Introduction

Condition

Pressure

Response

Acknowledgment

Introduction

Waterwatch is a voluntary, community-based network of groups which aim to raise awareness, educate, monitor, restore and protect local surface waters. The Waterwatch network is made up of concerned community members, schools, landholders, Landcare members, local council officers, business representatives, industry groups, catchment management groups and water authorities.

Waterwatch groups are involved in:

• monitoring of water quality in streams, rivers and wetlands,
• alerting the relevant authorities to pollution,
• launching public awareness campaigns,
• holding seminars to share results,
• stencilling of stormwater drains,
• revegetation and weed removal,
• displaying catchment information,
• organising clean up days, and
• coordinating work with other community organisations such as Rivercare, Landcare, Coastcare, and the Understorey Network;
• providing data for use by councils, DPIWE and others.

Funding for Waterwatch is provided by the Federal Government's Natural Heritage Trust and is administered by a team based in the Sustainable Water Section of Environment Australia. Other funding is provided by councils, businesses and community groups. Further information on Waterwatch is available from their national web site.

There are 150 groups which monitor water quality within Tasmania as part of the Waterwatch program. They sample a total of 650 sites within 70 rivers throughout the State. Waterwatch monitoring sites are widely distributed throughout Tasmania. Sampling intensity for Waterwatch data was low (some sites had only five samples over the five year period) and was therefore not used within the main indicator report. However, data presented in this case study is intended to: 1) complement and give context to data presented within the indicator report, 2) provide information for potential sites where further, more intensive monitoring in the future may be beneficial.

Waterwatch water quality monitoring includes data collection for pH, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, temperature and turbidity. The map shows the location of Waterwatch monitoring sites in Tasmania.

Condition

• Aquatic ecosystem guideline exceedences for conductivity were low in upland streams (typically exceedences are less that 10%) and high in lowland streams that are closer to the coast (where of aquatic ecosystem guidelines can be exceeded more than half the time). (Refer to main report where possible reasons for these trends are discussed). Conductivity levels do not restrict use of these surface waters for stock watering with low guideline exceedences at all sites.
   
• Dissolved oxygen guideline exceedences ranged from low levels of around 20% in the Derwent catchment to relatively high levels around 50% in other areas around the State.
   
• The aquatic ecosystem guidelines for pH were significantly exceeded at most sites due to the naturally acidic water found in Tasmania. Most sites sampled had adequate water quality for swimming with low levels of pH guideline exceedences for primary contact recreation. Most coastal sites had water appropriate for stock watering but the more inland surface waters tended to have higher stock watering guideline exceedences.
   
• Surface waters in Tasmania were classed as being too cold for primary contact recreation with guideline exceedences being high for all sites.
   
• The aquatic ecosystem guidelines for turbidity had low levels of exceedences for sites in the Derwent catchment. This may be influenced by such factors as the land use and degree of soil disturbance in the catchment above sampling points or the large number of water impoundments which slow water velocity and result in the settling out of suspended sediment. Greater variation was found in the north of the State. Upland streams generally had lower aquatic ecosystem guideline exceedences than lowland streams. In some cases this may be because the upper parts of catchments tend to be more forested than lowland areas which tend to be used more for agriculture and and subsequently, have greater soil disturbance. Other factors such as geology influence the erodibility of soils. Sites located downstream of urban land tended to have medium turbidity levels. This may be influenced by the impermeable surfaces in urban areas which provide very little resistance to water flow and result in high water velocity.
   

Pressure

There are a number of land and water based activities that can have an adverse effect on water quality. The water quality parameters being monitored by Waterwatch groups throughout the State can help in identifying the consequences of a number of these activities, thereby helping to alert the community to these problems. Land use activities, pathways for pollutants and type of pollutants are documented in the DPIWE water fact sheet on impacts on water quality.

Contaminants of waterways from land use activities

Land use	How contaminants enter waterways	Potential pollutants
Urban activity	Stormwater drains run-off from roads, parks and gardens	Pathogens (bacteria and viruses) Fuel and oil Tyre rubber Heavy metals (e.g. lead from petrol, chromium, cadmium) Litter Sediments Colour (tanins) nutrients from dog poo, fertilizers
Toilets	Sewage effluent Septic tanks seepage entering groundwater	Nutrients (phosphate, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate) Suspended solids Organic matter (measured as biochemical oxygen demand) Chemicals (e.g. detergents, solvents, grease, soap, disinfectants, fats) Pathogens (bacteria and viruses)
Garbage and refuse disposal	Groundwater (leachates) and surface run-off from landfill tips and liquid waste from disposal sites	Nutrients Bacteria, especially salmonella, spread by birds, rodents and insects. Toxic substances Acids and alkalis
Water storages	Retention of sediments and nutrients in deep, sheltered water bodies where the wind is unable to mix the full depth of the water column, the surface waters can warm up and lead to chemical changes in the deeper water.	Nutrients Metals Sediments Dissolved salts Nitrogen Oxygen Algal blooms
Water based and waterfront activities	Run-off from foreshore recreation areas and marinas, bilge and ballast water from watercraft	Litter Nutrients (fertiliser and watercraft discharges) Pathogens (bacteria and viruses) Oil and hazardous chemicals in bilge water Heavy metals (anti-fouling paint) Oil and petrol from boat exhausts
Forestry and agricultural practices	Run-off from logging coupes, roads and agricultural land	sediment nutrients pesticides, herbicides
Mining activities	Run-off from tailings	heavy metals

Source: DPIWE community access to water information

Response

Waterwatch groups are influencing local communities and government in a variety of ways. Here are some examples from around the State.

Bacteriological Monitoring at Coles Bay

The Waterwatch bacteriological monitoring programme being undertaken at Coles Bay was initiated by a resident concerned about children swimming in sites in close proximity to stormwater outlets and drainage lines. A monitoring plan was developed in conjunction with the Environmental Health Officer from the Glamorgan-Spring Bay Council. The Waterwatch monitoring has expanded the number of strategic recreational water monitoring sites within the municipality on Council and Crown Land. It enables hotspots to be identified and actions undertaken when required.

Denison Catchment Waterwatch

The Denison Catchment Waterwatch programme was initiated by the Denison catchment group which was concerned about the placement of 'no swimming' signs at the Denison estuary which, for many years, has been a popular safe swimming hole for tourists and locals. The joint Recreational water monitoring programme, implemented by the Environmental Health Officers from the Glamorgan-Spring Bay and Break O'Day councils, had identified unacceptable bacteriological readings indicating that the water may be unsuitable for swimming. Denison Waterwatch was formed to investigate these findings further and find out what was causing these high readings. Seven strategic sites throughout the catchment were selected for regular monitoring. A laboratory is being set up for regular bacteriological monitoring.

Saltwater Creek Waterwatch

The Saltwater Creek catchment in Swansea has been highly modified over the years as a result of agricultural, rural development and the ongoing input of effluent from the Swansea Sewerage Treatment plant. The Saltwater estuary is a delightful welcome to Swansea as you enter the town from the south, but many do not know that it is very unwise to get too close! Saltwater Creek Waterwatch evolved from concerned residents' wish for a healthy waterway, and the council's current programme to upgrade all sewerage treatment plants within the municipality to reduce the effluent being discharged into waterways. Monthly community monitoring in the estuary will provide baseline data to gauge the success of the sewerage upgrade. Councils' monitoring programme has expanded to incorporate two new strategic sites as a result of the waterwatch programme, including parallel testing at a waterwatch site for ongoing quality control purposes. The programme is an ongoing example of community monitoring complementing the actions of council, and has been an opportunity for a partnership to develop over an issue that has often resulted in conflict and misunderstanding.

Prosser River Estuary - from monitoring to action

Orford Primary School has been monitoring three sites on the Prosser River estuary for the past 18 months. The 'Plover Site' is at a high profile location at the entrance to the Orford township from the south, which is also the gateway to the east coast. After undertaking a rubbish survey at the site, discussions led to the need for the community to begin revaluing estuaries. Many perceive the estuarine mudflats at the site as an eyesore, when in fact they play a vital role in sustaining both the fresh water and marine ecosystems. They are also an extremely popular place for local and migratory shore birds. Orford Primary Waterwatch has linked in with the local Coastcare programme to apply for funding to revegetate Plover site, paint some bright inspiring rubbish bins and create some interpretation signs for the many visitors who stop at this popular location. Managers of the site including council, Parks and Wildlife and Department of Infrastucture, Energy and Resources are all providing in-kind support for this project in a number of ways, through providing bins and assistance in on-ground works and future site maintenance. A project officer has been employed to work with the school and the council in implementing this project.

Dolphin Sands Groundwater Waterwatch

Dolphin Sands is an extensive rural subdivision occurring on a sandspit north of Swansea. This sandspit has an underlying aquifer that provides a source of water for many of the community living and visiting Dolphin Sands. A waterwatch groundwater monitoring programme was initiated by the Dolphin Sands community and has been supported by Waterwatch, council's Environment Health Officers, and Mineral Resources Tasmania. It became very apparent early on in the programme that our understanding of this aquifer system was very limited, and that further research was necessary to complement any long-term monitoring, and to enable any useful interpretation of the data collected. From a planning perspective, an understanding of the aquifer system is vital for ensuring future sustainable development in this area, especially with respect to potential contamination and sustainable yields. The Waterwatch group, in conjunction with the council, is now financially and logistically supporting an Honours student from the University of Tasmania's School of Earth Sciences to undertake a research project investigating this aquifer and the implications for future planning.

Dorset Waterwatch

Dorset Waterwatch group, supported by local government, has initiated a community based audit of an upper catchment coupe in the Diddleum area of north-east Tasmania. Timber harvesting of the area has been put on hold while further studies are carried out on soil erodobility, and the possible impact of harvesting on water availability for town water supplies.

Dorset Waterwatch has worked with local government and Forestry Tasmania to examine proposed timber harvesting of an upper catchment coupe at Springfield, adjacent to the Scottsdale water supply. Timber harvesting of the area has been put on hold at present.

Acknowledgment

Data compiled by Mike Cassidy, Waterwatch Coordinator Tasmania. There are 150 groups which monitor water quality in Tasmania. Here are the current Waterwatch websites in Tasmania:

Waterwatch Tasmania,
Burnie-Wynyard Regional Waterwatch,
Derwent Catchment Waterwatch Group,
Dorset Waterwatch,
Five Rivers Waterwatch,
Huon Healthy Rivers,
New Town Rivulet Catchment Care Group,
South East Waterwatch