Water quality
Managing the state's water resources requires a significant focus on water quality.
We use the term 'water quality' to refer to the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of both water and sediment. Our understanding of how these water quality parameters behave is integral to our management of their effects. For instance, understanding the types and effects of salinity enables us to manage its effects.
Managing the quality of both surface water and groundwater is vital for sustaining aquatic ecosystems, which is important to protect the considerable diversity of waterway types in Western Australia, the unique biodiversity they support, and the social and economic services they provide to our community.
These characteristics are balanced with the requirements for various human uses and environmental needs including:
- domestic use including drinking water
- commercial use including agriculture and industry
- municipal use such as maintaining sports grounds and parks
- recreational use such as swimming, boating and fishing
- safety of shell fish consumption
- conditions needed to sustain aquatic ecosystems and their associated services.
The following pages describe how we:
