sec.8

sec.8 Indicators and water quality guidelines for environmental values for waters

An indicator for an environmental value for water is a physical, chemical, biological or other property that can be measured or decided in a quantitative way. The concentration of nutrients and pH value are types of chemical indicators. Secchi disc clarity and temperature are types of physical indicators. Seagrass depth range, macroinvertebrate family richness and percentage of exotic fish are types of biological indicators. Water quality guidelines are quantitative measures or statements for indicators, including, for example, the concentration or load of a contaminant of water, that protect a stated environmental value. For particular water, the indicators and water quality guidelines for an environmental value are decided using the following documents— site-specific documents for the water; the document called ‘Queensland water quality guidelines 2009’, published on the department’s website; the document called ‘Australian and New Zealand guidelines for fresh and marine water quality’, published by the Commonwealth; the document called ‘PFAS national environmental management plan’, published by the Commonwealth; the document called ‘Australian drinking water guidelines 6’, published on the National Health and Medical Research Council’s website; the document called ‘Guidelines for managing risks in recreational water’, published on the National Health and Medical Research Council’s website; the document called ‘Guidance on per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in recreational water’, published on the National Health and Medical Research Council’s website; other relevant documents published by a recognised entity. Also, for water mentioned in schedule 1 , column 1, the indicators for an environmental value include the indicators stated in the document opposite the water in schedule 1 , column 2. To the extent of any inconsistency between the documents mentioned in subsection (3) for a particular water quality guideline, the documents are to be used in the order in which they are listed in that subsection. In this section— load , of a contaminant of water, means the mass of the contaminant in the water measured over a period of time. site-specific document , for water, means a document that— contains specific information about the water, or part of the water; and is recognised by the chief executive as having appropriate scientific authority. s 8 amd 2020 SL No. 243 s 3 ; 2022 SL No. 125 s 5 (sec.8-ssec.1) An indicator for an environmental value for water is a physical, chemical, biological or other property that can be measured or decided in a quantitative way. The concentration of nutrients and pH value are types of chemical indicators. Secchi disc clarity and temperature are types of physical indicators. Seagrass depth range, macroinvertebrate family richness and percentage of exotic fish are types of biological indicators. (sec.8-ssec.2) Water quality guidelines are quantitative measures or statements for indicators, including, for example, the concentration or load of a contaminant of water, that protect a stated environmental value. (sec.8-ssec.3) For particular water, the indicators and water quality guidelines for an environmental value are decided using the following documents— site-specific documents for the water; the document called ‘Queensland water quality guidelines 2009’, published on the department’s website; the document called ‘Australian and New Zealand guidelines for fresh and marine water quality’, published by the Commonwealth; the document called ‘PFAS national environmental management plan’, published by the Commonwealth; the document called ‘Australian drinking water guidelines 6’, published on the National Health and Medical Research Council’s website; the document called ‘Guidelines for managing risks in recreational water’, published on the National Health and Medical Research Council’s website; the document called ‘Guidance on per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in recreational water’, published on the National Health and Medical Research Council’s website; other relevant documents published by a recognised entity. (sec.8-ssec.4) Also, for water mentioned in schedule 1 , column 1, the indicators for an environmental value include the indicators stated in the document opposite the water in schedule 1 , column 2. (sec.8-ssec.5) To the extent of any inconsistency between the documents mentioned in subsection (3) for a particular water quality guideline, the documents are to be used in the order in which they are listed in that subsection. (sec.8-ssec.6) In this section— load , of a contaminant of water, means the mass of the contaminant in the water measured over a period of time. site-specific document , for water, means a document that— contains specific information about the water, or part of the water; and is recognised by the chief executive as having appropriate scientific authority.

• 1 The concentration of nutrients and pH value are types of chemical indicators.
• 2 Secchi disc clarity and temperature are types of physical indicators.
• 3 Seagrass depth range, macroinvertebrate family richness and percentage of exotic fish are types of biological indicators.
• (a) site-specific documents for the water;
• (b) the document called ‘Queensland water quality guidelines 2009’, published on the department’s website;
• (c) the document called ‘Australian and New Zealand guidelines for fresh and marine water quality’, published by the Commonwealth;
• (d) the document called ‘PFAS national environmental management plan’, published by the Commonwealth;
• (e) the document called ‘Australian drinking water guidelines 6’, published on the National Health and Medical Research Council’s website;
• (f) the document called ‘Guidelines for managing risks in recreational water’, published on the National Health and Medical Research Council’s website;
• (g) the document called ‘Guidance on per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in recreational water’, published on the National Health and Medical Research Council’s website;
• (h) other relevant documents published by a recognised entity.
• (a) contains specific information about the water, or part of the water; and
• (b) is recognised by the chief executive as having appropriate scientific authority.