Appendix 4: Variables assessed for state and trends, and guidelines and trigger values used
Managing freshwater quality: Challenges for regional councils.
| Variable type | Variable name | Description | Units | Guidelines used | Trigger value used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Physical | CLAR | Black disc visibility | m | MfE (1994) Guideline* | 1.6 |
| COND | Electrical conductivity | mS/cm | No guideline available | NA | |
| SS | Total suspended solids | mg/L | No guideline available | NA | |
| Nutrients | NH4-N | Ammoniacal nitrogen | mg/L | ANZECC (2000)** (Lowland) |
0.021 |
| ANZECC (2000) (Upland) | 0.01 | ||||
| NOx -N | Oxidised nitrogen | mg/L | ANZECC (2000) (Lowland) |
0.444 | |
| ANZECC (2000) (Upland) |
0.167 | ||||
| TN | Total nitrogen | mg/L | ANZECC (2000) (Lowland) |
0.614 | |
| ANZECC (2000) (Upland) |
0.295 | ||||
| DRP | Dissolved reactive phosphorus | mg/L | ANZECC (2000) (Lowland) | 0.01 | |
| ANZECC (2000) (Upland) |
0.009 | ||||
| TP | Total phosphorus | mg/L | ANZECC (2000) (Lowland) |
0.033 | |
| ANZECC (2000) (Upland) |
0.026 | ||||
| Bacterial indicators | E. coli | Escherichia coli | n/100 mL | MfE/MoH (2003)*** | 550 |
| FC | Faecal coliforms | n/100 mL | MfE/MoH (2003) | 148 |
* Resource Management Water Quality Guidelines No. 2: Guidelines for the Management of Water Colour and Clarity, Ministry for the Environment, 1994.
** ANZECC (2000), National water quality management strategy: Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality.
*** Ministry for the Environment and Ministry of Health (2003), Microbiological Water Quality Guidelines for Marine and Freshwater Recreational Areas.
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