Water quality and testing

Agriculture

Agriculture depends on water of adequate quality for successful production. Common water quality problems include salinity, pH, hardness, sodicity, blue-green algae, bacterial growth, soluble iron concentration, odour and taste. Usually these can be successfully treated. See Water quality and testing.

NSW DPI provides a farm water testing service.

Fisheries

One of the major problems of water quality in fishing environments is the presence of pesticides. See Water quality (pesticides).

Aquaculture

Water quality is extremely important in the aquaculture industry. Many parameters need to be monitored, including temperature, alkalinity, hardness, ammonia concentration, dissolved oxygen concentration, pH, and the presence of plankton, blue-green algae and macrophytes. See Water quality management in aquaculture. 

Forests

Most major rivers in NSW have at least part of their headwaters in State forests. From these forests comes water that is used for rural and town water supplies. Forests filter rainwater and run-off entering watercourses, ensuring good water quality.

Forests NSW is committed to using world's best management practices to ensure that soil and water quality are not adversely impacted by timber harvesting, roading and other operations. Forests NSW undertakes comprehensive water quality monitoring programs in many locations in NSW.

Mining

The NSW Government is committed to ensuring that the mining industry meets contemporary standards for environmental management. The Environmental Sustainability Branch is uniquely placed within NSW DPI Mineral Resources to advance the standard of environmental management in exploration and mining. See Environmental management of exploration, mining and petroleum.