Water Monitoring Network Research Articles

Climate impact on surface and groundwater in North Africa: a global synthesis of findings and recommendations

Climate change is having short- and long-term impacts on surface and groundwater in the northern part of the African continent. This has led to a wide range of consequences that have added pressure on the groundwater systems in this part of the world. Among such pressures, we can cite the mal-distribution and the irregularity of precipitation and ice, flooding, evaporitic sediments input by the drainage net, water degradation, mud stagnation in dams, dead tranche, drought, decreasing of the natural recharge and increasing of the groundwater abstraction, conflict between trans-boundary waters, desertification, imbalance between the regions, migration, revolution, socio-economic imbalance, etc. Actually, water-monitoring networks indicate noticeable hydrogeologic variations and a rise of the groundwater salinity. It was confirmed by the geochemical analysis of water resources that showed scattered data between the northern part characterized by low mineralized groundwater (TDS ranging 0.4–3 g/l) and the southern area where the salinity ranges from 2.5 to 90 g/l. The obtained values are far above the permissible limits for both human consumption, agricultural and tourist activities. These effects, when compounded, are anticipated to worsen the situation and to constitute veritable threats for social and economic development in these regions of North Africa (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, etc.). The potential solutions consist of taking urgent to utilize the intelligent technology (bio and nano-technology), policies relevant policies to manage water resources, and the engagement of private, civil, and international sectors if a major crisis is to be averted (collective effort).

Community-Based Monitoring in Response to Local Concerns: Creating Usable Knowledge for Water Management in Rural Land

Water resources around the world are being affected by increasing demand for human consumption as well as by industrial and agricultural use. Water quality has an impact on our quality of life, so effective monitoring provides the necessary data to allow decision makers to address critical water-related issues. This study (1) analyzes water knowledge generated by a community-based water monitoring (CBWM) network within a world heritage site; (2) discusses the extent to which monitoring responds to community concerns about water; and (3) indicates challenges in the generation of local usable knowledge. Using information generated over 6.5 years by a local monitoring network, we calculated a water quality index (WQI) and generated a time-series analysis using the breaks for additive season and trend (Bfast) algorithm. Results were grouped by specific community and institutional concerns about water. Springs under good management practices had low pollution levels, while others used for drinking and recreation had high fecal bacterial counts. Monitoring provided data about Escherichia coli counts exceeding legal limits, and about conditions of alkalinity and dissolved oxygen that represent a risk for the freshwater ecosystems. This study demonstrates how CBWM schemes can be a means of generating knowledge of water resources that can enhance the understanding of water dynamics and inform users’ decisions at local–regional levels.

Citizen Science for Dissolved Oxygen Monitoring: Case Studies from Georgia and Rhode Island

Abstract Citizen science is emerging as an increasingly viable way to support existing water monitoring efforts. This article assesses whether water quality data collected by large numbers of volunteers are as reliable as data collected under strict oversight of a government agency, and considers the potential of citizen science to expand spatial and temporal coverage of water monitoring networks. The analysis hinges on comparison of data on water temperature and dissolved oxygen (DO) in freshwater streams and rivers collected by four entities: the United States Geological Survey (USGS) network of field scientists, the USGS network of automated sensors, the Georgia Adopt-A-Stream volunteer water monitoring program, and the University of Rhode Island Watershed Watch (URIWW) volunteer water monitoring program. We find that volunteer-collected data exhibit the expected relationship between temperature and DO. Furthermore, we find that volunteer- and USGS-collected data lie in roughly the same range, although...

Evaluation of Water Quality Monitoring Networks Using Principal Component Analysis: A case of Gediz River Basin

The water quality needs to be monitored at regular intervals, throughout representatively located gauging stations, for sustainable development of water resources. However, it is not possible to monitor all quality parameters all the time and points for a river basin studied, and water quality monitoring that does not address specific, clear and realistic objectives will cause time, labor and money losses. At this point, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) would provide a regional insight into principal pollutants, contaminants dominates others and effective monitoring locations. It will help to evaluate surface water quality in regional scale as well as monitoring network. This study aims to analyze regional water quality and monitoring network in the Gediz River Basin, by focusing on the variance structure of the observations on principal pollutants that observed throughout the river basin. The 11 quality parameters monitored in 13 monitoring stations on the Gediz River Basin were used in the analyses. PCA is applied i) to determine principal pollutants and contaminants dominate over others (parameter-based analysis), ii) to find out effective monitoring locations for principal pollutants (station based analysis). The results reveal the tributaries of the river with different quality characteristics, and the importance of an objective based monitoring for effective water quality management.

Evaporation and abstraction determined from stable isotopes during normal flow on the Gariep River, South Africa

Changes in the stable isotope composition of water can, with the aid of climatic parameters, be used to calculate the quantity of evaporation from a water body. Previous workers have mostly focused on small, research catchments, with abundant data, but of limited scope. This study aimed to expand such work to a regional or sub-continental scale. The first full length isotope survey of the Gariep River quantifies evaporation on the river and the man-made reservoirs for the first time, and proposes a technique to calculate abstraction from the river. The theoretically determined final isotope composition for an evaporating water body in the given climate lies on the empirically determined local evaporation line, validating the assumptions and inputs to the Craig-Gordon evaporation model that was used. Evaporation from the Gariep River amounts to around 20% of flow, or 40 m3/s, of which about half is due to evaporation from the surface of the Gariep and Vanderkloof Reservoirs, showing the wastefulness of large surface water impoundments. This compares well with previous estimates based on evapotranspiration calculations, and equates to around 1300 GL/a of water, or about the annual water consumption of Johannesburg and Pretoria, where over 10 million people reside. Using similar evaporation calculations and applying existing transpiration estimates to a gauged length of river, the remaining quantity can be attributed to abstraction, amounting to 175 L/s/km in the lower middle reaches of the river. Given that high water demand and climate change are global problems, and with the challenges of maintaining water monitoring networks, stable isotopes are shown to be applicable over regional to national scales for modelling hydrological flows. Stable isotopes provide a complementary method to conventional flow gauging for understanding hydrology and management of large water resources, particularly in arid areas subject to significant evaporation.

Groundwater impacts on surface water quality and nutrient loads in lowland polder catchments: monitoring the greater Amsterdam area

Abstract. The Amsterdam area, a highly manipulated delta area formed by polders and reclaimed lakes, struggles with high nutrient levels in its surface water system. The polders receive spatially and temporally variable amounts of water and nutrients via surface runoff, groundwater seepage, sewer leakage, and via water inlets from upstream polders. Diffuse anthropogenic sources, such as manure and fertiliser use and atmospheric deposition, add to the water quality problems in the polders. The major nutrient sources and pathways have not yet been clarified due to the complex hydrological system in lowland catchments with both urban and agricultural areas. In this study, the spatial variability of the groundwater seepage impact was identified by exploiting the dense groundwater and surface water monitoring networks in Amsterdam and its surrounding polders. A total of 25 variables (concentrations of total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), NH4, NO3, HCO3, SO4, Ca, and Cl in surface water and groundwater, N and P agricultural inputs, seepage rate, elevation, land-use, and soil type) for 144 polders were analysed statistically and interpreted in relation to sources, transport mechanisms, and pathways. The results imply that groundwater is a large source of nutrients in the greater Amsterdam mixed urban–agricultural catchments. The groundwater nutrient concentrations exceeded the surface water environmental quality standards (EQSs) in 93 % of the polders for TP and in 91 % for TN. Groundwater outflow into the polders thus adds to nutrient levels in the surface water. High correlations (R2 up to 0.88) between solutes in groundwater and surface water, together with the close similarities in their spatial patterns, confirmed the large impact of groundwater on surface water chemistry, especially in the polders that have high seepage rates. Our analysis indicates that the elevated nutrient and bicarbonate concentrations in the groundwater seepage originate from the decomposition of organic matter in subsurface sediments coupled to sulfate reduction and possibly methanogenesis. The large loads of nutrient-rich groundwater seepage into the deepest polders indirectly affect surface water quality in the surrounding area, because excess water from the deep polders is pumped out and used to supply water to the surrounding infiltrating polders in dry periods. The study shows the importance of the connection between groundwater and surface water nutrient chemistry in the greater Amsterdam area. We expect that taking account of groundwater–surface water interaction is also important in other subsiding and urbanising deltas around the world, where water is managed intensively in order to enable agricultural productivity and achieve water-sustainable cities.

Entropy Applications to Water Monitoring Network Design: A Review

Having reliable water monitoring networks is an essential component of water resources and environmental management. A standardized process for the design of water monitoring networks does not exist with the exception of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) general guidelines about the minimum network density. While one of the major challenges in the design of optimal hydrometric networks has been establishing design objectives, information theory has been successfully adopted to network design problems by providing measures of the information content that can be deliverable from a station or a network. This review firstly summarizes the common entropy terms that have been used in water monitoring network designs. Then, this paper deals with the recent applications of the entropy concept for water monitoring network designs, which are categorized into (1) precipitation; (2) streamflow and water level; (3) water quality; and (4) soil moisture and groundwater networks. The integrated design method for multivariate monitoring networks is also covered. Despite several issues, entropy theory has been well suited to water monitoring network design. However, further work is still required to provide design standards and guidelines for operational use.

National Ground Water Monitoring Network Data Providers Meet to Discuss Network Status and Plans

Groundwater Monitoring & RemediationVolume 37, Issue 1 p. 15-16 Letter to the Editor National Ground Water Monitoring Network Data Providers Meet to Discuss Network Status and Plans by Lauren Schapker M.A., Lauren Schapker M.A.Search for more papers by this author by Lauren Schapker M.A., Lauren Schapker M.A.Search for more papers by this author First published: 12 February 2017 https://doi.org/10.1111/gwmr.12202Citations: 1Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article.Citing Literature Volume37, Issue1Winter 2017Pages 15-16 RelatedInformation

Hydrometric network design using dual entropy multi-objective optimization in the Ottawa River Basin

Abstract Water resources managers commonly rely on information collected by hydrometric networks without clear knowledge of their efficiency. Optimal water monitoring networks are still scarce especially in the Canadian context. Herein, a dual entropy multi-objective optimization (DEMO) method uses information theory to identify locations where the addition of a hydrometric station would optimally complement the information content of an existing network. This research explores the utility of transinformation (TI) analysis, which can quantitatively measure the contribution of unique information from a hydrometric station. When used in conjunction, these methods provide an objective measure of network efficiency, and allow the user to make recommendations to improve existing hydrometric networks. A technique for identifying and dealing with regulated basins and their related bias on streamflow regionalization is also examined. The Ottawa River Basin, a large Canadian watershed with a number of regulated hydroelectric dams, was selected for the experiment. The TI analysis approach provides preliminary information which is supported by DEMO results. Regionalization was shown to be more accurate when the regulated basin stations were omitted using leave one out cross validation. DEMO analysis was performed with these improvements and successfully identified optimal locations for new hydrometric stations in the Ottawa River Basin.

TreeWatch.net: A Water and Carbon Monitoring and Modeling Network to Assess Instant Tree Hydraulics and Carbon Status.

TreeWatch.net is an initiative that has been developed to watch trees grow and function in real-time. It is a water- and carbon-monitoring and modeling network, in which high-quality measurements of sap flow and stem diameter variation are collected on individual trees. Automated data processing using a cloud service enables instant visualization of water movement and radial stem growth. This can be used to demonstrate the sensitivity of trees to changing weather conditions, such as drought, heat waves, or heavy rain showers. But TreeWatch.net’s true innovation lies in its use of these high-precision harmonized data to also parameterize process-based tree models in real-time, which makes displaying the much-needed mechanisms underlying tree responses to climate change possible. Continuous simulation of turgor to describe growth processes and long-term time series of hydraulic resistance to assess drought-vulnerability in real-time are only a few of the opportunities our approach offers. TreeWatch.net has been developed with the view to be complementary to existing forest monitoring networks and with the aim to contribute to existing dynamic global vegetation models. It provides high-quality data and real-time simulations in order to advance research on the impact of climate change on the biological response of trees and forests. Besides its application in natural forests to answer climate-change related scientific and political questions, we also envision a broader societal application of TreeWatch.net by selecting trees in nature reserves, public areas, cities, university areas, schoolyards, and parks to teach youngsters and create public awareness on the effects of changing weather conditions on trees and forests in this era of climate change.

Update of the Surat Underground Water Impact Report

The production of coal seam gas (CSG) involves the pumping of large volumes of groundwater to lower water pressure in coal seams. This has the potential to affect groundwater resources in the coal-bearing formations and in adjacent aquifers connected to the coal formations. The formations that are the target for CSG development in the Surat Basin in Queensland are part of the Great Artesian Basin multi-layered aquifer system and also underlie important alluvial water resources. There are multiple major CSG projects being developed in the area. Queensland has a regulatory framework to manage the impact of CSG water extraction on groundwater resources that includes cumulative management arrangements for areas of intensive development, where the groundwater impacts of multiple projects overlap. In a declared Cumulative Management Area, the Office of Groundwater Impact Assessment (OGIA) carries out a regional assessment of impacts of CSG water extraction, specifies an integrated regional water monitoring network, and assigns responsibilities to individual CSG companies to implement individual parts of the water monitoring network and other management actions. OGIA sets out the results in an underground water impact report (UWIR), which on approval becomes a statutory instrument. OGIA is an independent entity fully funded by a levy on petroleum tenure holders. The first Surat UWIR was approved in 2012. In early 2016, OGIA revised the Surat UWIR using a new regional groundwater flow model that incorporates updated knowledge of the groundwater flow system. The key content of the revised Surat UWIR is presented.

Spatially constrained clustering of ecological units to facilitate the design of integrated water monitoring networks in the St. Lawrence Basin

ABSTRACTWater monitoring networks are generally classified into surface water, precipitation, groundwater or water quality monitoring networks. The design of these networks typically occurs in isolation from each other. We present a regionalization approach to identify homogeneous subregions of large basins that are suitable as areas for the optimization of an integrated water monitoring network. The study area, which comprises a portion of the St. Lawrence Basin, was spatially divided using ecological units. For each ecological unit, 21 attributes were derived including both environmental and hydrological indicators. A spatially constrained regionalization technique was applied to define the final regions. A scree plot was used to determine the number of regions. The sensitivity of the technique to the correlation in the attribute data was removed by utilizing principal component analysis to reduce correlation between attribute data. During regionalization, the component values were weighted by their proportion of the total variance explained. The four regions in the final configuration had areas from 19% to 31% of the total area, 63,597 km2. For the St. Lawrence Basin, this approach is effective for defining homogeneous regions that can be used in further research on the optimization of integrated water monitoring networks. The approach is portable to other regions and can incorporate any set of attribute data that is valuable to the regionalization objective.

Urban rivers as hotspots of regional nitrogen pollution

Excess nitrogen inputs to terrestrial ecosystems via human activities have deteriorated water qualities on regional scales. Urban areas as settlements of over half global population, however, were usually not considered in the analysis of regional water pollution. Here, we used a 72-month monitoring data of water qualities in Hangzhou, China to test the role of urban rives in regional nitrogen pollution and how they response to the changes of human activities. Concentrations of ammonium nitrogen in urban rivers were 3–5 times higher than that in regional rivers. Urban rivers have become pools of reactive nitrogen and hotspots of regional pollution. Moreover, this river pollution is not being measured by current surface water monitoring networks that are designed to measure broader regional patterns, resulting in an underestimation of regional pollution. This is crucial to urban environment not only in China, but also in other countries, where urban rivers are seriously polluted.

Application of positive matrix factorization to source apportionment of surface water quality of the Daliao River basin, northeast China

Surface water monitoring networks play an important role in the stream water quality management. Since a time series of data is obtained from the monitoring network, multivariate statistical techniques can be used to identify important factors or pollution sources of water system. Positive matrix factorization (PMF) is an improved factor analysis tool that has had limited application to water systems. The objective was to apply PMF to monitoring data to apportion water pollution sources in the Daliao River (DLR) basin. The DLR basin includes the Hun and Taizi River catchments in northeast China. This basin is densely populated and heavily industrialized. Fourteen monitoring stations located on the two rivers were used for monitoring 13 physical and chemical parameters from 1990 to 2002. Results show that five sources/processes in the Hun River and four in the Taizi River were identified by marker species and spatial-temporal variations of resolved factors, including point and nonpoint sources for both rivers. In addition, the industrial pollution source emission inventory data were used to compare with the resolved industrial sources. Results reveal that chemical transformations have influenced some chemical species. However, this influence is small compared with observed seasonal variations. Therefore, identification of pollution point and nonpoint sources by their seasonal variations is possible, which will also aid in water quality management. The spatial variation of the industrial pollutants typically corresponded with the urban industrial pollution source inventories.

Borrowing Teaching and Research Tools for a Network of Water Monitoring and Education in Mexican High Schools

Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula is a karstic limestone plain so permeable that precipitation passes directly into the porous ground. Surface contamination travels with this water into a subterranean network of fissures and then toward the coasts. Agriculture, industry, tourism, and households all contribute to the contamination. The first to suffer are those who drink the water. Scientists have long understood the situation, but that information has yet to be fully translated into policy or public awareness. In the United States, scientists and educators face similar challenges promoting water stewardship and have developed several tools in response: (1) It has been found that young people can be effective communicators on environmental issues. (2) Groundwater demonstration models help the public visualize the dynamics of water. (3) Simple and rapid water analysis kits enable adults and young people to engage with water quality in their communities. In concert with other Mexican educators we introduced these teaching tools in technical high schools in Yucatán State in 2012–2013. The students engaged with the public using groundwater demonstration models we adapted to the Yucatán Peninsula. Five schools formed a water monitoring network similar to U.S. citizen monitoring networks like IOWATER. Participants gained an understanding of the nature and extent of water pollution, and they learned that they can use science to help their communities. Scientist–educator linkages were strengthened.

Monitoring geomorphic and hydrologic change at mine sites using satellite imagery: The Geita Gold Mine in Tanzania

Large surface mining operations typically involve not only multiple pits but also the creation of new “mountains” of tailings. These operations dramatically change the local watershed topography and expose downslope agricultural fields and forest to tailings runoff. Given that most mine tailings expose large quantities of surface area to oxidation and transport by water, any heavy metals associated with the deposit are mobilized to move along with the runoff. In Tanzania, the Geita Gold Mine (GGM) area is such a site and the Government of Tanzania has yet to develop a water monitoring network to protect villages adjacent to the mines. As a result, mining company data are the only data available to monitor water supply and quality. Typically in mining and oil sand extraction, geospatial data are used to report and monitor land reclamation at the mining site, and while these efforts are useful, they do not consider hydrologic changes and risks. In this paper we evaluate the use of Digital Elevation Model (DEM) data from the Space shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) and the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) in an effort to identify the changes in local topography and surface hydrology around the GGM and assess the implications these changes have for the potential increased mobility of tailings and their effects upon farmers, village water supplies, and community forests using a hydrologic flow model. Results reveal that over 13 million m3 of material has been removed from the main mining pits at GGM while over 81 million m3 of material has been deposited elsewhere in tailings piles and waste dumps. These topographical changes have had a profound influence on the local surface hydrology, with some stream channels shifting up to 3 km from their original paths. Overall, approximately 37 km2 of cultivated land is within the watersheds associated with potentially polluted streams and that future mining operations could impact up to 63 km2 of cultivated land.

SURVEY AND ANALYSIS OF UNDERGROUND WATER OF FIVE VILLAGES OF TRIPURA, INDIA

The present study emphasizes on the survey and asse ssment of groundwater quality, sources of ground wa ter contamination, variation of groundwater quality and which will be further pu rified with the use of nanomaterials. The bases for groundwater quality assessment are underground water (tube-well) and re presentative monitoring network enabling determinat ion of chemical status of the underground water (tube-well). For this study, water samples were collected from 5 tube wells repr esenting the area of 5 villages (Golaghati, Takarjala, Jampui, Mandwi, and Simna) o f Tripura (India). The water samples were analyzed for physico -chemical parameters like Total Dissolved Solid, Total Hardne ss, Iron, Chloride, Calcium, Magnesium etc using st andard techniques in the laboratory and compared with the standards. The res ults obtained in this study and the Association rul es will be helpful for monitoring and managing presence of heavy metals in underground water in the modern research area in t erms of water quality. The parameters: pH, TDS, Total hardness and content of Iron, Chloride, Calcium, Magnesium and BOD were stu died and compared with the standard values prescribed by ICMR, WHO, APHA aThe present investigation revealed that the quality of water of a source slightly varies from area to area tube wells but was found that the underground water samples a re fit for drinking and utility purpose.

Optimization of sampling frequency for routine river water quality monitoring

Sampling frequency is an important factor to be considered during the design of a water monitoring network, and the cost-effective selection of possible ways and means for the optimization of sampling frequency is still needed. This paper introduces water pollution index deviation ratio comparison (WPI DRC), a procedure for the optimization of sampling frequency for a routine river water quality monitoring system. Sampling frequency optimized using WPI DRC at monitoring station X5 in the mainstream of Xiangjiang River is compared with that established using the traditional Statistical Algorithm method. The result of comparison indicates that WPI DRC is more feasible than the traditional one. And then, the sampling frequencies for other 16 monitoring stations also have been optimized, and the results show the sampling frequencies of all the stations except that X4 are reduced, and there is no unacceptable difference between water quality evaluation results at 17 stations before and after the optimization. Therefore, it is concluded that WPI DRC is an effective optimization process with operable results, which can be used to fulfill the requirement of practical monitoring work.

Analysis of Rural Drinking Water Status and Improving Strategies in Pu’er Municipality, Yunnan Province of China

Objective: The study aims to assess Pu’er rural drinking water quality and to investigate the reasons why microbial indexes exceed the national rural drinking water standard. Methods: The study uses existing data obtained from Pu’er rural drinking water monitoring Network. Simultaneously, a series of semi-constructed in-depth interviews were conducted with key informants. Results: The water samples taken from Pu’er which met the national rural drinking water standard only accounted for 17.5%, while 82.5% of samples did not meet this standard. The P-value of x2 test of total colony and total coliform number with chemical and physical treatment was .195 and .000, treated water and tap water was .175 and .340, dry season and rainy season was .003 and .000. Discussion: The results present that the percentage of water in Pu’er Municipality which meets the national rural drinking water standard is very low.

Design of sampling locations for mountainous river monitoring

River water quality monitoring data are essential to water basin development and decision making. The location of sampling stations is one of the most critical factors in monitoring network design. Most previous studies have focused on mathematical aspects of monitoring network design, whereas human activities within a river basin are often not considered comprehensively. In this study, a new water monitoring network design procedure is introduced to identify representative river water quality sampling locations. The new procedure combines river mixing length, human activities, and geographic information systems (GIS) to locate position of sampling points. An implementation of a new potential pollution score (PPS) model of land use helps to classify the importance of each sampling point prior to selecting the most appropriate locations for an entire river system. With the study area, urban and agriculture are mainly concentrated in the downstream area and were the primary non-point pollution sources in this region. Seven sampling points are proposed to monitor river water quality in the study area.