Water quality targets: a handbook

Version 1.0
Environment Australia, 2002
ISBN 0 642 54843 9

PDF file

About the handbook

This handbook aims to assist regional groups to set environmental values and water quality targets for their catchments/region. These targets will be used in developing regional plans to guide investments, management and progress towards attainment of regional goals.

Setting water quality targets can be a complex process. This handbook outlines the steps to be followed to set default targets derived from the published guidelines in The Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality (ANZECC and ARMCANZ 2000), hereafter called the Water Quality Guidelines. The Water Quality Guidelines provides comprehensive information and procedures for setting more specific water quality targets tailored for unique conditions for a range of pollutants or indicators and may be used to further customise water quality targets for local conditions.

When used in conjunction with Water Quality Targets OnLine, this handbook simplifies the task of setting water quality targets when preparing regional plans. It is not prescriptive and is intended as a tool to assist the planning process. It is anticipated that some regions or catchments may already be involved in developing regional plans and have set environmental values and water quality targets.