Surface Water Quality Monitoring:Surface Water Quality Monitoring:

Sergei G.Touchinski

AMEC Earth & EnvironmentalCalgary, Alberta

April 18, 2008

Program Design for Data AnalysisProgram Design for Data Analysis

1

Water Quality Assessment Operation

Survey

Monitoring

Surveillance

WQ Assessment Operation

SurveyA finite duration, intensive programto measure, evaluate and report the quality of the aquatic environment for a specific purpose

MonitoringLong-term standardized systemof measurements, observations, evaluations and reporting of the aquatic environmentto define status and trends

SurveillanceContinuous, specific systemof measurements, observations and reportingfor water quality management and operational activities

Monitoring Operation and Surveillance

S u r v e I l l a n c e M O N I T O R I N G OBSERVATION ENVIRONMENTAL NETWORK ASSESSMENT Environmental Management ENVIRONMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL MODELLING ASSESSMENT M O N I T O R I N G E N V I R O N M E N T A L M A N A G E M E N T

WQ Assessments Programs

Simple monitoring• limited number of samples• simple analysis of observations

Intermediate-level monitoring• specific lab facilities• computer processing and interpretation

Advanced level monitoring• sophisticated techniques• highly trained personal• advanced data analysis and interpretation

Inadequate Assessments Programs

The objectives of the assessment were not properly definedThe program was developed with insufficient knowledge of the water bodyThere was inadequate planning of sampling frequency and analysisDatabase were poorly developedData were improperly interpreted and reported

Impact from Inadequate Sampling Frequency

-3

-2

-1

0

1

2

3

1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41 43

Series1Series2Series3

Observation Network

Source of uncertainties and data misinterpretationMultidimensional nature:• Concentration / value = f (x, y, z, t)• Representative Parameters• Parameters to support analysis

Network parameters:• Temporal – Frequency• Spatial – Discreteness• List of parameters

Spatial Discreteness

RiversUpstream vs. Midstream and DownstreamFall vs. Spring• Surface-groundwater interactions

LakesHydrodynamics / mixingEffects of seasonality• Composite samples vs. lake homogeneity

Water Quality Time Series ComparisonMidstream Rainbow Creek (Total Dissolved Solids)

30

60

90

120

150

180

210

240

270

300

Sep

-88

Apr

-89

Oct

-89

May

-90

Nov

-90

Jun-

91

Dec

-91

Jul-9

2

Jan-

93

Date

Conc

entra

tion

(mg/

L)

WQ04 Rainbow CreekBelow Confluence withMeadow CreekWQ05 Rainbow Creekat Philip Main Bridge

Midstream Rainbow Creek (Total Dissolved Solids)

30

60

90

120

150

180

210

240

270

300

May

-06

Jul-0

6

Aug

-06

Oct

-06

Nov

-06

Jan-

07

Mar

-07

Apr

-07

Jun-

07

Aug

-07

Sep

-07

Date

Conc

entra

tion

(mg/

L)

WQ04 Rainbow CreekBelow Confluence withMeadow Creek

WQ05 Rainbow Creekat Philip Main Bridge

WQ22 Rainbow CreekDownstream of KingRichard Creek

WQ25 Rainbow Creekdownstream of EskerLakes outlet

WQ26 Rainbow Creekdownstream of Site 6stream mounth

Midstream Rainbow Creek (Total Suspended Solids)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Sep

-88

Apr

-89

Oct

-89

May

-90

Nov

-90

Jun-

91

Dec

-91

Jul-9

2

Jan-

93

Date

Conc

entr

atio

n (m

g/L)

WQ04 Rainbow CreekBelow Confluence withMeadow CreekWQ05 Rainbow Creekat Philip Main Bridge

Midstream Rainbow Creek (Total Suspended Solids)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

May

-06

Jul-0

6

Aug

-06

Oct

-06

Nov

-06

Jan-

07

Mar

-07

Apr

-07

Jun-

07

Aug

-07

Sep

-07

Date

Conc

entr

atio

n (m

g/L)

WQ04 Rainbow CreekBelow Confluence withMeadow Creek

WQ05 Rainbow Creekat Philip Main Bridge

WQ25 Rainbow Creekdownstream of EskerLakes outlet

WQ26 Rainbow Creekdownstream of Site 6stream mounth

Concentration % source

Concentration % source

Beginning of winter (1 mo)Beginning of winter (1 mo)

End of winterEnd of winter

Lakes Heterogeneity - Winter

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.9

Lakes Heterogeneity - SummerLakes Heterogeneity - Summer

Concentration % source

Concentration % source

Beginning of summer

Beginning of summer

End of summerEnd of summer

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

Applications:

Water Quality Management – Surveillance

Water Quality Trends – Planning

Water Supply System Example

CITYCITYT

T T

P

River Water Supply System

Riv

er

Wat

er S

uppl

y Sy

stem

I

Includes: • rivers, • reservoirs, • canals • pumping stations• water treatment plants

Problems: • organic and nutrient pollution • algae blooming in reservoirs• bacteria contamination• pesticides and heavy metals• high natural water colour

TP

Water Quality Management Selective Withdrawal

4/12

*77.1 ⎟⎟

⎠

⎞⎜⎜⎝

⎛=

Egqδ

Discharge Q m3/sec

Stability 10-6 cm-1

Withdrawal Layer, m

4 1.0 2.8 4 0.1 5.0 4 0.01 8.9 7 1.0 3.7 7 0.1 6.7 7 0.01 11.8

14 1.0 5.3 14 0.1 9.4 14 0.01 16.7

Q

Win

ter

Sum

mer

Aut

umn

Watershed Water Quality Management

Total Pollutant Annual Loading

LP = Σ (ECPU x AU)

LP Total Pollutant Annual Load (kg/yr)

ECPU Export Coefficient (kg/ha/yr), by land use activity

AU Area of land use type (ha)

Water Quality Indicator (δLp)

δLp = ( Lpi – Lpi+1) / Lpi

Lpi TPAL for the 1st yearLpi+1 TPAL for the next

year (or years)

Potential Land Use Changes (Example)

Trend in Total Pollutant Annual Loadings

(Water Quality Indicator)

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

2003 2004 2005 2006

YearsLp

- tr

end

TN Pollutant Load trend

TP Pollutant Load trend

TSS Pollutant Load trend

Average Pollutant Load trend

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%

2003 2004 2005 2006Urban ResidentialPastureForestFeedlot (CFO)Industrial

Water Supply System Structure

Water system includes ponds, reservoirs, and river / creeks• pollution sources: point sources, surface runoff, air

emissions Surface water supply• drinking water (reservoirs)

Recreation (ponds and reservoirs)• swimming, water sports activity, fishing

Water Quality Survey Program

Extensive Survey Program• water sampling• bottom sediments collection• snow collection (before spring snowmelt)

Survey Network with focus on:• spatial heterogeneity of water quality in reservoirs• temporal variability in existing databases• heavy metals in water and sediments• watersheds pollution from deposition to snow

Water Quality Monitoring Design

Evaluation of spatio-temporal heterogeneity in water quality• multivariate statistical analysis (cluster and

regression analysis)• time-series analysis (temporal variations)• historical analysis of pollution loads from bottom

sediments coresRecommendations for• improvement of WQ monitoring networks• concurrent water intakes

Monitor to Support Aquatic Health