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Home > Coastal and floodplains > Estuaries > Factsheets > Water Quality

Estuaries in NSW

Estuarine Water Quality

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Introduction

The "water quality" of a body of water is a measure of its environmental values and its suitability for particular uses. This is determined by a combination of factors, such as appearance and smell, and by the concentration of a variety of particulate and dissolved substances contained in the water (SPCC, 1990).

These Fact Sheets briefly describe the water quality parameters of most concern in New South Wales Estuaries, how they are measured, and their known effects on estuarine biota and human amenity.

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