Towards integrated water quality monitoring: assessment of ecosystem health

National water quality monitoring in South Africa has in the past mainly focused on measuring physical and chemical variables. However, it is increasingly realised that measuring physical and chemical variables on their own cannot provide an accurate account of the general «health» of an aquatic ecosystem. Biological communities, on the otherhand, are accurate indicators of overall environmental conditions. This paper examines the potential and feasibility of incorporating biological monitoring in a programme designed to assess ecosystem health. The current status of biomonitoring within the RSA Department of Water Affairs and Forestry is outlined and challenges for the future are discussed