Water Quality Monitoring Program
In 2006, SERCUL in partnership with the Aquatic Sciences Branch of the Department of Water (DoW) initiated the Water Quality Partnership Program. Its aim was to promote a cooperative approach to water quality monitoring and integrated catchment management across the Perth Region. This program has been supported by Perth Region NRM, the Australian Government (through Caring for our Country funding), the State’s Department of Parks and Wildlife, Rivers and Estuaries Division (formerly known as the Swan River Trust), and the participating Local Government Authorities (LGA’s).
The benefits of the Partnership are reflected in the deliverance of coordinated and responsive water and sediment quality monitoring programs that employ the use of state accredited standards and methods, collecting qualitative and consistent data, filling a critical knowledge gap of sub-catchment storm water quality, identifying pollutant ‘hotspots’ and enabling leading agencies to deliver effective and efficient restoration works with an overall sounder approach to catchment management. All monitoring data collected through the comprised partnership projects has also been utilised by the Department of Water in expanding the State’s Water Information Reporting (WIR) database.
Since 2006 the program has establishment more than 30 partnerships with Local Government Authorities, Universities, Government Agencies and Community Organisations across the Perth metropolitan area and has contributed to the implementation of seven Water Quality Improvement Plans (WQIP) developed by the Swan River Trust (now known as Department of Parks and Wildlife, Rivers and Estuaries Division) in an effort to improve the health of the Swan and Canning Rivers through a targeted catchment approach.
SERCUL’s water quality monitoring services include the assessment of new catchments and the associated data requirements to provide a tailored and cost effective monitoring program; the development of a sampling analysis plan (SAP) and safety plan; undertaking the collection of samples in the field; collation, analysis and interpretation of the annual results; collation and analysis of long term monitoring data to identify patterns and ‘hotspots’ within the catchment; and the preparation of a final comprehensive report which also provides integrated catchment management recommendations for improving water quality and overall ecosystem health. All results are compared to the Australian and New Zealand (ANZECC) guidelines and the final reports are edited by the Department of Water (DoW) to ensure we are delivering professionally designed and accredited monitoring programs.
Find out more about our water quality services
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The ongoing catchments currently being monitored include:
- Bennett Brook & Bennett Springs
- Melville Lakes and Bull Creek west catchment
- Bannister Creek catchment
- Bull Creek east catchment
- South Perth catchments
- Cygnia Cove Estate wetlands
The partnership program provides encouragement to continue and increase efforts to protect and improve our water resources for ecosystem health and human well-being. Even though there are many challenges in the protection of aquatic ecosystem health, there is also evidence that a positive outcome can be achieved with planning, political and institutional will, and financial and technical resources. The future of water quality rests on the investment of individuals, communities, and governments at all political levels to guarantee that water resources are protected and managed in a sustainable manner, which in turn ensures the protection of human health.
If you would like more information about the Partnership Program or would like to discuss opportunities for monitoring catchments, waterways or water bodies of concern within your area, please contact Caitlin, SERCUL Water Quality and GIS Officer.