Enthusiastic landholders took part in a training session to learn how to test water quality by undertaking a waterbug survey.

The workshop was held in September 2024 at Congewai Creek at Wollombi and the results were entered into the Waterbug App then mapped on the Data Portal on the Waterbug Blitz website.

Waterbugs can be a useful indicator of the ecological health of freshwater habitats. Each bug has a certain sensitivity to pollution or water quality changes in their waterway. This method of water quality testing informs us of catchment health and helps us to prioritise riparian areas for improvement works with landholders including weed management, native plantings and fencing.

Check out Part 1 and Part 2 of the waterbug survey videos for more information. The survey is part of the Wollombi Catchment Habitat Restoration Program 2023-2027, assisted by the NSW Government through its Environmental Trust and Hunter Catchment Contributions.