In 1992, the Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments introduced
the National
Water Quality Management Strategy (NWQMS) to achieve sustainable
use of the nation's water resources. The Water Quality Policy
brings South Australia in line with the NWQMS.
The main objective of the Water
Quality Policy is to:
"…achieve the sustainable management of waters, by
protecting or enhancing water quality while allowing economic
and social development"
The policy aims to achieve this objective by:
- setting environmental values and water quality objectives
for streams, rivers, oceans and groundwater
- establishing obligations for industry and the community to
manage and control different forms of pollution
- encouraging better use of wastewater by
- avoiding its production
- eliminating, or reducing it
- recycling and re-using it
- treating it to reduce potential harm to the environment
- promoting best practice environmental management
- promoting within the community environmental responsibility
and involvement in environmental issues
- setting discharge limits for particular activities.
Any person, business or industry that fails to comply with the
new laws may receive an on-the-spot fine, an environment protection
order, and/or face prosecution in court.
Polluting activities which are banned under the policy include
washing a vehicle on the street, washing animal faeces into a
stormwater drain, and allowing dirt from a building site to enter
the stormwater system.
For further information about the Water Quality Policy see:
Authorities that may enforce the Water Quality Policy include
the Environment Protection Authority, local councils and other
government authorities.
