Norfolk Island Marine Water Quality Monitoring Data 2022-2024

This dataset is the Norfolk Island marine water quality monitoring data collected from April 2022 to April 2024 as part of the Norfolk Island Water Resource Assessment (NIWRA). It was used to derive site-specific marine water quality guidelines for Norfolk Island.

Seawater samples were collected from sites in Slaughter Bay (SB), Emily Bay (EB) and Cemetery Bay (CB) where the health of the coral reef was affected. Seawater samples were also collected from non-contaminated reference sites in Cascade Bay (R1), Duncombe Bay (R2), Anson Bay (R3) and Ball Bay (R4). Monthly sampling was performed at the reference sites when possible. Sampling was performed on six occasions for the remaining sites when possible. These samples were collected under baseline conditions where there was minimal rain leading up to the collection date. Samples were also collected as soon as possible after six rain events (defined as greater than 20 mm rain in the previous 24-48 h).

Water chemistry parameters measured were: physico-chemistry (temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, salinity, turbidity, total suspended solids, alkalinity, dissolved organic carbon, chlorophyll a); nutrients (reactive silica, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, nitrite + nitrate (NOx), total kjeldahl nitrogen, total nitrogen, dissolved reactive phosphorus, total phosphorus); filtered and unfiltered metal(loid)s; polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; pesticides.

Passive samplers were also used to detect ultra-trace organic compounds such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, pesticides, personal care products and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances.