quality monitoring also ensures that the water supply is safe for human consumption. It can also be used to build up a picture of the health of particular rivers, and assist in planning at a catchment level.

In this topic

  • Water Quality Monitoring
    Monitoring surface water quality is undertaken to enable us to better understand and protect the aquatic ecosystem.
  • How Water Quality is Monitored
    A variety of meters and sampling techniques are used to monitor physico-chemical characteristics of water.
  • Water Quality Guidelines
    The Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council has developed guidelines for water quality for a range of Australian waters.
  • Water Parameters
    Parameters that are monitored to give an indication of surface water quality in Tasmania.
  • State of Rivers Reports
    State of Rivers Reports provide comprehensive information on the state of several Tasmanian catchments in terms of their water quality, hydrology and ecological health.

​State of Rivers Reports provide information on the quality, quantity and ecosystem health of Tasmanian waterways up until 2003. From 2004 to 2008 Waterways Monitoring Reports report on the data collected from Tasmania's rivers and streams as part of the Baseline Monitoring Network.