Compliance

We rely on rainfall runoff from nature to provide the water we supply to Canberra, Queanbeyan and Googong. This means our dams sit right in the middle of natural flows, and we need to take steps to ensure downstream aquatic environments are protected. 

We do this by releasing water from our dams to maintain the flows of downstream river systems – known as environmental flows.

The volume and timing of these flows is guided by extensive research and monitoring of aquatic ecology within our water supply. 

We assess river health in spring and autumn to inform our operations, support appropriate environmental flows and help safeguard catchment ecosystems for future generations.

Download the report below to explore how the ACT Parks and Conservation Service, Icon Water and the University of Canberra collaborated to balance ecological protection with water supply needs to set a new benchmark for sustainable development.

👉 Balancing Water Security and Environmental Biodiversity

As a condition of approval for the Enlarged Cotter Dam, completed in 2012, we were required to publish a range of documents and data. 

These publications support transparency and accountability in delivering critical infrastructure for the region.

As a condition of approval for the Murrumbidgee to Googong Bulk Water Transfer, completed in 2013, we were required to publish a range of documents and data. 

These publications ensure transparency and accountability in delivering critical infrastructure for the region. 

Compliance documents older than two years, including construction records, are publicly available through our centralised repository.

We are required to publish a range of documents and data related to discharge from Googong Water Treatment Plant.

To ensure transparency and regulatory compliance, the site’s pollution incident response management plan and monitoring data are available under the asset description.

Monitoring the health of our rivers is a key part of our commitment to protecting the environment and delivering high-quality wastewater services.

At Lower Molonglo Water Quality Control Centre, our biological monitoring program helps ensure the water we release back into the Molonglo and Murrumbidgee rivers meets environmental standards. We track a range of aquatic indicators to assess the health of the ecosystem, like:

• water quality;
• macroinvertebrates;
• algae;
• instream vegetation;
• fish; and
• landscape features.

We compare conditions upstream and downstream of the treatment plant using national river health guidelines. So far, the results are encouraging with fish populations and aquatic ecosystems showing no significant impacts, meaning river health remains strong.