Halting and Reversing the Decline of Water Quality
‘Water quality’ is a term used to describe the chemical, physical, and biological characteristics of water. Acceptable limits of water quality depend on the particular purpose (e.g. environmental health, drinking water).
For tourism operators in the Tropical North Queensland region, water quality is an important concern as it directly affects the health of the natural environment that the industry relies on for its business.
There is one main topic that research focuses on:
Program 7 – Water Quality
Read the Fact Sheet.
You can read the factsheet online or download PDF (194kb)
What Research is being done?
Water quality studies lie mainly within Theme 3, and include the following seven main projects:
| Project No. |
Project Name |
Main Objectives |
Research Providers |
| Project 3.7.1 |
Marine and estuarine indicators and thresholds of concern |
To identify indicators that are suitable as monitoring tools and to determine threshold levels for key pollutants |
AIMS
GU
DPI&F
JCU
|
Project 3.7.2
|
Connectivity and risk: tracing sediments from the upper catchment to the reef
|
To track and link fine sediment and dissolved materials back to their terrestrial sources throughout the catchment area, and look at historical changes to use and distribution. |
JCU
UNSW@ADFA
AIMS
CSIRO
ANU |
Project 3.7.3
|
Freshwater indicators and thresholds of concern |
To develop physical, chemical and ecological indicators of environmental health and determine thresholds. |
GU
CSIRO
JCU |
Project 3.7.4
|
Wetlands and floodplains: connectivity and hydro-ecological function
|
To develop the capability to predict impacts and changes in land use, management and climate in and water quality. |
CSIRO
GU
JCU |
Project 3.7.5
|
Socio-economic constraints to and incentives for the adoption of land use and management options for water quality |
To evaluate socio-economic constraints to adopting land use and management options aimed to improve water quality in a region.
|
CSIRO |
| Project 3.7.6 |
Delivery of social and economic indicators of water quality |
To map land use across all areas (agricultural, urban and industrial sectors) to identify concerns for water quality impacts and to identify priority areas for effective remediation.
|
GU
CSIRO
FNQ NRM Ltd
JCU
UQ |
| Project 3.7.7 |
Conceptual and statistical framework for the water quality component of the Integrated Report Card |
To develop appropriate statistical methods to estimate annual pollutant loads based on data collected with monitoring methods.
|
CSIRO |
Acronyms: AIMS (Australian Institute of Marine Science), ANU (Australian National University), CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation), DPI&F (Department of Primary Industries & Fisheries), GU (Griffith University), JCU (James Cook University), UNSW @ ADFA (University of New South Wales Australian Defence Force Academy), UQ (University of Queensland)