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    Attention: NSW Caretaker Period has commenced Updated 03/03/2023 The caretaker period for the NSW Election commenced on 3 March 2023. Learn More

    Water quality

    Tools for water quality managers to protect public health, support the economy and maintain a rich ecosystem.
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    Tools for water quality managers to protect public health, support the economy and maintain a rich ecosystem.
    In this section
    • Water

    • Beaches
      • Beachwatch water quality program
      • North Coast beaches
        • Weekly star ratings
        • Sampling sites
      • Mid-North Coast beaches
        • Weekly star ratings
        • Sampling sites
      • Hunter beaches
        • Daily pollution forecast
        • Weekly star ratings
        • Sampling sites
      • Central Coast beaches
        • Daily pollution forecast
        • Weekly star ratings
        • Sampling sites
      • Sydney beaches
        • Ocean beaches daily pollution forecast
        • Sydney Harbour beaches daily pollution forecast
        • Pittwater beaches daily pollution forecast
        • Southern harbours beaches daily pollution forecast
        • Weekly star ratings
        • Sampling sites
      • Illawarra beaches
        • Daily pollution forecast
        • Weekly star ratings
        • Sampling sites
      • South Coast beaches
        • Weekly star ratings
        • Sampling sites
      • Is it safe to swim?
        • What pollutes our beaches?
        • What are the health risks to swimmers?
        • Why has water quality improved?
        • What can you do?
      • Working with councils
      • Monitoring beach water quality
        • Confidence in our water quality results
      • Reporting beach water quality
        • About daily beach pollution forecasts
        • About weekly star ratings
        • Guidelines
        • Annual State of the beaches reporting
        • Water quality investigations
      • Beach water quality data
        • Beach pollution forecast data feed
        • Enterococci data download
    • Coasts
      • Coastal management
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      • Coastal and estuary grants
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      • Blue Carbon Strategy
      • Seabirds to Seascapes
      • Research
        • Marine debris
        • Ocean and coastal waves
        • Ocean monitoring
        • Offshore mapping
        • Research vessels and equipment
      • Publications
    • Estuaries
      • About estuaries
        • Why estuaries are important
        • Types of estuaries
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      • Biodiversity in estuaries
        • Plants
        • Birds
        • Fish
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        • Aquatic vertebrates
      • Protection and management
        • Estuary entrance management
        • Tuggerah Lakes Expert Panel
        • Vulnerable estuaries
      • Monitoring and reporting
        • Estuary report cards
      • Health of our estuaries
        • Search NSW estuary profiles
      • Research
        • Avoca Lake study
        • Bushfire-affected waterways
        • Real-time water quality monitoring
        • Rose Bay and Terrigal water quality audits
        • Water quality at Tilba Tilba Lake
        • Water quality at Wapengo and Middle lagoons
      • Coastal and estuary grants
      • Publications
    • Floodplains
      • Managing floodplains
      • Floodplain Management Program
      • Floodplain management grants
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        • Information for successful applicants
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        • Flood Recovery and Resilience Grant Program
      • Floodplain manual
      • Floodplain risk management guidelines
      • Flood Risk Management Manual update
      • NSW flood data portal
      • Rural floodplain planning
    • Wetlands
      • About wetlands
      • Why wetlands are important
      • Plants and animals in wetlands
        • Plants
        • Birds
        • Fish
        • Frogs
        • Mammals
        • Reptiles
      • Protecting wetlands
        • Threats to wetlands
        • How wetlands are protected
        • NSW Wetlands Policy
        • Endangered wetland communities
        • Other protected wetlands
      • Research
        • Unravelling the mystery of the drying Thirlmere Lakes
        • NSW Wetland Inventory
      • Internationally significant wetlands
        • Blue Lake
        • Fivebough and Tuckerbil Swamps
        • Gwydir Wetlands
        • Hunter Estuary Wetlands
        • Lake Pinaroo
        • Little Llangothlin Nature Reserve
        • Macquarie Marshes
        • Myall Lakes
        • Narran Lake Nature Reserve
        • NSW Central Murray Forests
        • Paroo River Wetlands
        • Towra Point Nature Reserve
    • Water for the environment
      • About water for the environment
        • What is water for the environment?
        • Government initiatives
        • Supporting activities
        • Understanding water trade
        • Community advisory groups
        • Current water holdings
        • Managing water in dry times
        • Managing water in wet times
        • Education resources
        • Wallpapers
      • Murray and Lower Darling valleys
        • Profile
        • Environmental Water Advisory Group
        • Annual environmental water priorities
        • Private wetland watering
        • Watering event updates
        • Barmah Choke
      • Murrumbidgee valley
        • Profile
        • Environmental Water Advisory Group
        • Annual environmental water priorities
      • Lachlan valley
        • Profile
        • Environmental Water Advisory Group
        • Annual environmental water priorities
        • Lake Brewster pelican banding
      • Macquarie valley
        • Profile
        • Environmental Water Advisory Group
        • Annual environmental water priorities
      • Gwydir valley
        • Profile
        • Environmental water advisory group
        • Annual environmental water priorities
        • Curtis Hayne - citizen scientist
        • Gwydir Reconnecting Watercourse Country Program
      • Snowy and montane rivers
        • Profile
        • Annual environmental water priorities 2022–23
        • Managing water for the environment
        • Snowy Advisory Committee
        • Landholder survey and contact information
        • Watering event updates
      • Other valleys
        • Aboriginal Environmental Water Priorities
        • Barwon–Darling Barwaan-Baaka annual environmental water priorities
        • Border Rivers annual environmental water priorities
        • Intersecting Streams annual environmental water priorities
        • Namoi annual environmental water priorities
      • Planning and reporting
        • Long term water plans
        • Toorale Water Infrastructure Project
        • Outcomes report 2021-22
        • Environmental Water Management Program
      • We love our rivers
        • Tell your story
        • River red gum reflections
      • News, videos and publications
    • Water quality
      • About water quality
      • Protecting and managing
        • Water quality and river flow objectives
        • Waterway health
      • Monitoring and reporting
      • Research
      • Publications
    1. Topics
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    • About water quality

      Water quality determines the condition or health of waterways, such as our rivers, wetlands and coastal waters.

    • Protecting and managing

      We help protect the health of our waterways by supporting water quality managers to improve water quality.

    • Monitoring and reporting

      We conduct health assessments of waterways and work with local councils and other agencies to monitor water quality.

    • Research

      Our collaborative water quality research programs help us better understand and manage waterway health.

    • Publications

      Search our list of publications on water quality, waterway health and related areas.

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