The Catchment Health Indicator Program (CHIP) Report Card provides a health score for our rivers and wetlands using data collected by Waterwatch volunteers.
Although it may seem that it (your data) doesn't vary much at some sites, remember that it forms part of the bigger picture of data in (our) catchment which in turn forms part of the picture of Upper Murrumbidgee catchment health. Your site may be upstream or downstream of another Waterwatch site, and your data tells us what is happening close to the site, as well as what is happening upstream and in the subcatchment above. It can tell us about a short, sharp event that causes some change in water quality - though thankfully these are generally rare and short-lived. However it also tells us about gradual change over time near particular sites and across the catchment, and this is generally how waterways and catchment health are affected: by many small changes accumulating. These could be changes such as a new development that reduces water quality downstream, hopefully only for the short term; or the changes could be planting, erosion control, changes to stock management, or perhaps urban wetlands, that gradually improve water quality over time. ~ Deb Kellock, Molonglo Waterwatch Coordinator, to volunteers.
A review conducted by the University of Canberra found that the Waterwatch database provides a good quality baseline dataset for assessing water quality in the ACT.
Data gathered from more than 300 Waterwatch sites is used for compliance monitoring in the ACT Government Water Report, and contributes to early warning monitoring for changes in water quality.