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Government of Western Australia Department of Water and Environmental Regulation
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Licences and how to apply, licensing policies, forms to download and answers to questions frequently asked by current and prospective licensees.

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Find out who is eligible to trade water entitlements and how applications are assessed. Click here to identify potential trading partners from the Water Register.

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For information on groundwater, garden bores and waterwise gardens please visit our Be Groundwater Wise website. You can find questions and answers about garden bores,

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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

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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:

  • Monitor and assess water quality
  • Manage water quality

Monitoring and Assessing Water Quality
Water quality monitoring
The Department of Water measures the quality of groundwater and surface water (including sediment quality) across Western Australia. This information helps us to manage the
Managing Water Quality
Hardy Inlet showing residential landuse
Managing the state's water resources requires a significant focus on water quality. Managing the quality of both surface water and groundwater is vital for sustaining
Page last updated - 22 Oct 2019
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The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation was established by the Government of Western Australia on 1 July 2017. It is a result of the amalgamation of the Department of Environment Regulation, Department of Water and the Office of the Environmental Protection Authority. This website/publication may contain references to previous government departments and programs. Please contact the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation to clarify any specific information.

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