Protecting the water quality
Different uses of water require different levels of environmental quality. For example, drinking water needs to taste good and not make us ill. The water we surf and swim in needs to be clean and safe. Aquatic environments need to support our many uses, such as fishing and the production of seafood. Water quality and the health of aquatic environments need to be protected so people can enjoy the benefits of using them while snorkelling, diving, fishing and sight seeing. In fact there are many uses and values that are supported by aquatic environments. The following covers most of water uses:
- recreation and leisure activities;
- drinking and household water use;
- agricultural water use (for irrigation and stock water);
- industrial water use;
- production of fish and seafood;
- shipping and navigation; and
- maintenance of water ecosystems (including biodiversity).
Protecting our water environment is very important because it allows the water environments to continue supporting their many uses and values. Our water environments must also continue to support the needs and uses of the people who will live in the future, even many years from now – your grandchildren, their children and so on.