This part of the toolkit relates to specific issues which might arise from WQM activities undertaken by local government. It uses a “mini-encyclopaedia” approach and provides detailed advice on over forty WQM issues. However rather than using the alphabet, as is done in a traditional encyclopaedia, it utilises the eight “values” based categories set out in the ANZECC Water Quality Guidelines. (Note: Rural runoff has been included in Agriculture on this website, hence there are seven entries in the dropdown menu, not eight.)These categories act as the main gateways to information the user might be seeking about a particular category, as well as any WQM issues related to that category.

Each WQM category contains advice on:

• the important WQM issues for that category
• relevant protocols
• a list of useful contacts and their responsibilities

Links are provided from each category to information sheets on related topics. These sheets follow the same format and provide information, where possible, as set out below:

• General: Provides a brief introduction to the water quality monitoring issue
• Suggested Protocols: Nominates relevant protocols for monitoring for consideration of Councils.
• Costs: General costs including staff, travel and OH & S are not included. Indicative costs of important specific elements are included where these are available.
• Case Studies: Selected case studies are presented to assist Councils with background and different approaches for a variety of situations.
• People Contacts: People who are currently working in the field and who are willing to provide limited assistance and advice to Councils. Contact with these people should generally be made by email in the first instance.
• Organisational Contacts: Organisations who should be able to assist with initial and more generic enquiries.
• Advanced References: References and abstracts are provided as an insight to the current state of latest international and national knowledge and research for the particular issue.