Rules & Requirements
Now launched
Australasian Catchment
Water Improvement Standard (ACWIS)
Water quality degradation across Australasia's catchments is a growing concern, threatening ecosystems,
communities, and industries. These challenges demand innovative, scalable solutions that go beyond
traditional regulation and funding models.
The Australasian water improvement Scheme,
delivered through the Australasian Catchment Water Improvement Standard (ACWIS), and developed by
Eco-Markets Australia, responds to this need by introducing a market-based mechanism to incentivise
pollutant reduction activities. These initiatives build on five years of experience administering the Reef
Credit Scheme and aim to expand measurable water quality improvements across diverse catchment settings.
The Scheme enables the generation of water improvement Credits, which represent verified, additional
reductions in pollutants such as sediment, nutrients, or other catchment-specific contaminants. These
credits are quantified using approved methodologies, independently audited, and tracked via a secure
registry. This structure ensures transparency, integrity, and scalability, making the Scheme suitable for
voluntary and compliance markets.
The development of ACWIS aligns with national frameworks such
as the National Water Quality Management Strategy (NWQMS) and regional water quality improvement plans
(WQIPs). It supports delivery of pollutant reduction targets and water quality objectives, while also
contributing to broader sustainability goals, including the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
"Every water improvement Credit represents
a scientifically verified reduction in pollutants
— transparent, auditable and scalable."
Importantly, the Scheme addresses a critical global challenge in regard to funding nature repair as
identified by the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. By creating a credible, standardised
mechanism for investing in nature-based solutions, the Scheme helps mobilise private, public, and
philanthropic finance toward water quality and ecosystem restoration. It supports the Framework's goals to
reduce harmful subsidies, align financial flows with biodiversity outcomes, and scale up investment in
ecological health.
Benefits of the Scheme include income diversification for landholders,
enhanced investment opportunities, and landscape-level beneficial impact. It empowers project proponents to
implement validated interventions, while enabling buyers—governments, corporations, and philanthropists—to
acquire verified outcomes.
In summary, the ACWIS represents a transformative approach to water
management and security (and consequentially, food and fibre security) in the face of climate change in
Australasia.
Documentation
Supporting documentation available to download
These documents provide the structural, procedural and regulatory framework
for project proponents,
verifiers, operators, land-holders and investors alike.
Category
Document
Rules & Requirements
ACWIS Guide
Download PDFRules & Requirements