The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) is updating the Guidelines for Managing Risks in Recreational Water (the Guidelines).
- Note
- This consultation has now closed. The feedback received during this consultation will be collated into a report to be published with the updated guidelines.
- The Water Team continues to be open to feedback regarding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander values and preferences concerning water on Country.
- For further information, contact us at water@nhmrc.gov.au
Overview
NHMRC undertook a targeted consultation from May to October 2022 with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders. A key priority of this consultation was to seek input that could help us update our guidelines and improve the way we consult with communities that are impacted by our guidelines. We also want to ensure that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices are heard during the guideline development process and contribute to improving public health outcomes.
The Guidelines
The Guidelines are intended for site managers, local councils and regulators who monitor and manage water sites in Australia. These groups implement the Guidelines according to the local regulations and requirements of each state and territory.
The updated Guidelines will provide guidance on how to plan for and manage health risks from water bodies. These risks occur through direct or indirect contact with salt water and fresh water during activities such as fishing, boating or swimming. It also includes cultural and spiritual practices that involve contact with water bodies.
The updated Guidelines will include information that can be used for working out whether a water body is safe to use (for example, safe levels of chemicals, algae and microbes). Local authorities and site managers can use the Guidelines to determine if further action is needed to protect the community. For example, if the levels of chemicals are higher than the guideline values (and depending on the needs of the community), site managers may:
- investigate further and seek advice from health authorities
- alert the community of potential risks and provide advice for safe use
- restrict access to a site to keep the community protected until it is safe for use.
The updated Guidelines will not include advice on physical risks such as drowning or animal attacks. They also will not include advice on drinking water quality, treated water such as swimming pools or risks from eating food caught or collected from salt or fresh water.
About us
NHMRC is the nation's leading expert body in health and medical research, and part of the Australian Government. NHMRC aims to raise the standard of individual and public health throughout Australia. This includes funding research and supporting the development of consistent health standards across the states and territories.
The Water Team
The Water Team is part of the Environmental Health section of NHMRC. It is responsible for national water quality guidance about human health. The Water Team is small and works together virtually from locations including Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney. The Water Team receives advice from the Recreational Water Quality Advisory Committee, which provides expertise on water science, managing risk, and public health issues related to water quality.
