* Identify the Environmental Values (EVs) - Environmental values are the beneficial uses of water (eg drinking water,
irrigation, recreation) and the ecological values that are important and require protection from the effects of pollution,
waste discharges, deposits and degradation of the catchment and its waterbodies. They are the expression of the
community's desires and needs in relation to the value or use of a section of waterway or an area of a waterbody.
The values recognised by the water quality guidelines are:
=> Protection of aquatic ecosystems -- with six types specified (upland rivers, lowland rivers, lakes and reservoirs,
wetlands, estuaries, marine) + sediments;
=> Primary industries -- including irrigation and general water use, stock drinking water, aquatic and human
consumption of aquatic foods;
=> Recreation and aesthetics;
=> Drinking water.
Note: Industrial and cultural/spiritual are not currently included in the guidelines
* Specify the Environmental Values for all Receiving Waters and their sections. - The EVs need to be specified for all
receiving waters and their various sections throughout the catchment, and for the ecosystem types. Several environmental
values may be designated for a specific waterbody. It is assumed that meeting the needs for the most stringent
environmental value will satisfy the requirement for other values specified.
* Embrace Management Goals - A management goal is a statement of long term intent for achievement and maintenance of
key water quality guidelines and water quality management objectives. For example maintaining the salinity of the Murray
River at levels suitable for South Australians to drink.
* Set levels of Protection - It is recognised that the current condition of waterbodies varies. Also various waterbody
sections have different values in terms of their ecosystems and the species they support.
Three ecosystem conditions categories are recognised :
=> High Conservation/ Ecological value (Condition 1 Ecosystems)
=> Slightly-moderately Disturbed Ecosystems (Condition 2 Ecosystems)
=> Highly Disturbed Ecosystems - (Condition 3 Ecosystems)
Separate guideline trigger values, procedures and protocols are provided for different levels of protection of ecosystems.
* Understand the notion of 'Level of Acceptable Change' - The key to understanding how to understand and apply the water
quality guidelines and to run a monitoring program lies in the notion of an 'acceptable level of change'.
The guidelines/trigger values themselves are the recommended limits to acceptable change in water quality that will
continue to protect associated environmental values. Their exceedence should trigger a management response because
unacceptable changes are likely. Not all waterbodies can be maintained in pristine condition suitable for high
conservation, indeed most have been degraded to some extent.
Deciding on a level of protection is a decision about how much change is acceptable (e.g. in terms of species to be
maintained - 90%? 80%?). Inherent in the process for devising the guideline values are decisions concerning the level
of acceptable change in the context of natural variation.
A monitoring team must decide whether the level of acceptable change above the guideline value threshold, has been
exceeded and by how much.
* Select indicators appropriate for suite of EVs and designated uses in the receiving waters
* Look up Guideline ('trigger') values and choose the one that is the most stringent for the suite of EVs
* Apply the Decision Tree Framework for the selected indicator and EVs
=> Consider tailoring guidelines to local environmental conditions considering bioavailability, speciation, etc.,
and the ameliorating effects of local conditions.
=> Consider developing local site-specific guidelines using direct toxicity assessments, laboratory biological effects tests
and existing monitoring data.
=> Develop a suite of indicators including biological indicators, and methods
NOTE: The default position is to adopt the published Guidelines ('Trigger') Values
* Water quality objectives are based on the final suite of water quality guidelines as modified above.
* They are a numerical concentration levels or descriptive statements used by managers as the indicators, or measures, to
report on progress or outcomes in meeting agreed management goals.
* Water quality objectives or targets are agreed between stakeholders, or set by local authorities.
* Although objectives are normally based on water quality Guidelines, a water quality objective may be modified by other
inputs such as social, cultural, economic or political considerations and this will involve considering costs
and benefits.
* Interim or Staged Targets may be set in terms of time, or at various points throughout a drainage network in a catchment.
* Separate targets may need to be established for various ecosystem types and as the EVs and water uses change, because
the guidelines and targets will need to reflect these changes. (e.g. from wetland to river to estuary to the sea or from
drinking water to irrigation to livestock drinking water).
* The monitoring and assessement is focused on the water quality objectives and is designed to quickly respond when the
trigger values for the objectives are deemed to have been exceeded.
* The monitoring program and the sampling design and frequency should be appropriate for the level of protection, and the
value of the ecosystems and water uses.
* Acceptable performance and decision criteria will need to be defined.
* The Decision Tree Framework for the selected indicator and EVs is also relevant for designing the monitoring program and
assessing the results.
* The monitoring and reporting strategy should include protocols for triggering an appropriate management response.
* The reporting strategy should ensure that the results are delivered in a timely way and are in a form that is appropriate for
the target audience.
* An adaptive strategy is needed to ensure the monitoring is effective in delivering the outcomes to ensure the water quality
objectives are met and the Environmental values and uses of water are mainatining and successively improved.
* The management reponse startegy should be based on acting to attain or maintain the water quality objectives and thereby
achieve the management aims.
* The monitoring program and the sampling design and frequency should be appropriate for the level of protection, and the
value of the ecosystems and water uses.
* This will require short and longer term responses, and adaptive management system.
* A management response should be triggered when the guidelines and targets are not met.
* The monitoring and reporting strategy should include protocols for triggering an appropriate management response.
* The reporting strategy should ensure that the results are delivered in a timely way and are in a form that is appropriate for
the target audience.
* In some circumstances the stakeholders may decide that it is uneconomic or impractical to respond appropriately. The
level of change (damage to ecosystems or impairment of water iused should be explicitly stated for these situations.