Water Science & Technology Vol 21 No 2 pp 71–76 © IWA Publishing 1989

Setting and Achieving Water Quality Criteria for Recreation

J. A. Crockett^*, K. J. Hartley^** and W. D. Williams^***

Water-based recreation is popular in Australia. On the coast many canal estates and marinas are being constructed. Australia’s arid and variable climate introduces unusual problems in the establishment of inland recreational lakes. In setting water quality criteria what is achievable must be balanced with what is desirable and criteria may need to be varied between flood and dry periods. Greater emphasis should be placed on understanding, monitoring and managing the ecology of water-bodies. If a stable ecology is maintained, it will generally follow that water quality and conditions surrounding the water-body will be acceptable for human use. In developing new lakes and canals we must carry out some mathematical modelling in order to provide a rational basis for determining water quality criteria and the necessary management actions.

Keywords: Water quality (natural waters), standards, pollution, recreation, Australia, limnology, biology.

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