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Home > Our Environment > Water Quality Sampling Program Water Quality Sampling Program

Maitland City Council has undertaken sampling of the Maitland waterways since 1995. The river is used by many people for irrigation, stock watering and recreation. Monitoring provides the community with indicators of water quality and usability.

Warning: Results are only indicative of water quality at the time of sampling and should act as a guide only to water quality issues. As water quality can change rapidly over short periods of time, cfu results given for water use activites do not indicate that any site is suitable for these activities on any given day.

Water Quality Map

Water Monitoring Results For:
LocationTurbiditySalinityFCWater use
1. Luskintyre       
2. Melville Ford       
3. Queens Wharf       
4. Duckenfield       
5. Wallis Creek       
6. Fishery Creek       
 

Key
Turbidity - Turbidity (ntu)
Salinity - Salinity (electrical conductivity µs/cm)
FC - Faecal Coliforms (cfu/100 ml)
Water use - Water use (suitability indication)

Legend

Parameter measured

Good  ****

Moderate ***

Fair  **

Poor *

Turbidty (ntu)

<5

5-25

25-50

>50

Salinity (us/cm)

<280

280-800

800-1500

>1500

Faecal coliforms (cfu/100ml)

Less than 150

n/a

150-1000

>1000

 

Icon                                          
Description

Primary Contact Recreation

Activities involving immersion in water

Secondary Contact Recreation

Activities that could involve splashing of water onto the body

Stock Water

Suitable for stock to drink
Dairy cattle
Governing Parameter(s)

Faecal coliform (cfu) levels <150cfu/100ml

cfu levels
<1000cfu/100ml

Salinity= <3700us/cm)
cfu levels= <100 cfu/100ml

The aims of the sampling program are to:

  • establish a water quality database
  • target problem areas
  • raise awareness in the community

The program is a co-operative effort between Councils, the Hunter Catchment Management Trust, Hunter Water Corporation, Department of Land and Water Conservation and local media. The results of the water sampling are made available in the Maitland Mercury on a regular basis.

What is Monitored in the samples?

Phosphorus

Phosphorus is found in detergents and fertilisers, and contributes to the rapid growth of algae in our water systems, which leads to taste, odour and toxicity problems.

Nitrates

Nitrates are toxic chemicals and are widespread in Australian ground-waters. Elevated nitrate levels can occur naturally, as a result of agricultural practices, or from waste disposal. There is evidence that nitrates in humans can be converted to cancer causing chemicals.

Faecal Coliforms

Faecal Coliforms are pathogenic organisms that contribute to the spread of infections and disease epidemics. E.coli is specifically of faecal origin and is therefore the most accurate indicator of faecal pollution.

Electrical Conductivity (Salinity)

An increase in salinity levels above the current acceptable limit has a direct adverse biological effect on river, stream and wetland ecosystems. Water usage for drinking and irrigation purposes may also be adversely affected.