Some of the ways in which water quality data can be used to aid decision making by councils are as follows:

• Councils can incorporate water quality information into planning and environmental documents and procedures, including Stormwater Management Plans and Development Control Plans.
• Councils can determine their compliance with conditions set out in drinking water, wastewater and other licences.
• Councils can make decisions on recreational water quality that relate to human health, such as whether to close beaches to swimming.
• Councils and communities can examine the current state of water quality in their area and examine how it changes through time.
• Changes/trends in water quality may also indicate changes in the state of the environment in general.
• Changes in water quality might sometimes provide an indication as to whether environmental management actions within the LGA or catchment are having an impact. However, these types of conclusions are subject to limitations (see below).
• Water quality data are a valuable inclusion in State of the Environment reports.
• Water quality results may identify a pollution problem that might otherwise go undetected.
• Councils can rate sites across a catchment according to water quality. This may in turn allow water quality to be included as a consideration in prioritising areas in the LGA for management actions.
• Water quality data can be used to support budget allocations or funding for capital works, education or community programs.
• Water quality data may assist in environmental impact assessment.