General
The real time monitoring of water quality involves the deployment
of sensors, which measure specific water quality parameters (eg:
turbidity, chlorophyll-a, dissolved oxygen, temperature, and salinity).
These sensors are connected to data loggers, which store and transmit
the data to a designated location such as a web site. The delay
in receiving the water quality information can be as little as 1
hour. This type of system is especially useful for logging water
quality that is influenced by diurnal or tidal cycles (eg: salinity
in an estuary or dissolved oxygen). This type of monitoring is also
useful for providing warnings of algal blooms (eg: by continually
monitoring chlorophyll-a).
Protocol
There is no standard protocol for real time monitoring. It is noted
that for these types of systems specialist advice is necessary as
each application is unique. The following link will take you to
Hornsby Council’s Algal Bloom Warning System.
http://marlin.mhl.nsw.gov.au/fl2fax/horc83021.html.
Please see the guideline at the end of this protocol for accessing
this site.
Costs
The costs involved in real time monitoring are dependant upon the
location of the sensors, accessibility, water quality parameters
to be measured, QA/QC required etc. As such, no standard costs are
available.
Case studies
McPherson and Grove – Abstract – Algal Bloom Early
Warning System
http://www.icef.eawag.ch/poster/mcpherson.pdf
Coastal CRS – Brisbane River Water Quality Monitoring
http://www.coastal.crc.org.au/automon/index.html
Sydney Water – Reservoir Monitoring
http://www.sydneywater.com.au/awt/pdf/Resman%20brochure.pdf
Real time water quality monitoring – trials and tribulations
http://www.rr2.ualberta.ca/Oilsands/Downloads/IIWS/ryan.pdf
Las Vegas WASH Committee – Real time water quality monitoring
http://www.lvwash.org/being_done/progress/index.cfm?Fuseaction=wqrealtime
GIS and Real Time Water Quality Monitoring Project
http://wilkes1.wilkes.edu/~gisriver/
Christensen, V.G., Rasmussen, P.P and Zielgler, A.C. (2002) Real-time
water quality monitoring and regression analysis to estimate nutrient
and bacteria concentrations in Kansas Streams. Water Science and
Technology 45 (9) pp 205-211.
People Contacts
Dr David van Senden
Principal
Manly Hydraulics laboratory
02 9949 0200
Sydney Water Corporation
02 9334 0712
Organisation Contacts
www.mhl.nsw.gov.au
www.sydneywater.com.au
www.coastal.crc.org.au
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