What is the primary purpose of surface water quality monitoring?

The primary purpose of surface water quality monitoring is to assess the health of water bodies. This involves evaluating various aspects such as chemical, physical, and biological indicators that reflect the condition of the water. Healthy water bodies are crucial for supporting aquatic life, providing safe drinking water, and facilitating recreational activities.

While determining the recreational use of water bodies, measuring sediment levels, and calculating economic value are certainly relevant activities associated with water management, they are not the primary aim of water quality monitoring. The primary focus is to ensure that the water is safe and ecologically balanced, which can indirectly support recreational uses and economic evaluations as secondary outcomes of a healthy ecosystem. Monitoring data can inform management practices and regulatory decisions necessary to protect water resources and maintain their quality for all potential uses.