Welcome to the Upper Parramatta River Catchment Water Quality Database!

What data are stored?

This database stores water quality data collected from streams throughout the Upper Parramatta River Catchment in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Two types of data are stored in the database: data obtained by school and community Waterwatch groups and data obtained by professional scientists and commercial laboratories (Dr John Laxton, Sydney Water and the Australian Government Analytical Laboratory). Watchwatch data include physical, chemical and microbial parameters and macro-invertebrate survey results (which indicate stream health), as well as details of each group and their activities.

Waterwatch groups generally monitor temperature, turbidity, total dissolved solids or conductivity, pH, total or available phosphate, dissolved oxygen, faecal coliform and macro invertebrates. However some local groups may focus their efforts on a certain parameter, for example faecal coliform if they suspect there is sewage contamination in their creeks. Or, if a school group is concerned about an algal bloom in their school dam then, it may concentrate on monitoring phosphates.

How can the data and the database be used?

The data is collected and stored to assist the Trust, local councils and the community to study the state of water quality and the stream health in catchment streams and design, and implement measures to improve water quality and stream health. The database program allows local Waterwatch coordinators to:
* enter Waterwatch data and store it as a record or file;
* develop graphs and produce short reports about the data; and
* keep a record of Waterwatch activities and projects.

Why collect water quality data?

Waterwatch groups undertake water quality monitoring for a variety of reasons. Some high schools have implemented Waterwatch into their year 9 Geography, year 9 Science, senior Chemistry or Biology curricula. Most primary school groups undertake monitoring mainly for education and awareness-raising purposes. A local bushcare group may wish to monitor water quality in a creek in order to assess the environmental impacts of building a wetland or a motorway on, or across, the creek.