Understanding water quality risks under low and variable water level conditions

Lakes and reservoirs are essential for water supply for humans and agriculture, and have an important role in flow regulation, biodiversity, and streamflow below dams. Australia has been subject in recent decades to severe drought which has heightened the importance of reservoirs for human populations and highlighted the need for careful management of water levels to maintain continuity of supply. Climate change is likely to exacerbate water shortages, with extended periods of drought, interspersed with more discrete and intense rainfall, leading to challenges for storing water in reservoirs and potentially affecting the quality of water.

In this project, Griffith University researchers examined the water quality risks from low and variable water levels in dams and reservoirs in Eastern Australia.