The preservation cf Australia’s soil balance and subsequent improvement in surface water quality is of prime concern  for a viable productive future together with our moral obligation towards a sustainable world. Urbanization is a notorious eroder of both top and sub soils and measures for minimisation and containment (as close to their origin as possible) have to be implemented and monitored for effectiveness for the protection of the  natural urban environment as well as affected waterways downstream. Pursuant to this, situations such as that in the  Australian Capital Territory must have minimal effect on natural regimes of water quality and monitoring is an integral part, to pin-point problems and instigate solutions.