Monitoring and data
Water monitoring is critical for scientists to assess and advise how best to manage and protect our water resources.
Over recent years, the state government has invested heavily to increase and improve what we know about our water supplies through a reference network, new water investigation programs and centralised access to water data. The water data and monitoring network includes more than $600 million in state intellectual property and infrastructure assets.
History
Western Australia has a history of extensive research in water resource use and management. Water monitoring records date to the early 1900's and the department now has a network of 3000 bores and more than 300 river gauging stations fitted with the latest technology.
Uses
Monitoring allows the department to make informed decisions and plan and manage effectively for safe and sustainable water supplies.
The department collects information on surface water and groundwater levels, flows and quality, in addition to meteorological data. This allows the department to determine such things as:
- surface water and groundwater availability throughout the state
- water levels and quality in the Gnangara and Jandakot mounds
- state-wide and regional water quality, such as the Swan Region water quality assessments
- real-time river levels to help guide the state's emergency responses in times of flooding
- rver levels for recreational purposes such as the Avon Descent.
Free access
The department's monitoring records are freely available to the public in the interests of promoting better water management throughout the state.
Further information
Download spatial data via the data download tool or contact us at spatial.data@water.wa.gov.au.
Some legacy atlases have been removed from this page. If you have any enquiries about the data on these atlases please contact us at spatial.data@dwer.wa.gov.au.
View floodplain maps and levels in our Floodplain mapping tool.
