The ACT Lakes and Rivers water quality monitoring program (2015 – 2024) is a water quality monitoring program operated by the ACT Government. Monitoring is contracted out to a National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA)-accredited laboratory.
Water quality sampling is undertaken 6 – 8 times per year at 20 locations in the ACT, and one additional location in Burrinjuck Reservoir. Sampling locations include major rivers, creeks, urban lakes and ponds. The latitude and longitude of sampling locations is provided, along with a descriptive name of the sampling location. Samples are collected manually, with a water sample taken to the laboratory for analysis. Some parameters (pH, dissolved oxygen, conductivity and temperature) are measured in-situ with a digital probe. Samples are either taken from the surface (S), the bottom (B) or a with a depth-integrating tube (T). In lakes, a depth profile of measurements are taken with the digital probe from near the water surface, to the bottom.
The date and (usually) time are recorded when a sample is taken. Additional information regarding the hydrological state of the waterway, (instantaneous gauge flow, gauge height) are derived from the ACT hydrometric network.
28 variables representing the physical/chemical and biological parameters (or analytes) of water are measured. The measurement is recorded, along with the unit of measurement. Where measurement values are outside of limits of detection, a “<” or “>” may be recorded, indicating that a value is outside the accepted limit of detection. Data cleansing and validation may be required, depending on the use case. While all care is taken to ensure accuracy, the ACT Government does not warrant that the data is free from errors.
