Water Quality Objectives (WQOs) for a particular group of waterways
represent the quality of water required to sustain
all
uses and values for that group of waterways. Current water quality
can then be checked to see if it meets the specific WQO that has
been set for each particular group of waterways in the catchment.
WQOs are based on EVs that stakeholders have identified along with
the most stringent WQ guidelines. WQOs are used in waterway
management e.g. planning, approvals and checking monitoring
results.
Example of
draft WQO's for the Upper Nogoa Catchment.
An ecosystem can be graded for its water quality using a
hierarchical approach according to its condition or level of
disturbance. The most pristine and healthy systems are considered
to be of
High Ecological Value
. A WQO for a waterway such as this is designed to maintain this
current, natural condition. Waterways which are
slightly disturbed
also have water quality which is typically better than the WQO.
The management goals for these waterways are to maintain or improve
the health of the water and possibly restore it to high ecological
value.
Moderately disturbed
systems have water quality close to the WQO and therefore the
water in these systems is usually fit for defined uses. Some future
development with best practices may be approved in moderately
disturbed waterways. The management aim of moderately disturbed
waterways is to improve water quality. There are also many systems
which are
highly disturbed
. These waterways are of poor to very poor quality and will take
time and considerable resources to repair. For these ecosystems the
aim is to improve water quality over time towards the WQO realising
that this goal may take decades to achieve.
| High Ecological Value Waterway
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| Slightly Disturbed Waterway
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| Moderately Disturbed Waterway
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| Highly Disturbed Waterway
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