Tables 1a to 1c
Table 1a: Indicators for which there are preferred standard protocols and assessment criteria
Table 1b: Indicators for which there are preferred standard protocols but for which there is no need for assessment criteria or where these are yet to be developed/standardised
Table 1c: Indicators for which standard protocols and assessment criteria are still under development
| Indicator |
Preferred Standard Protocol1 |
Standard Assessment Criteria |
| Physical Properties |
|
True colour |
APHA2 2120 B |
ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000a)3 |
|
Turbidity (nephelometer) |
APHA 2130 |
ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000a) |
|
Total suspended solids |
APHA 2540 D |
ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000a) |
|
Total dissolved solids |
APHA 2540 C |
ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000a |
|
Temperature |
APHA 2550 |
ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000a) |
|
pH |
APHA 4500-H+ |
ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000a) |
|
Conductivity (25 deg C) |
APHA 2520 |
ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000a) |
| Chemical Properties |
|
Chloride [Cl-] |
APHA 4500-Cl, 4110 |
ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000a) |
|
Hardness |
APHA 2340 |
ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000a) |
|
Alkalinity |
APHA 2320 |
ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000a) |
|
Total phosphorus |
APHA 4500-P4 |
ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000a) |
|
Filterable reactive phosphorus |
APHA 4500-P3 |
ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000a) |
|
Total nitrogen |
APHA 4500-N |
ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000a) |
|
Ammonia |
APHA 4500-NH3 |
ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000a) |
|
Oxidised nitrogen |
APHA 4500-NO3 |
ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000a) |
|
Biochemical oxygen demand |
APHA 5210 B |
ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000a) |
|
Chemical oxygen demand |
APHA 5220 |
ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000a) |
|
Dissolved oxygen |
APHA 4500-O |
ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000a) |
|
Anionic surfactants as MBAS |
APHA 5540 |
ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000a) |
|
Oil and grease |
APHA 5520 |
ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000a) |
|
Cyanide |
APHA 4500-CN- |
ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000a) |
|
Sulfide |
APHA 4500 S2- |
ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000a) |
|
Sulfate |
APHA 4500 S4-- |
ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000a) |
| Contaminants |
|
Organochlorines |
USEPA5 SW-846 8081B |
ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000a) |
|
Organophosphates |
USEPA SW-846 8141B |
ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000a) |
|
Chlorinated Herbicides |
USEPA SW-846 8151A |
ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000a) |
|
Carbamates |
USEPA SW-846 8318 |
ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000a) |
|
Semi-volatile Organic Compounds |
USEPA SW-846 8270D |
ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000a) |
|
Diquat/Paraquat |
USEPA SW-846 549.1 |
ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000a) |
|
Diuron |
USEPA SW-846 8321B |
ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000a) |
|
Glyphosate |
APHA (20th) 6651 |
ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000a) |
|
PCBs |
APHA 6431 |
ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000a) |
|
Total/dissolved metals |
APHA 3010 A (Methods listed in table 3010:1 are acceptable) |
ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000a) |
|
Radiological: gross alpha and gross beta |
AS6 |
ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000a) |
| Microbiological Indicators |
|
Thermotolerant coliforms and E. coli - most probable number (MPN)7 |
AS 4276.6 (1995) |
NH&MRC8 1990 and ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000a) |
|
Thermotolerant coliforms and E. coli - membrane filtration9 |
APHA 9222D |
NH&MRC 1990 and ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000a) |
|
Enterococci (membrane filtration) |
APHA 9230 C |
NH&MRC 1990 and ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000a) |
|
E. coli - enzyme substrate test10 |
APHA 9223 |
ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000a) |
| Biological Indicators |
|
Algae (chlorophyll-a) |
APHA 10200H |
ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000a) |
|
Algae (cells/ml) |
Hotzel and Croome (1999) |
ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000a) |
|
Cyanobacteria (cells/mL) |
APHA 10200F |
SACC 112001 |
Back to top
| Indicator |
Preferred Standard Protocol |
| Hydrological Measurements |
|
Flow12 |
AS 3778 |
|
River height13 |
AS 3778 |
|
Velocity 10 |
AS 3778 |
| Physical Properties |
|
Ultra violet absorbance organic constituents 10 |
APHA 5910 |
| Chemical Properties |
|
Total Kjeldahl nitrogen |
APHA 4500-Norg |
|
Silica (reactive) |
APHA 4500-SiO2 |
|
Dissolved organic carbon |
APHA 5310 |
|
Total organic carbon |
APHA 5310 |
|
Iodide |
APHA 4500-I |
| Microbiological Indicators |
|
Faecal Streptococci MPN |
AS 4276.8 (1995) |
|
Faecal Streptococci - membrane filtration |
AS 4276.9 (1995) |
|
F-RNA Bacteriophage |
ISO 10705 |
| Biological Indicators |
|
Phaeophytin |
APHA 10200 H |
Back to top
| Indicator |
Available Non-Standard Protocol |
| Geomorphological Features |
|
River cross section |
IMEF14Methods Manual |
|
Wetland morphometry |
IMEF Methods Manual |
|
Wetland description |
IMEF Methods Manual |
|
River bed shear stress and movement |
IMEF Methods Manual |
|
River bed particle size distribution |
IMEF Methods Manual |
| Hydrological Measurements |
|
Wetland Inundation |
IMEF Methods Manual |
|
Wetland inundation (satellite imagery) |
(satellite imagery) |
| Microbiological Indicators |
|
Clostridium perfringens (membrane filtration) |
MI0415 |
|
phage HSP40 |
100M1 Method - Low level8 |
|
Human enteroviruses |
MP22 11 |
|
Microbial sampling |
IMEF Methods Manual |
| Biological Indicators |
|
Phytoplankton - depth integrated |
IMEF Methods Manual |
|
Phytoplankton - point sampling |
IMEF Methods Manual |
|
Zooplankton - rivers |
IMEF Methods Manual |
|
Macroinvertebrates (rapid assessment) |
Turak and Waddell 2001 |
|
Macroinvertebrates - wetland |
IMEF Methods Manual |
|
Macroinvertebrates - stones |
IMEF Methods Manual |
|
Macroinvertebrates - wood |
IMEF Methods Manual |
|
Macroinvertebrates - river littoral |
IMEF Methods Manual |
|
Macroinvertebrates - deep pools |
IMEF Methods Manual |
|
Macroinvertebrates - leaf litter |
IMEF Methods Manual |
|
Biofilms - stones |
IMEF Methods Manual |
|
Wetlands vegetation survey |
IMEF Methods Manual |
|
Fish survey - wetlands |
IMEF Methods Manual |
|
Fish survey - river |
IMEF Methods Manual |
|
Frog survey - wetlands |
IMEF Methods Manual |
|
Bird survey - wetlands |
IMEF Methods Manual |
|
Waterbird surveys - Ground or Aerial survey |
Kingsford 1999 |
|
Estuarine biota - intertidal communities |
SWC EIMP Methods Report and ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000a)
|
|
Estuarine biota - settlement panels |
SWC EIMP16 Methods Report and ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000a) |
|
Freshwater macroinvertebrates SIGNAL-G |
SWC EIMP16 Methods Report, Chessman 1995 and Chessman et al in prep. |
Refers to a known standard and which has been endorsed by a scientific body e.g. APHA, Standards Australia etc.
Refers to the 20th edition of American Public Health Association, Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater.
Refers to the Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality. Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council and Agriculture and Resource Management Council of Australia and New Zealand, Canberra, ACT.
With appropriate sample preparation (4500P A & B).
Refers to the following web site: http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/hazwaste/test/main.htm
Refers to Australian Standard.
MPN should only be used for the lowest quality water as the results give least accuracy.
Refers to the National Health & Medical Research Council (1990) - Australian Guidelines for Recreational Use of Water.
Membrane filtration is most versatile method, but the slowest to process.
Enzyme substrate is most suitable for higher quality samples.
State Algal Coordinating Committee. Interim Guidelines for Recreation in Waters Impacted by Cyanobacteria in NSW.
Assessment methods are currently evolving.
Does not require assessment criteria.
Integrated Monitoring of Environmental Flows.
In-house methods by Australian Water Technologies, NATA approved.
Sydney Water Environmental Indicators Monitoring Program
Back to top
Page last updated: 26 February 2011
