Water Quality Reviews

When CCB undertakes a water quality review we are particularly focused on delivering our Client an understanding of how their ecosystem functions and the major factors controlling ecosystem health rather than just the more traditional approach of comparing measured water quality to a series of guidelines for compliance.

Examples of a few recent studies:

Caboolture Estuary. Client: Moreton Bay Regional Council

In this study we compiled, analysed and interpreted water quality data for the Caboolture River Estuary to identify any perceptible changes in water quality since the upgrade of the Caboolture South Wastewater Treatment Plant. We also identified the major factors controlling water quality and ecosystem health of the Caboolture River Estuary so management efforts could be concentrated on the problem areas and identified data gaps in understanding. Modifications to the current water quality monitoring for the Caboolture River Estuary were also identified to improve the program.
Client Outcome: Despite years of water quality monitoring our client new little about how their river- estuarine ecosystem functioned. We provided our client with a detailed understanding of how their marine ecosystem functioned that assisted them with their management decisions.

Lake Macquarie. Client: Lake Macquarie & Catchment Coordinators (LM&CC)

We analysed and interpreted water quality data for Lake Macquarie and identified perceptible changes over time and the factors controlling water quality in the Lake. We also evaluated the current water quality monitoring for Lake Macquarie and identified modifications to improve the program.
Our first review was for the period during the period 1994 to 2001, and we were then invited to do the same review again for the period 2002 to 2005.
Client Outcome: We provided our client with a detailed understanding of how their marine ecosystem functioned that assisted them with their management decisions. In addition we provided a community information sheet that was used by our client for communicating the findings of the study to the community.

Historical Trends in Water Quality. Client: Moreton Bay Waterways and Catchment Partnership
This study was part of the Brisbane River and Moreton Bay Wastewater Management Study. We examined suspended sediment and nutrient concentrations along the Brisbane and Logan River estuaries and in Moreton Bay to see if the distribution of nutrient pools had changed over time. We calculated the magnitude of change in water quality over the past 80 years in the Brisbane and Logan River estuaries under different flow conditions and seasons, and interpreted the observed changes with regard to anthropogenic influences. Because we used data sets from 1917, 1952, 1972-1976, 1970's and 1997 the study required a comparison and discussion of field and analytical methods as well a comparison of the data.
Client Outcome: This study allowed our client to gauge how much their water quality had deteriorated.

We were also recently invited to undertake the 2002-2005 water quality review of Lake Macquarie.

Pine River Estuary. Client: Pine Shire Council
In this study we compiled, analysed and interpreted water quality data for the Pine River Estuary to identify any perceptible changes in water quality since the upgrade of the Brendale (March 2000) and Murrumba (January 2000) wastewater treatment plants. We also identified the major factors controlling water quality and ecosystem health of the Pine River Estuary so management efforts could be concentrated on the problem areas and identified data gaps in understanding. Modifications to the current water quality monitoring for the Pine River Estuary were also identified to improve the program.Client Outcome: Despite years of water quality monitoring our client new little about how their river- estuarine ecosystem functioned. We provided our client with a detailed understanding of how their marine ecosystem functioned that assisted them with their management decisions.

Updated: 16 December 2010