Water guideline value tables
Water sampling – Turon River near Lithgow
Table 1: Recreational Water Guideline values (NHMRC 2008)
Lower Daylight Ck (Point 2)
|
Upper Daylight Ck (Point 1) |
Lower Daylight Ck (Point 2) |
Williwa Creek (Point 3) |
Jews Creek (Point 4) |
||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Sample date |
Spring 23 |
Autumn 24 |
Winter 24 |
Spring 23 |
Autumn 24 | Winter 24 |
Spring 23 |
Autumn 24 |
Winter 24 |
Spring 23 |
Autumn 24 |
Winter 24 | |
|
Analytes |
Recreational Water Guideline values (NHMRC 2008)2 |
mg/L |
mg/L |
mg/L |
mg/L |
||||||||
|
Aluminium |
2^ |
- |
3.7 |
4.7 |
0.04 |
<0.04 |
0.61 |
<0.04 |
0.05 |
0.09 |
<0.04 |
<0.04 |
<0.04 |
|
Arsenic |
0.1 |
- |
0.003 |
0.002 |
<0.001 |
0.001 |
<0.001 |
<0.001 |
0.002 |
<0.001 |
<0.001 |
0.001 |
<0.001 |
|
Chromium |
0.5 (CrVI) |
- |
<0.001 |
<0.001 |
<0.001 |
<0.001 |
<0.001 |
<0.001 |
<0.001 |
<0.001 |
<0.001 |
<0.001 |
<0.001 |
|
Cobalt |
No value |
- |
0.022 |
0.017 |
0.0023 |
0.006 |
0.005 |
<0.0001 |
0.0003 |
<0.0001 |
0.0002 |
0.0001 |
0.0001 |
|
Copper |
20 |
- |
0.8 |
0.7 |
0.055 |
0.045 |
0.19 |
0.0027 |
0.0028 |
0.0022 |
0.0009 |
<0.0005 |
0.0005 |
|
Lead |
0.1 |
- |
0.83 |
0.3 |
0.011 |
0.008 |
0.071 |
0.0002 |
0.0008 |
0.0003 |
<0.0001 |
<0.0001 |
<0.0001 |
|
Nickel |
0.2 |
- |
0.035 |
0.029 |
0.011 |
0.01 |
0.001 |
0.0012 |
0.0011 |
0.0011 |
0.004 |
0.0035 |
0.0029 |
|
Zinc |
30^ |
- |
26 |
24 |
6.6 |
8 |
10 |
0.2 |
0.09 |
0.37 |
0.003 |
0.002 |
<0.001 |
|
Woolshed Flat Campground (Point 5) |
The Diggings Campground (Point 6) |
Turon River Campground (Point 7) |
||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Sample date |
Spring 23 |
Autumn 24 |
Winter 24 |
Spring 23 |
Autumn 24 |
Winter 24 |
Spring 23 |
Autumn 24 |
Winter 24 | |
|
Analytes |
Recreational Water Guideline values (NHMRC 2008)2 |
mg/L |
mg/L |
mg/L |
||||||
|
Aluminium |
2^ |
<0.04 |
<0.04 |
<0.04 |
<0.04 |
<0.04 |
<0.04 |
<0.04 |
<0.04 |
0.04 |
|
Arsenic |
0.1 |
<0.001 |
0.002 |
<0.001 |
<0.001 |
0.002 |
<0.001 |
<0.001 |
0.002 |
<0.001 |
|
Chromium |
0.5 (CrVI) |
<0.001 |
<0.001 |
<0.001 |
<0.001 |
<0.001 |
<0.001 |
<0.001 |
<0.001 |
<0.001 |
|
Cobalt |
No value |
<0.0001 |
<0.0001 |
<0.0001 |
<0.0001 |
0.0001 |
<0.0001 |
<0.0001 |
<0.0001 |
<0.0001 |
|
Copper |
20 |
0.0016 |
0.0015 |
0.0013 |
0.0014 |
0.0012 |
0.0013 |
0.0014 |
0.0014 |
0.0013 |
|
Lead |
0.1 |
0.0001 |
0.0002 |
0.0003 |
0.0001 |
0.0003 |
0.0001 |
0.0001 |
0.0003 |
0.0002 |
|
Nickel |
0.2 |
0.0012 |
0.0018 |
0.0011 |
0.0011 |
0.0017 |
0.0010 |
0.0011 |
0.0015 |
0.001 |
|
Zinc |
30^ |
0.027 |
0.022 |
0.061 |
0.021 |
0.021 |
0.05 |
0.021 |
0.019 |
0.047 |
^No health-based guideline value for drinking water. Based on guideline value for aesthetic (visual/taste) risks for drinking water.
2 NHMRC (2008) Guideline for managing risks in recreational water (suggests 10 x drinking water guideline value can be used to screen recreational water quality)
Water sampling – Turon River near Lithgow
Table 2: Water Quality Guideline Values for upland river aquatic ecosystems (95% species protection unless indicated)
|
Upper Daylight Ck (Point 1) |
Lower Daylight Ck (Point 2) |
Williwa Creek (Point 3) |
Jews Creek (Point 4) |
||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Sample date |
Spring 23 |
Autumn 24 |
Winter 24 |
Spring 23 |
Autumn 24 | Winter 24 |
Spring 23 |
Autumn 24 |
Winter 24 |
Spring 23 |
Autumn 24 | Winter 24 | |
|
Analytes |
WQGs upland river (95% protection)# |
mg/L |
mg/L |
mg/L |
mg/L |
||||||||
|
Dissolved oxygen (% sat.)‡ |
90-100 |
97.8 |
92.2 |
121.6 |
115.1 |
71.8 |
119.7 |
64.9 |
102 |
90.2 |
|||
|
Electrical conductivity (µS/cm)‡ |
30-350 |
381 |
417 |
349 |
191 |
207 |
174 |
462 |
419 |
360 |
1370 |
1530 |
1110 |
|
pH‡ |
6.5-8 |
6.0 |
3.9 |
3.8 |
6.0 |
5.9 |
5.0 |
6.0 |
8.2 |
8.2 |
8.4 |
8.4 |
8.3 |
|
Turbidity (NTU)‡ |
2-25 |
4.3 |
0.0 |
0 |
3.3 |
0.0 |
2.4 |
2.3 |
16.0 |
2.4 |
2.8 |
2.3 |
1.5 |
|
Aluminium |
pH <6.5 (0.0008)+ |
- |
3.6 |
4.8 |
<0.04 |
<0.04 |
<0.04 |
<0.04 |
|
|
|
||
|
Aluminium |
pH >6.5 |
|
|
|
|
|
<0.04 |
<0.04 |
<0.04 |
<0.04 |
<0.04 | ||
|
Arsenic |
0.013 (AsV) |
- |
0.003 |
0.002 |
<0.001 |
0.001 |
<0.001 |
<0.001 |
0.001 |
<0.001 |
<0.001 |
0.001 |
<0.001 |
|
Cadmium |
0.0002 |
- |
0.091 |
0.079 |
0.024 |
0.027 |
0.031 |
0.0008 |
0.0002 |
0.001 |
<0.0001 |
<0.0001 |
<0.0001 |
|
Chromium |
0.001 (CrVI) |
- |
<0.001 |
<0.001 |
<0.001 |
<0.001 |
<0.001 |
<0.001 |
<0.001 |
<0.001 |
<0.001 |
<0.001 |
<0.001 |
|
Cobolt |
0.0014+ |
- |
0.021 |
0.018 |
0.002 |
0.0005 |
0.0049 |
<0.0001 |
0.0002 |
<0.0001 |
0.0001 |
0.0001 |
<0.0001 |
|
Copper |
0.0014 |
- |
0.79 |
0.72 |
0.041 |
0.029 |
0.160 |
0.002 |
0.0013 |
0.0018 |
<0.0005 |
<0.0005 |
<0.0005 |
|
Cyanide |
0.007 |
- |
<0.004 |
<0.004 |
<0.004 |
<0.004 |
<0.004 |
<0.004 |
<0.004 |
<0.004 |
<0.004 |
<0.004 |
<0.004 |
|
Lead |
0.0034 |
- |
0.8 |
0.31 |
0.005 |
0.005 |
0.059 |
<0.0001 |
0.0002 |
0.0001 |
<0.0001 |
<0.0001 |
<0.0001 |
|
Manganese |
1.9 |
- |
1.6 |
1.0 |
0.17 |
0.07 |
0.31 |
0.011 |
0.11 |
0.013 |
0.03 |
0.03 |
0.018 |
|
Mercury |
0.00006* |
- |
<0.00005 |
<0.00004 |
<0.00005 |
<0.00005 |
<0.00004 |
<0.00005 |
<0.00005 |
<0.00004 |
<0.00005 |
<0.00005 |
<0.00004 |
|
Nickel |
0.011 |
- |
0.035 |
0.03 |
0.0095 |
0.0098 |
0.013 |
0.001 |
0.001 |
0.0012 |
0.0034 |
0.0034 |
0.0029 |
|
Selenium |
0.005* |
- |
<0.005 |
<0.005 |
<0.005 |
<0.005 |
<0.005 |
<0.005 |
<0.005 |
<0.005 |
<0.005 |
<0.005 |
<0.005 |
|
Silver |
0.00005 |
- |
0.0001 |
0.0002 |
<0.0001 |
<0.0001 |
<0.0001 |
<0.0001 |
<0.0001 |
<0.0001 |
<0.0001 |
<0.0001 |
<0.0001 |
|
Zinc |
0.008 |
- |
26 |
24 |
6.7 |
7.8 |
11.0 |
0.19 |
0.068 |
0.33 |
<0.001 |
<0.001 |
<0.001 |
| Woolshed Flat Campground (Point 5) | The Diggings Campground (Point 6) | Turon River Campground (Point 7) | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Sample date |
Spring 23 |
Autumn 24 |
Winter 24 |
Spring 23 |
Autumn 24 |
Winter 24 |
Spring 23 |
Autumn 24 |
Winter 24 | |
|
Analytes |
WQGs upland river (95% protection)# |
mg/L |
mg/L |
mg/L |
||||||
|
Dissolved oxygen (% saturation)‡ |
90-100 |
87.9 |
101.2 |
123.2 |
97.6 |
52.0 |
85.3 |
63.4 |
||
|
Electrical conductivity (µS/cm)‡ |
30-350 |
703 |
949 |
559 |
710 |
882 |
560 |
689 |
842 |
547 |
|
pH‡ |
6.5-8 |
8.2 |
7.9 |
7.7 |
8.1 |
7.3 |
6.5 |
8.1 |
7.9 |
7.5 |
|
Turbidity (NTU)‡ |
2-25 |
1.3 |
3.0 |
1.7 |
6.4 |
7.7 |
1.3 |
2.0 |
7.5 |
1.5 |
|
Aluminium |
pH <6.5 (0.0008)+ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
|
Aluminium |
pH >6.5 |
<0.04 |
<0.04 |
<0.04 |
<0.04 |
<0.04 |
<0.04 |
<0.04 |
<0.04 |
<0.04 |
|
Arsenic |
0.013 (AsV) |
<0.001 |
0.002 |
<0.001 |
<0.001 |
0.002 |
<0.001 |
<0.001 |
0.002 |
<0.001 |
|
Cadmium |
0.0002 |
0.0001 |
<0.0001 |
0.0001 |
0.0001 |
<0.0001 |
0.0002 |
0.0001 |
<0.0001 |
0.0001 |
|
Chromium |
0.001 (CrVI) |
<0.001 |
<0.001 |
<0.001 |
<0.001 |
<0.001 |
<0.001 |
<0.001 |
<0.001 |
<0.001 |
|
Cobolt |
0.0014+ |
<0.0001 |
<0.0001 |
<0.0001 |
<0.0001 |
<0.0001 |
<0.0001 |
<0.0001 |
<0.0001 |
<0.0001 |
|
Copper |
0.0014 |
0.0009 |
0.0009 |
0.0009 |
0.0009 |
0.0015 |
0.0019 |
0.0009 |
0.0013 |
0.0009 |
|
Cyanide |
0.007 |
<0.004 |
<0.004 |
<0.004 |
<0.004 |
<0.004 |
<0.004 |
<0.004 |
<0.004 |
<0.004 |
|
Lead |
0.0034 |
<0.0001 |
0.0032 |
<0.0001 |
<0.0001 |
0.0001 |
0.0002 |
<0.0001 |
0.0001 |
<0.0001 |
|
Manganese |
1.9 |
0.012 |
0.05 |
0.011 |
0.007 |
0.05 |
0.008 |
0.007 |
0.03 |
0.006 |
|
Mercury |
0.00006* |
<0.00005 |
<0.00005 |
<0.0004 |
<0.00005 |
<0.00005 |
<0.00004 |
<0.00005 |
<0.00005 |
<0.00004 |
|
Nickel |
0.011 |
0.0011 |
0.0018 |
0.001 |
0.001 |
0.002 |
0.001 |
0.001 |
0.0017 |
0.0009 |
|
Selenium |
0.005* |
<0.005 |
<0.005 |
<0.005 |
<0.005 |
<0.005 |
<0.005 |
<0.005 |
<0.005 |
<0.005 |
|
Silver |
0.00005 |
<0.0001 |
<0.0001 |
<0.0001 |
<0.0001 |
<0.0001 |
<0.0001 |
<0.0001 |
<0.0001 |
<0.0001 |
|
Zinc |
0.008 |
0.019 |
0.018 |
0.05 |
0.017 |
0.018 |
0.044 |
0.017 |
0.018 |
0.037 |
# ANZG (2018). Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality: Default Guideline Values,
+ Low reliability guideline value.
* 99% species protection used to account for the bioaccumulating nature of the toxicant.
‡ Field measurement (using Horiba U52 Water Quality Monitor)
References
ANZG (2018). Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality: Default Guideline Values, http://www.waterquality.gov.au/guidelines/anz-fresh-marine.
Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (2011), https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/about-us/publications/australian-drinking-water-guidelines#block-views-block-file-attachments-content-block-1.
Hayes, W. J., Chaudry T. M., Buckney, R.T., and Khan, A.G. (2003). Phytoaccumulation of Trace Metals at the Sunny Corner Mine, New South Wales, with Suggestions for a Possible Remediation Strategy. Australasian Journal of Ecotoxicology Vol. 9. PP. 69-82.
National Health and Medical Research Council (2008). Guidelines for Managing Risks in Recreational Water. https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/about-us/publications/guidelines-managing-risks-recreational-water#block-views-block-file-attachments-content-block-1