National Water Quality Management Strategy
Background
The National Water Quality Management Strategy (NWQMS) is a joint national approach to improving water quality in Australian and New Zealand waterways. It was originally endorsed by two Ministerial Councils - the former Agriculture and Resources Management Council of Australia and New Zealand (ARMCANZ) and the former Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council (ANZECC).
Since 1992 the NWQMS has been developed by the Australian and New Zealand Governments in cooperation with state and territory governments. Ongoing development is currently overseen by the Standing Council on Environment and Water (SCEW) and the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).
The NWQMS aims to protect the nation's water resources, by improving water quality while supporting the businesses, industry, environment and communities that depend on water for their continued development.
The NWQMS consists of three major elements:
Latest news
Revision of the Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality (2000)
Document 4: Australian and New Zealand guidelines for fresh and marine water quality - 2000 is currently under review. Updates will be provided by the Joint Steering Committee for the Revision and posted on this website as the review progresses.
For more information see:
Policy
The main policy objective of the NWQMS is to achieve sustainable use of water resources, by protecting and enhancing their quality, while maintaining economic and social development.
- Document 1: Water quality management - an outline of the policies - 1994
- Document 2: Policies and principles - a reference document - 1994
Process
The NWQMS process involves development and implementation of a management plan for each catchment, aquifer, estuary, coastal water or other water body, by community and government. These plans focus on the reduction of pollution released into coastal pollution hotspots and other aquatic ecosystems around the country. Local government, community organisations and other agencies carry out these plans using the NWQMS to protect agreed Environmental Values (EVs):
The Water Quality Management Framework, used in the NWQMS, outlines a step-by-step process for planning, implementing and managing water quality projects.
Water quality guidelines
Water quality benchmarks:
- Document 4a: An Introduction to the Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality - 2000
- Document 4: Australian and New Zealand guidelines for fresh and marine water quality - 2000 (often referred to as the ANZECC guidelines)
- Document 5: Guidelines for managing risks in recreational water - 2008
- Document 6: Australian drinking water guidelines - 2011
- Document 7a: Australian guidelines for water quality monitoring and reporting - Summary - 2000
- Document 7: Australian guidelines for water quality monitoring and reporting - 2000
Groundwater management:
Diffuse and point sources:
- Document 9: Rural land uses and water quality - a community resource document - 2000
- Document 10: Guidelines for urban stormwater management - 2000
Guidelines for Sewerage Systems:
- Document 11: Guidelines for sewerage systems - effluent management - 1997
- Document 12: Guidelines for sewerage systems - acceptance of trade waste (industrial waste) - 1994
- Document 13: Guidelines for sewerage systems - sludge (biosolids) management - 2004
- Document 14: Guidelines for sewerage systems - use of reclaimed water - 1999
(also see related documents 21-24 Guidelines for recycled water below) - Document 15: Guidelines for sewerage systems - sewerage system overflows - 2004
Effluent Management:
- Document 16a: Effluent management guidelines for dairy sheds - 1999
- Document 16b: Effluent management guidelines for dairy processing plants - 1999
- Document 17: Effluent management guidelines for intensive piggeries - 1999
- Document 18: Effluent management guidelines for aqueous wool scouring and carbonising - 1999
- Document 19: Effluent management guidelines for tanning and related industries in Australia - 1999
- Document 20: Effluent management guidelines for Australian wineries and distilleries - 1998
Water recycling:
- Document 21a: A guide to the National guidelines for water recycling - National Water Quality Management Strategy: Overview of the Australian guidelines for water recycling: Managing health and environmental risks - 2008
- Document 21: Australian guidelines for water recycling: Managing health and environmental risks (Phase 1) - 2006
- Document 22: Australian guidelines for water recycling: Managing health and environmental risks (Phase 2) - Augmentation of drinking water supplies - 2008
- Document 23: Australian guidelines for water recycling: Managing health and environmental risks - Stormwater harvesting and reuse - 2009
- Document 24: Australian guidelines for water recycling: Managing health and environmental risks - Managed aquifer recharge - 2009
Hard copy versions of some of these guidelines are available from the Australian Water Association.
Other publications
Additional guidelines
- Latest publicationBlackwater events and water quality fact sheet - 2012
- Latest publicationBlue-green algae (cyanobacteria) and water quality fact sheet - 2012
- Latest publicationBushfires and water quality fact sheet - 2012
- Latest publicationInland acid sulfate soil and water quality fact sheet - 2012
- Latest publicationSalinity and water quality fact sheet - 2012
- National guidance for the management of acid sulfate soils in inland aquatic ecosystems - 2011
- Water Quality Guidelines for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park - 2009
- Water quality targets: a handbook - 2002
Reviews
- Latest publicationIndigenous cultural & spiritual values in water quality planning - 2012
- Desktop review - Impact of bushfires on water quality - 2011
- Assessing the need to revise the Guidelines for groundwater protection in Australia: A review report - 2010. Includes the following documents:
- Groundwater Guidelines Literature Review - Milestone Report
- Groundwater Guidelines End-user Analysis - Milestone Report
- Groundwater Guidelines Review - Final Report
- Groundwater Guidelines Regulatory Review - Final Report
- Groundwater Guidelines Regulatory Review - Appendices A B
- Independent Evaluation of the National Water Quality Management Strategy - Final Report - 2011
- Final Report on a Stakeholder Workshop on 2 December 2008 for the Future Development of the Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality - March 2009
- A Preliminary Review of the Development Needs of the National Water Quality Management Strategy Guidelines 1-22 - March 2009.
- Final discussion paper on implementation of the National Water Quality Management Strategy - 2008
- Random Audit of Historical Water Quality Monitoring Data and Associated Operational/Landscape and Climate Data - First report - 2007
- Random Audit of Historical Water Quality Monitoring Data and Associated Operational/Landscape and Climate Data - Second report - 2007
Implementation
- The Framework for Marine and Estuarine Water Quality Protection: A Reference Document - 2002
- Better Water Workshop Series: Moving forward with the National Water Quality Management Strategy - 2008
- Better Water Workshops Series: Final Evaluation Report - 2009
- Improving water quality: Stories of progress and success from across Australia - 2012
The Murray River
Photo John Baker