Water quality data
This is a weekly update on water quality in the Fitzroy River system. Its purpose is to provide general information about the quality of the water in the Fitzroy for human drinking, irrigation, livestock watering and for protection of the aquatic ecosystem. The information provided is expressed as EC (electrical conductivity). EC is measured in microsiemens per centimetre (µS/cm) at 25° C. Loggers installed at stream sites provide continuous data, so averages and medians of this data are used to provide a representative indication of water quality for the period in question. Ions that contribute to stream EC include sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, chloride, sulfate, bicarbonate, carbonate, silica, fluoride, iron, manganese, nitrate and phosphate.
Values are updated weekly. Note: A guide for interpreting the ratings in this table is given below.
- Comments
- Drinking, irrigation and livestock water quality as at 20 May 2013, 9am
- Aquatic ecosystem water quality as at 20 May 2013, 9am
- Explanatory information for water quality rating
- Sub-regional guidelines for protecting freshwater aquatic ecosystems
Comments
Last reading: 9am, Monday 20 May 2013
Extraction date: 20 May 2013
Drinking, irrigation and livestock water quality as at 20 May 2013, 9am
| Catchment | Site | Electrical conductivity µS/cm | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical conductivity (24hr avg) |
Drinking water1 | Irrigation | Livestock watering | ||
| Callide | Callide Creek at Goovigen | 1156 | (b) | (b) | (a) |
| Upper Dawson | Dawson River at Taroom | 689 | (a) | (b) | (a) |
| Lower Dawson | Dawson River at Beckers | 309 | (a) | (a) | (a) |
| Comet | Comet River at the Lake | 404 | (a) | (a) | (a) |
| Upper Nogoa | Nogoa River at Craigmore | 868 | (a) | (b) | (a) |
| Lower Nogoa | Nogoa River at Duck Ponds | 1005 | (b) | (b) | (a) |
| Theresa | Theresa Creek at Gregory Highway | 1031 | (b) | (b) | (a) |
| Upper Isaac | Isaac River at Deverill | 554 | (a) | (a) | (a) |
| Lower Isaac | Isaac River at Yatton | 354 | (a) | (a) | (a) |
| Connors | Connors River at Pink Lagoon | 404 | (a) | (a) | (a) |
| Mackenzie | Mackenzie River at Coolmaringa | 429 | (a) | (a) | (a) |
| Fitzroy | Fitzroy River at The Gap | 494 | (a) | (a) | (a) |
1 Raw water, which has not been treated for town supply.
Aquatic ecosystem water quality as at 20 May 2013, 9am
| Catchment | Stream Site | Aquatic ecosystem (median2) | Water quality | Flow Regime | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rate (ML/day) | Last changed | ||||
| Callide | Callide Creek at Goovigen | 1233 | (b) | low (161) | 17 Apr 13 |
| Upper Dawson | Dawson river at Taroom | 519 | (b) | low (17) | 15 Mar 13 |
| Lower Dawson | Dawson River at Beckers | 295 | (a) | low (128) | 17 Mar 13 |
| Comet | Comet River at the Lake | 372 | (a) | low (47) | 26 Mar 13 |
| Upper Nogoa | Nogoa River at Craigmore | 619 | (b) | low (0.5) | 10 Mar 13 |
| Lower Nogoa | Nogoa River at Duck Ponds | 932 | (b) | low (82) | 15 Mar 13 |
| Theresa | Theresa Creek at Gregory Highway | 785 | (b) | low (0.8) | 12 Mar 13 |
| Upper Isaac | Isaac River at Deverill | 565 | (a) | low (9) | 30 Apr 13 |
| Lower Isaac | Isaac River at Yatton | 375 | (a) | low (1386) | 01 May 13 |
| Connors | Connors River at Pink Lagoon | 364 | (a) | low (1326) | 29 Apr 13 |
| Mackenzie | Mackenzie River at Coolmaringa | 328 | (b) | low (1866) | 03 May 13 |
| Fitzroy | Fitzroy River The Gap | 488 | (b) | low (3687) | 18 May 13 |
2 Medians of the data for the period since the last flow regime change (date shown in last column); thus being consistent with the subregional water quality guidelines listed below and the application of limits in the Queensland Water Quality Guidelines 2009.
Explanatory information for water quality rating
| Intended use | Water quality indicator | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| no data | (a) | (b) | (c) | (d) | |
| Livestock watering | No data available | <3000 μS/cm No adverse impacts |
3000–<4500 μS/cm Early alert: poultry |
4500–7500 μS/cm Loss of production: dairy and poultry Early alert: pigs and beef |
> 7500 μS/cm Loss of production: beef Early alert: sheep |
| Irrigation | No data available | <600 μS/cm Suitable for all plants |
600–<1300 μS/cm Suitable for the majority of plants. Alert for sensitive plants |
1300–3000 μS/cm Suitable for plants tolerant to medium levels of salinity |
> 3000 μS/cm Suitable for very tolerant plants only |
| Human drinking water4 | No data available | < 940 μS/cm Good (#) |
940–<1405 μS/cm Fair |
1405–1875 μS/cm Poor |
>1875 μS/cm Unacceptable |
| Aquatic Ecosystem | No data available | Within sub-regional guidelines for protection of aquatic ecosystem | Exceeds sub-regional guidelines for protection of aquatic ecosystem | >1500 μS/cm Impact on fish reproduction |
|
# The Australian Drinking Water Guidelines 2011 provides the threshold value of <940 μS/cm for good quality drinking water, while the raw drinking water quality objective for Electrical Conductivity (EC) in the Fitzroy is defined in Schedule 1 of the Environmental Protection (Water) Policy 2009 (PDF)* as <400 μS/cm.
4 Human drinking water thresholds relate to Australian Drinking Water Standards. People who need to monitor their dietary intake should seek professional advice.
The electrical conductivity–based categories for “livestock watering” and “human drinking water” are derived from TDS limits (i.e. total dissolved solids, milligrams per litre; mg/L) using the relationships defined in relevant reference material.
For further information on livestock water and irrigation refer to the Australian Government website.
Sub-regional guidelines for protecting freshwater aquatic ecosystems
Sub-regional guidelines for protecting freshwater aquatic ecosystems of the Fitzroy Basin — phase 1.
| Catchment | µS/cm |
|
|---|---|---|
| Low flow (upper value) |
High flow (upper value) |
|
| Callide | 1150 | 600 |
| Upper Dawson | 370 | 210 |
| Lower Dawson | 340† | 210 |
| Comet | 375 | 210 |
| Upper Nogoa | 350 | 210 |
| Lower Nogoa | 340† | 250 |
| Theresa Ck | 720† | 250 |
| Upper Isaac | 720† | 250 |
| Lower Isaac | 410 | 210 |
| Connors | 430 | 250 |
| Mackenzie | 310 | 210 |
| Fitzroy | 445 | 250 |
†These figures are based on the 75th electrical conductivity percentiles for Queensland salinity zones as listed in Appendix G (PDF)* of the Queensland Water Quality Guidelines 2009 (ie 340 µS/cm for Fitzroy Central, 320 µS/cm for Fitzroy North and 760 µS/cm for Callide).
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Last updated 22 May 2013