About Report Card
EPA produces an annual Report Card, which gives a 12-month summary of the water quality for:
- Port Phillip Bay
- Western Port
- Gippsland Lakes and their catchments.
These bays and lakes are the largest coastal waterbodies in Victoria.
EPA, Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Action (DEECA), and Melbourne Water monitor water quality in these regions. Each year, EPA collect samples from the marine bays and lakes. DEECA collect samples from rivers and streams in Gippsland. Melbourne Water collect samples from waterways in greater Melbourne. The sampling data is then collated and used to calculate an annual rating based on key water quality indicators.
A rating of Very Good or Good indicates that water quality meets objectives in the Environment Reference Standard for Victoria. A rating of Poor or Very Poor indicates that the environmental condition of the waterway is under stress.
Stressors such as excess nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus), increased sediment and algal blooms are potential risks to the health of aquatic ecosystems. Report Card provides an annual snapshot of long-term condition and shows a history for each region over the last twenty years.
Overall, water quality has stayed relatively steady, even though population pressures have increased over time.
As water flows from upland forest, through agricultural land, and into urban environments, changes in land use such as urban growth, industrial activities, intensive agriculture and run-off from urban areas may impact water quality.
Read Report Card to find out about water quality
How EPA works to improve water quality
EPA works to improve water quality in Victoria’s waterways, lakes and bays through a number of initiatives:
- We define outcomes for human health and the environment through the Environment Reference Standard 2021.
- In response to the 2022 floods, EPA developed a Flood Impacted Waterways Program. This program helped us monitor bacteria in Victorian waterways to better understand the level of risk to human health and the environment.
- We carry out targeted stormwater inspections with businesses across Victoria to check they are preventing stormwater pollution risks.
- We provide a year round Beach Report program to inform the community of recreational water quality at 36 beaches around Port Phillip Bay.
- We are piloting a realtime sensors network in Melbourne’s north and west metro areas as part of a Pollution Profiling Program to detect and investigate pollution issues that pose risks to the environment and human health, as part of our regulatory harms work.
- We partner with WorkSafe Victoria, the Victorian Building Authority and Energy Safe Victoria to run the Build Aware Program – an educational campaign that aims to increase awareness in the construction and demolition sector of environmental laws and their responsibilities.
- We also regularly update our guidance to ensure it is current and fit for purpose. Our recent guidance includes:
- The Victorian Government, community and other groups also worked to improve water quality through developing and applying effective policies and projects, including:
- DEECA's Water for Victoria Water Plan, especially the Integrated Water Management Framework
- Lake Wellington Land and Water Management Plan
- Melbourne Water's Healthy Waterways Strategy 2018–2028
- Port Phillip Bay Environmental Management Plan
- Waterway health projects across the state, including East Gippsland and West Gippsland.
Find out more about water quality
The Victorian Government, community and other groups continue to monitor water quality to assess the health of Victoria’s water environments. Find out more about water quality monitoring:
How EPA monitors water quality
DEECA surface water monitoring
DEECA Index of Estuary Condition
Gippsland Lakes Environment Report
Reviewed 24 July 2023
