National Water Quality Management Strategy
Murray River at the Gulf.
Photo John Baker
The National Water Quality Management Strategy (NWQMS) has been developed coordinate a national approach to improving water quality in Australia's waterways. Development has progressed since 1992, the Australian Government working in cooperation with state and territory governments.
The NWQMS is part of the Council of Australian Governments' Water Reform Framework and is acknowledged in the National Water Initiative , the blueprint for water reform in Australia.
Participants in NWQMS are working to protect the nation's water resources by improving their quality, reducing pollutants and at the same time supporting the businesses, industry and communities that depend on water for their continued development.
The NWQMS has three major elements: policies, process and guidelines. An application of the NWQMS is through the development of Water Quality Improvement Plans.
- Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council
- Environment Protection and Heritage Council
- Australian Health Ministers' Conference
- Council of Australian Governments' Water Reform Framework
- National Water Initiative
Policies
The main policy objective of the NWQMS is to achieve sustainable use of the nation's water resources by protecting and enhancing their quality while maintaining economic and social development.
Process
The NWQMS process involves community and government development and implementation of a management plan for each catchment, aquifer, estuary, coastal water or other waterbody. This includes use of high-status national guidelines with local implementation.
- Paper 3: Implementation guidelines - 1998
- Better Water Workshop Series - National Water Quality Management Strategy
- Discussion paper on implementation of the National Water Quality Management Strategy
National guidelines
There are currently 21 NWQMS guidelines for managing key elements of the water cycle.
The NWQMS guidelines cover:
- policies and processes to achieve water quality
- effluent and sewerage system management
- urban stormwater and recycled water
- fresh and marine water quality
- monitoring and reporting
- groundwater protection
- drinking water
See also
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