Catchment management
Catchment management is critical to maintain water quality as it ensures high-quality run-off. This is part of the multi-barrier approach.
Annual collections help to remove harmful waste chemicals from the catchments
The Sydney Catchment Authority undertakes many activities and projects to manage catchment health, such as:
- managing Special Areas
- development control and regulation, including the Regional Plan
- controlling animal pests and weeds
- reducing soil erosion and sediment build-up in streams through reducing soil erosion
- containing spills to avoid contaminating catchment areas
- rehabilitating mines
- auditing contaminated sites
- improving bushfire management on Sydney Catchment Authority lands
- working with landholders and community groups to improve water quality through remedial works on possible pollution sources
- providing relevant education opportunities and information resources about catchment management for the broad community.
The Sydney Catchment Authority publishes details of its catchment management activities in its annual catchment management report.
By minimising pollutant inputs at their source, we can reduce the chance of pollutants accumulating in the water supply system and overwhelming natural and human treatment barriers.
You can also read more about the Sydney Catchment Authority's catchment management activities involving dairy effluent, riparian zones and sewage.
Research task
A research task on catchment management is provided to improve your understanding.
