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A push is underway to deliver real-time water quality monitoring for the Hawkesbury River, with calls for the expansion of Sydney Water’s RiverWatch program to give local families clearer guidance on when it is safe to swim.
Robyn Preston, Member for Hawkesbury, has formally called on the NSW Government to extend the RiverWatch Water Quality Monitoring Program to the region, following strong community feedback.
Community demand for clarity
The call comes after Ms Preston sought feedback on a proposed river pool and jetty at North Richmond, informally dubbed “Hondi,” with residents overwhelmingly highlighting water quality as a key concern.
“Families across Hawkesbury regularly swim, kayak and enjoy our river, but too often they are left guessing whether the water is safe especially after rain,” Ms Preston said.
What RiverWatch does
Sydney Water’s RiverWatch program provides science-based, real-time information about water quality in parts of Sydney, helping the public understand pollution risks.
The system monitors indicators such as bacteria levels, turbidity (water clarity) and temperature. This data is then translated into simple public advice like “Pollution unlikely” or “Pollution likely”.
After rain, risks rise
A key feature of the program is its ability to alert the public to increased risks following rainfall, when contamination levels in waterways can spike.
Ms Preston said the Hawkesbury community deserves the same level of transparency already available in other parts of Sydney.
“Other parts of Sydney already benefit from this level of reporting it’s time Hawkesbury did too,” she said.
Supporting future river access
The proposal to expand RiverWatch is also seen as a step toward enabling safer recreational use of the river, including the potential North Richmond “Hondi” project.
Access to reliable, real-time data could improve public confidence, support safer swimming conditions and align with national water safety guidelines
Ms Preston has asked the NSW Government to outline what water quality monitoring is currently in place and confirm whether it will commit to a RiverWatch-style program for the Hawkesbury.
She said modern predictive modelling and monitoring technologies could play a key role in improving public access to reliable information.
A growing local priority
With more residents turning to the river for recreation, the call reflects a broader push for better infrastructure, transparency and safety in the Hawkesbury. For now, the message from the community is clear, if people are going to use the river, they need to know when it’s safe.
