Council monitors the health of local waterways with our Strategic Water Monitoring Program (SWaMP).
(SWaMP) has two main components:
- Physical and chemical monitoring
- Biological monitoring
Physical and chemical monitoring
Every month Council measures the health of our waterways by comparing the levels of specific physical and chemical contaminants to levels found in healthy waterways.
Report a water pollution issue
Biological monitoring
Council’s Aquatic Ecologist collects and identifies freshwater waterbugs (also called macroinvertebrates) from each test site.
Waterbugs are pollution-sensitive animals found in almost all water bodies. Their presence and condition are good indicators of water quality.



SWaMP Report Cards
Council produces annual reports, based on the sample results.
- 2021-2022 - PDF - 5236 KB Waterways Health Report Card
- 2020-2021 - PDF - 2128 KB Waterways Health Report Card
- 2019-2020 - PDF - 1975 KB Waterways Health Report Card
- 2018-2019 - PDF - 1066 KB Waterways Health Report Card
- 2017-2018 - PDF - 1041 KB Waterways Health Report Card
You can help keep our waterways clean by reporting pollution to Council.
Useful links
- Waterways - Learn how we manage and protect our precious waterways.
- NSW Beachwatch - Find out where and when it is safe to swim.
- Water Pollution - Help to prevent water pollution.