Summary

A Water Quality Sampling & Monitoring Program outlines how surface water and groundwater will be sampled, analysed, and assessed to track water quality changes during construction, remediation, or operational activities. It ensures compliance with environmental approvals and protects downstream environments and sensitive receptors.

Definition

A Water Quality Sampling & Monitoring Program is a structured plan that specifies the methods, locations, frequency, parameters, and quality assurance measures for water sampling and monitoring to assess environmental impacts and compliance with regulatory limits. It forms a core component of environmental management systems for projects interacting with waterways, groundwater, stormwater, or contaminated land.

Why It Matters

Water quality is one of the most closely regulated environmental aspects in Australia. Poor water management can lead to pollution events, ecological harm, and regulatory enforcement. A robust Water Quality Sampling & Monitoring Program helps project teams to:

monitor contaminants, turbidity, nutrients, metals, and hydrocarbons

detect pollution events early and respond quickly

assess groundwater drawdown, dewatering discharge quality, and treatment performance

demonstrate compliance with EPA licences, planning conditions, and water-authority approvals

protect sensitive environments such as wetlands, waterways, aquatic habitats, and groundwater-dependent ecosystems

satisfy audit, reporting, and risk-management requirements

Water Quality Sampling & Monitoring Programs must align with jurisdiction-specific regulatory frameworks, including EPA guidelines, ANZG (Australian & New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh & Marine Water Quality), and water-authority discharge criteria.

When It’s Required

A Water Quality Sampling and Monitoring Program is required whenever construction, remediation, or operational activities have the potential to impact water quality. Common triggers include:

Dewatering and Groundwater Extraction

Monitoring is required to assess discharge quality and potential drawdown impacts, typically outlined in a Dewatering Management Plan (DMP).

Excavation, Remediation, and Earthworks

Activities disturbing contaminated soil or groundwater can mobilise contaminants, requiring routine and event-based water testing.

Construction Near Sensitive Waterways

Projects located near rivers, creeks, estuaries, stormwater systems, or wetlands require ongoing monitoring to ensure no off-site impacts.

EPA or Licence Requirements

Water quality monitoring is frequently mandated under:

EPA clean-up notices
pollution licences
development approval conditions
environmental audits

Landfill, Waste, or Industrial Sites

Operational sites require long-term water-quality monitoring to track leachate, seepage, or contamination risk.

Rainfall or Trigger Events

Event-based monitoring may be activated following major rainfall, spills, or threshold exceedances.

How We Can Help

Nova Group Pacific delivers technically robust WQMPs and monitoring services supported by environmental scientists, hydrogeologists, and compliance specialists.

Our capabilities include: