What are Water Quality Objectives?
Water Quality Objectives are specific ‘targets’ that protect the agreed
Protected Environmental Values for inland, estuarine, coastal and marine waters and also groundwater.
The overarching principles and objectives for water quality management in Tasmania are provided in the
State Policy on Water Quality Management 1997. It provides the management framework for the protection of water quality in Tasmania and the development of Protected Environmental Values,
ambient Water Quality Guidelines and Water Quality Objectives.
The Water Quality Objectives are the most conservative of the Water Quality Guidelines which allow for the Protected Environmental Values to be maintained and protected.
Who sets Water Quality Objectives?
Under the State Policy on Water Quality Management 1997, the EPA Board sets the Water Quality Objectives.
What is the process?
The State Policy on Water Quality Management 1997 (the Policy) sets out how Water Quality Objectives should be set and follows the methodology described under the
National Water Quality Management Strategy (1992).
The process involves establishing Water Quality Guidelines which are numerical values or descriptions of water quality indicators that allow a particular Protected Environmental Value to be maintained and protected. Water Quality Guidelines can be set using national values, regional values or on the basis of site-specific data.
Having determined the Water Quality Guidelines appropriate for the agreed Protected Environmental Values, the Water Quality Objective is derived from the most conservative of the appropriate guideline values.
A commonly identified Protected Environmental Value for which suitable water guideline values are not available within Tasmania is that for the Protection of Aquatic ecosystems.
Water Quality Guidelines for Aquatic Ecosystems
The development of guideline values for aquatic ecosystems has been undertaken in accordance with the National Water Quality Management Strategy (NWQMS).
Water Quality Guidelines for Aquatic Ecosystems have been derived for the following waters:
- Inland surface waters
- Estuarine waters
- Coastal and Marine Waters
- Groundwater
See - Water Quality Guideline Values for Aquatic Ecosystems of Tasmania
Further information and additional guidance documents
Supporting Jurisdictional Documentation
Technical Guidance for Water Quality Objectives (WQOs) Setting for Tasmania
(537Kb)
Supporting National Documentation
The following links provide up to date information and documentation relating to water quality guidelines as prepared as part of Australia's National Water Quality Management Strategy (NWQMS) and additional key guideline sources
Water Quality Management Framework
Toxicant DGVs in freshwater and marine water
Water quality for primary industries
Australian guidelines for water recycling
Australian Drinking Water guidelines
Guidelines for Managing Risks in Recreational water
Cultural and spiritual values of waterways
Food Standards