Water quality is an important element in river health. Poor water quality can adversely affect the ecology of rivers, restrict the amount of water available for consumption and industry, and diminish recreational use of waterways. All land use activities in a catchment have the potential to impact on water quality. 

Threats to water quality include:

• increases in salinity
• nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen
• sediments and turbidity
• toxicants such as heavy metals and pesticides
• bacterial contamination
• reduced dissolved oxygen levels
• altered acidity (pH)
• altered water temperatures.

Comparing 2005 and 2008 data suggests that water quality in Victorian streams has remained relatively consistent since the release of the 2005 report card.

Since 2002, there have been improvements in various water quality parameters. However, work is still required to address dissolved oxygen, total phosphorus, total nitrogen and biological parameters in both high and lowland sites, if sites are to meet the State Environment Protection Policies (Waters of Victoria) objectives and in turn meet the 2011 water quality target. Low river flows over the drought have influenced water quality.

For more information on the State Environment Protection Policies (Waters of Victoria) see the EPA website.