From the Rivers to the Oceans –From the Rivers to the Oceans –

Real-Time Water Quality Monitoring for Real-Time Water Quality Monitoring for Coastal Zone ManagementCoastal Zone Management

Government of Newfoundland and Labrador

Department of Environment and Conservation

Water Resources Management Division

Government of Newfoundland and Labrador

Department of Environment and Conservation

Water Resources Management Division

OverviewOverview

The Water Cycle

Types of Water Quality Monitoring

Real-Time Water Quality Monitoring Network

Case Study of Real-Time Water Quality Monitoring Network Operated in Partnership with Voisey’s Bay Nickel Company Ltd.

Government of Newfoundland and Labrador

Department of Environment and Conservation

Water Resources Management Division

The Water CycleThe Water Cycle

(Arms, 1990)

Government of Newfoundland and Labrador

Department of Environment and Conservation

Water Resources Management Division

Types of Water Quality MonitoringTypes of Water Quality Monitoring

Grab Sampling:

- Provides a snapshot of water quality at the time the sample was taken

Continuous Sampling:

- Provides a clearer picture of water quality over time

Government of Newfoundland and Labrador

Department of Environment and Conservation

Water Resources Management Division

Real-Time Water Quality Monitoring Real-Time Water Quality Monitoring Network in NewfoundlandNetwork in Newfoundland

Three stations in Newfoundland:

- Leary’s Brook

- Peter’s River

- Humber River

In progress:

- Hatchery Brook at the Aquatic Centre for Research and Education

Government of Newfoundland and Labrador

Department of Environment and Conservation

Water Resources Management Division

Real-Time Water Quality Monitoring Real-Time Water Quality Monitoring Network in LabradorNetwork in Labrador

Three stations in Labrador that are operated in partnership with Voisey’s Bay Nickel Company Ltd:

- Reid Brook (Upper)

- Reid Brook (Lower)

- Camp Pond Brook

Hydrolab products:

Series 4a Datasonde® Multiprobe

Series 4a Minisonde® Multiprobe

Series 4a Surveyor® Datalogger and Display

InstrumentationInstrumentation

Government of Newfoundland and Labrador

Department of Environment and Conservation

Water Resources Management Division

Government of Newfoundland and Labrador

Department of Environment and Conservation

Water Resources Management Division

Sensors used in NL:

Temperature (°C)

pH (pH units)

Turbidity (NTU)

Specific Conductance (µS/cm)

Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L)

Calculated Parameters:

Total Dissolved Solids (g/L)

% Saturation (%)

Instrumentation (cont’d)Instrumentation (cont’d)

Government of Newfoundland and LabradorDepartment of Environment and Conservation

Water Resources Management Division

Select a site that will provide

meaningful data

Deployment techniques are site-specific

Site Selection and Site Selection and DeploymentDeployment

Communication and DataloggingCommunication and Datalogging

Government of Newfoundland and LabradorDepartment of Environment and Conservation

Water Resources Management Division

Important IssuesImportant Issues

Maintenance and Calibration

QA/QC Procedures

Corrections Procedures

Data Management and Reporting

Government of Newfoundland and LabradorDepartment of Environment and Conservation

Water Resources Management Division

Government of Newfoundland and LabradorDepartment of Environment and Conservation

Water Resources Management Division

Case Study of Real-Time Water Case Study of Real-Time Water Quality Monitoring Network Quality Monitoring Network Operated in Partnership with Operated in Partnership with

Voisey’s Bay Nickel Company Ltd.Voisey’s Bay Nickel Company Ltd.

ConclusionsConclusions

Government of Newfoundland and LabradorDepartment of Environment and Conservation

Water Resources Management Division

Continuous water quality monitoring technology is being used to monitor inland water bodies in Newfoundland and Labrador

Potential applications in coastal zone monitoring and management

Government of Newfoundland and Labrador

Department of Environment and Conservation

Water Resources Management Division

“Water is the most critical resource issue of our lifetime and our children’s lifetime. The health of our waters is the principal measure of how we live on the land.”

Luna Leopold

“When we save a river, we save a major part of an ecosystem, and we save ourselves as well because of our dependence – physical, economic, spiritual – on the water and its community of life.”

Tim Palmer- From the Wild and Scenic Rivers of America