The Water Corporation scaled back its water quality monitoring regime in Cockburn Sound since 2009, with changes occurring in 2010, 2013, 2014 and 2015 following Ministerial Statements and consultation with the OEPA.

AnsweredQoN 5436Legislative Assembly
Asked
10 May 2016
Portfolio
Water

QuestionView source ↗

(1) Further to Legislative Assembly Question on Notice 4903, has the Water Corporation in any way scaled back or altered its water quality monitoring regime in Cockburn Sound since 2009? (2) If yes to (1), when did those alterations take place, what was the nature of the changes, and on whose authority were those changes made?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
15 June 2016
Responded by
Minister for Water
Response time
36 days
(1)       Yes.
(2)       In 2010, as directed by Ministerial Statement 832, an extensive monitoring program superseded the existing monitoring program that had been in place since 2004 under Ministerial Statement 655.
In 2013, results of the extensive monitoring were submitted to the Office of the Environmental Protection Authority (OEPA), who subsequently advised in April 2014 a reversion to the monitoring program under Ministerial Statement 655.
In October 2014, following consultation with the OEPA, continuous monitoring stations were removed from Cockburn Sound. Continuous monitoring of incoming seawater and brine effluent remains ongoing including dissolved oxygen, temperature and pH levels.
In July 2015, following consultation with OEPA, the monitoring at five locations in Cockburn Sound was altered from a monthly to a quarterly basis.

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