Towards a Consistent Approach for the Assessment and Redesign of Surface Water Quality Monitoring Networks

Abstract

Water resources management in general, and water quality management in particular, requires both knowledge and a full understanding of the processes affecting water quantity and quality. A properly established water quality monitoring program is the only way in which one can understand various processes affecting water quality. It also provides managers and decision makers with the necessary information for effective and sustainable water quality management. Water quality monitoring programs consist of various activities, which include the designation of the monitoring objectives/purposes and the desired information, the design of the monitoring network and the sampling protocol, identification of the necessary laboratory analysis, a plan for data verification and storage, and the design of a data analysis protocol through which the desired information will be obtained. To ensure the utility of the generated data, the sampling processes, sample handling, and storage and laboratory analysis must be performed by professional staff. This is why the design of monitoring networks has generally been the activity that has received the most attention of researchers over the course of the last few decades [1-3]. However, as it stands now, there is no widely accepted established strategy or methodology for designing monitoring networks [2-3]. A logical and consistent design methodology that allows for more efficient and effective data collection and, consequently, more useful outputs, is critically needed. Such an approach would allow not only improved water pollution control recommendations and better allocation of financial resources, but also a better understanding of the ecosystem being monitored [3].