A new website has been created to publish an extensively revised, nationally-supported strategy and guidelines for improving water quality in Australian waterways.

The website is a joint initiative between the Commonwealth, state, territory and New Zealand governments will help better manage and protect our precious water resources.

Head of Water at the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, Paul Morris, said a new website will provide water managers with the tools and advice they need to assess, manage and monitor water quality at a local level,” Mr Morris said.

“Australians understand the critical importance of water to everything we do and enjoy.

“The current drought conditions in many parts of Australia serve to highlight this.

“Protecting water quality is integral to securing the health of our aquatic ecosystems, meeting the needs of people, agriculture and industry, and protecting the cultural, spiritual and natural values that we hold dear.

“From the Great Barrier Reef to the Great Artesian Basin, and from the Murray–Darling river system to local wetlands and beaches, water quality is fundamentally important to us all.

“The water quality website will support state and territory governments to apply the Australian and New Zealand guidelines according to local regulations and conditions.

The website contains the National Water Quality Management Strategy and the Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality.

The guidelines have been updated over several years using the best available science and new techniques to make them more relevant and current.

The guidelines have been used by all Australian and New Zealand governments since 1992.

The new website is available at waterquality.gov.au.

Source: Department of Agriculture and Water Resources