Queensland water quality guidelines
- Queensland Water Quality Guidelines 2009 (QWQG)
- Levels of ecosystem protection
- Definitions of aquatic ecosystem condition
- More information
Queensland Water Quality Guidelines 2009 (QWQG)
With Queensland continuing to be the fastest-growing state in Australia, protecting the quality of the state's waters in the face of such growth is a major priority for the Queensland Government.
The QWQG previously developed by the department are technical guidelines for the protection of aquatic ecosystems. They complement the National Water Quality Management Strategy (NWQMS) including the Australian water quality guidelines (AWQG) by delivering guidelines that include locally and regionally relevant water quality data for fresh, estuarine and marine waters.
The QWQG focus largely on aquatic ecosystem protection, initially across three geographic regions for which regional data is available:
- South-east;
- Central; and
- Wet tropics.
Other regions in Queensland for which the QWQG currently defaults to national guidelines are Eastern Cape York, Gulf Rivers, Lake Eyre and Murray Darling. The QWQG recommends that local guidelines be developed for these regions.
Download the Queensland Water Quality Guidelines 2009.
It is intended that future information on the state's waters will be incorporated into the Queensland water quality guidelines so that the document will be continually expanded and enhanced (e.g. for those Queensland regions where the QWQG currently defaults back to national guidelines).
Levels of ecosystem protection
The QWQG identifies four levels of ecosystem condition for which different levels of protection can be applied, namely:
- level 1 (high conservation/ecological value) systems;
- level 2 (slightly disturbed) systems; and
- level 3 (moderately disturbed) systems
- level 4 (highly disturbed) systems
This framework was used in projects to establish environmental values (EVs) and water quality objectives (WQOs) under the Environmental Protection (Water) Policy 2009.
The variations in ecological condition/value between the different levels of protection are summarised below.
Definitions of aquatic ecosystem condition
Levels of protection for waterways
The process used in establishing environmental values and water quality objectives is based on that recommended by the National Water Quality Management Strategy (2000). As part of this process, DERM is progressively identifying the level of protection for waters according to their ecological condition/value.
Level 1. High ecological value (HEV)
- maintain at current condition
The Australian water quality guidelines 2000 define high conservation/ecological value as "effectively unmodified or other highly valued systems, typically (but not always) occurring in national parks, conservation reserves, or in remote and/or inaccessible locations." (2000:3.1-10) DERM has identified a number of waterways that meet the criteria for high ecological value. Examples include Eastern Moreton Bay, Great Sandy Strait and waters within the Daintree National Park and Wet Tropics World Heritage areas. The intent for these areas is to protect their current condition (which typically has good water quality), biodiversity and habitat.
Level 2. Slightly to moderately disturbed
- attain, improve & sustainable use
These are waters that are effectively unmodified with slightly modified physio-chemical indicators.
Level 3. Moderately disturbed
- attain, improve & sustainable use
Most waters in Queensland fall within the moderately disturbed category, and water quality objectives have been set in recognition of this condition. The intent for these areas is to maintain or improve current condition, biodiversity and habitat.
Level 4. Highly disturbed
- improve water quality (over time)
The intent for these waters is to improve water quality over time towards the water quality objectives.
More information
For further information about the Queensland Water Quality Guidelines please send an email to eve@derm.qld.gov.au
View information on comparing water quality data to guidelines, and integrated water quality assessments and information about indicators, including how they are measured.
Last updated: 08 September 2009