Testing The Waters A Water Quality Workshop

© H. Verheul

Sierra Club of Sierra Club of CanadaCanada

Atlantic ChapterAtlantic ChapterTesting the Testing the Waters: A Water Waters: A Water

Quality Quality WorkshopWorkshop

Sierra Club of Canada Atlantic Chapter

A member-based organization that empowers people to protect,

restore and enjoy a healthy and safe planet.

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Sierra Club of Canada Atlantic Chapter

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Main focus of Halifax office is education.This workshop is a reaction to member

interest in water quality testing.

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Overview of today’s workshop

• Sierra Club Presentation

• Community Based Environmental Monitoring Network

• Eastern Shore Forest Watch Presentation

• Water Quality Testing Workshop

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• Ecosystem integrity– ecosystem needs vary

• Drinking water quality

• Agricultural water quality

What is Water Quality

Ecosystem integrity and

drinking water quality are directly related. Drinking

water comes from somewhere…

Drawing by Sydney Smith (http://ecologyaction.ca/content/getting-know-your-watershed)

Drawing by Sydney Smith

Community-Based Water Community-Based Water Quality MonitoringQuality Monitoring

• builds community awareness of health and threats to water resources

• develops an understanding of day to day living impacts

• brings communities together by making them aware of their common water source

Community member participation in Community member participation in management of water resourcesmanagement of water resources

Drawing by M.C. Escher (http://www.skotforeman.co

m)

• Local community members

• Community groups and organizations

• Environmental stewardship groups

• Government agencies• Industry

Who can do water quality Who can do water quality monitoring? monitoring?

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• Local community members

• Community groups and organizations

• Environmental stewardship groups

Purposes for water quality Purposes for water quality monitoring monitoring

(World Health Organization, 1996)(World Health Organization, 1996)

• To guarantee that water is suitable…

• To help explain the impacts of our actions

• To record trends in water quality over time

• To monitor background quality of the water as a means to compare the results later on

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Definitions:• Groundwater: water that is underground and flows

through the pores in the soil, cracks in the bedrock, it supplies springs, wells and sometimes lakes, streams and rivers with water

• Leaching: process by which materials such as salts, pesticides, or other contaminants and chemicals are dissolved in water and carries along with the water flow• Lentic waters: standing water (not flowing, ie. ponds or lakes)

• Lotic waters: flowing water (ie. rivers, streams)

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What is a Watershed?

The area of land where all of the water that drains off it goes into the same

place.

Other names for watersheds are a catchment, catchment area, catchment

basin, drainage area, river basin and water basin.

(http://www.cwp.org)

http://www.epa.gov/owow/watershed/whatis.html


Watersheds may vary in size

from a large river basin to less than an

acre.

Larger watersheds may contain smaller watersheds called sub-

basins.


http://www.gov.ns.ca/nse/water.strategy/docs/WaterStrategy_NSWatershedMap.pdf

The integrity of a watershed ecosystem is directly linked to

water quality

Bedrock geology, soils, vegetation,

atmospheric deposition and land uses will all affect

the water quality of a lake or stream.

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The importance of a watershed

All living things in a

given watershed are linked by their common water

course. © H. Verheul

Definitions:• Water quality parameter: a characteristic which is

used to understand the quality of the water• Effluent: water that flows from a single source (such

as a sewage treatment plant) after it has been used or treated

• Runoff: the part of rainfall, snowmelt or irrigation that flow over the surface of the ground (doesn’t seep into the ground)• Point source: water entering a water body from a single point (ie. effluent)

• Non-point source: water entering a water body over a large area (ie. runoff)

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http://www.ec.gc.ca/water/images/nature/prop/hydrologic.htm

The Hydrologic Cycle

• The circuit of water movement from The circuit of water movement from the oceans to the atmosphere and to the oceans to the atmosphere and to the Earth and return to the the Earth and return to the atmosphere through various stages atmosphere through various stages or processes such as precipitation, or processes such as precipitation, interception, runoff, infiltration, interception, runoff, infiltration, percolation, storage, evaporation, percolation, storage, evaporation, and transportationand transportation (USGS, 2009). (USGS, 2009).

The Water CycleThe Water CycleThe earth acts as a big filtration

system. However, the filter cant be changed.

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Toxins and pollutants accumulate to have negative effects on the cycling

of water.

The Water Balance in a Lake

Water flows into lakes:

• through rivers and streams that may carry materials that are both artificial and natural

• from water and wastewater treatment plants and industry

• through agricultural drainage, rainfall and groundwater

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The Water Balance in a Lake

(World Health Organization, 1996)

Water flows out of lakes through:

• rivers and streams

• evaporation and groundwater

• removal for public, agricultural and industrial use

The Water Balance in a Lake: Scraggy Lake

http://www.gov.ns.ca/nse/ea/MooseRiver/FocusReportTouquoyGoldProject.pdf

Designing a Water Quality Monitoring Designing a Water Quality Monitoring StrategyStrategyA strategy must include:

• objectives

• information required to meet these objectives

• description of the study area

• description of the sampling sites

• list of the water quality parameters to be measured

• frequency and timing of sampling

• list of materials, equipment, volunteers

• quality control and quality assurance plan

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• to understand the effects that deteriorating water quality have on plant and aquatic life

• to develop measures that will prevent further deterioration of a water body

Examples of objectives include:

• to determine whether or not current discharges into a water body satisfy rules and regulations

Objectives: what are you interested in knowing? (World Health Organization, 1996)

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Understanding Your Watershed

(World Health Organization, 1996)A description of the monitoring

area should include:

• definition of the geographical extent of the area

• summary of the factors that may affect water quality (including human activities)

• water bodies descriptors (ie. lakes, rivers, streams, size, type, fast flowing, slow flowing, other visual descriptions)

• summary of what the water body is currently used for and will potential be used for

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Choosing Sampling Sites: Location on the

watershedRequires:• consideration of the monitoring objectives

– eg. to find a point source• knowledge of the geography of the water course• the uses of water

– location, direction of flow, rocky or sandy, etc• points on the watershed where water is removed or

returned to the water course after human uses

(Water on the Web 2004)

Sampling Station: Rivers

Should be placed:• at a point where the

water is well mixed both vertically and laterally

• where wastewater flows into rivers, complete mixing may not occur until some distance downstream

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Field Sampling Considerations• sample containers:

– may be supplied by the sampling laboratory

• record observations at sampling station in a notebook:– who sampled– where and when– what samples were

taken, what measurements were made, how they were made and the results

– weather and any unusual conditions at the site


Field Sampling Considerations

Sampling procedures:• seek specific

procedures for equipment being used

• check for standard operating procedures

Sampling tips:• measure sampling depth from the surface to the

middle of the sampler• avoid touching or disturbing the bottom of the water

body, because this will cause particles to become suspended

Field Sampling

• correctly preserve the samples:– generally a clean, chilled

and dark environment is preferred

– be aware of maximum storage time

• consider transportation of samples:– coordinate drop-off time

with laboratory to ensure a short enough time between collection and analysis

(http://www.cdha.nshealth.ca/default.aspx?page=DocumentRender&doc.Id=2134)

Quality Assurance and Quality Control

Quality Assurance covers the

overall water quality

monitoring plan.

Quality control is measures that are taken to minimize

errors and maintain precision, accuracy, representativeness, completeness and

comparability of the data.

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Quality Assurance

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Guides :• the selection of parameters and methods,• how data will be managed, analyzed and

reported,• what steps will be used to determine validity

of the selected procedures Seek outside sources to check program and

data (ie. limnologist, university professor, other professionals, compare with other

monitoring programs and community groups, etc.)

Quality Assurance

Data management:• Tables

• can display all the data measured for each sample site

• can display date and time collected, site location, site code, samplers name, equipment used, site description, additional comments, etc.


http://www.annapolisriver.ca/downloads/Annapolis_River_Guardians_2008.pdf

Quality Assurance

Data management:• Graphs

• over location (see right)• to compare values

at different locations

• over time (see below)• to evaluate changes

as time passes


• numerous ways to organize a graph to demonstrate useful information

• anomalous values may become evident

• useful method of reporting data

• can be created using microsoft excel

Quality Control

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Procedures that will help you minimize errors.

Precision (or repeatability):• if two samples are taken at the same place at

nearly the same time, how closely do they agree?

• minimizing human error can help maintain precision

Accuracy:• how close results are to a true or expected

value

Quality Control

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Representativeness:• do the samples represent the environmental

condition? Completeness:• was enough valid or usable data collected?• for example, if 100 samples were to be collected,

but only 90 were actually collected, then 90% completeness is documented

Comparability:• how data compares: between locations,

throughout time, or between the people who are monitoring

Quality Control

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Quality Control Measures• create a quality control plan that includes details

such as the calibration of sampling instruments, instrument details, sampling instructions, etc.

• this plan can be modified as new equipment is used or as new measures become apparent

• two sets of eyes are always better than one!• if two people can be part of the sampling

procedure, then the chance of error is reduced

Quality Control

Data checks:• check to see if the values

collected are scientifically possible or if the instruments used are capable of detecting such values• check with other data

if available• check instrument

capability in manual• does the instrument

have a range• check that the units you

are using are consistent• μg/L vs mg/L where μ

means 10-6and m means 10-3(World Health Organization,

1996)

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Does this make sense?

Quality Control

Data checks:• comparison of data

measured in a lab with data measured in field

• comparison of different data measured• do they work

together?• if anomalous values are

found, check all points where a mistake could have been made• from field book to

computer, from volunteer to volunteer, from database to report(World Health Organization,

1996)

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Can I fudge these?

NO!

Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment:

• Canadian Environmental Quality Guidelines– includes guidelines for:

• drinking water quality (Health Canada)

•the protection of freshwater life

•agricultural water uses for irrigation and livestock

•recreational water quality and aesthetics

• industrial water supplies•marine water quality•marine and freshwater

sediment quality

Guidelines and RegulationsGuidelines and Regulations

http://ceqg-rcqe.ccme.ca/(CCME 1999)


http://ceqg-rcqe.ccme.ca/(CCME 1999)

Guidelines and RegulationsGuidelines and RegulationsProvincial government legislation:• Protected Water:

– may include restrictions on:• land use• recreational activities such as

bathing, swimming, fishing• fire restrictions• forestry restrictions• landfill prohibition• road construction and

sedimentation control

• Wilderness Area:– prohibits various activities such

as:• types of construction,• various modes of transportation• acquiring mineral and petroleum

rights• camping, tenting, littering, any

activities that may destroy or disturb the ecosystem


http://www.gov.ns.ca/just/regulations/regs/envpwpoc.htm

http://www.gov.ns.ca/legislature/legc/statutes/wildarea.htm

Search online to find legislation.

Guidelines and RegulationsGuidelines and RegulationsCanadian Federal Government:• Metal Mining Liquid Effluent Regulations and Guidelines

– includes maximum levels for harmful substances

http://www.ec.gc.ca/NOPP/docs/rpt/1mm9/en/c2.cfm

Delivering of Monitoring Outcomes to Decision Makers:

Strategy

(Wieler, 2007)


ReportingMethods of presenting data

and findings:• Report format: a report

could include:• program objectives• list, description and

interpretation of results• quality assurance and

quality control plan and data

• testing methodologies• site description• recommendations

A good example is that of the Clean Annapolis River Project which is posted on online, see:



ReportingMethods of presenting data and

findings: report card• includes:

• short description of objectives: why is the report important?

• short description of monitoring area

• short description of each parameter

• results: tabulated or on a graph

• grading scheme: could the results be better or worse? • poor, fair, good, excellentAnnapolis watershed report card at:

http://www.annapolisriver.ca/downloads/Report_Card_2008.pdf


ReportingBe sure to find effective ways to

distribute the results:• post reports online• make councillors/other

decision makers aware• include as part of an

environmental impact assessment

• distribute reports throughout community

• release finding through media such as newspapers or radio

(Wieler, 2007)

• AGAT Laboratories, Dartmouth• Environmental Services Lab, Queen

Elizabeth II Health Sciences, Halifax• Envirosphere Consultants Ltd., Windsor• Maxxam Analytics, Bedford

Water Testing Laboratories in Central Nova Scotia

(http://www.gov.ns.ca/nse/water/waterlabs.asp)

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• Aberdeen Hospital, New Glasgow• Colchester Regional Hospital, Truro• Cumberland Regional Health Care

Centre, Cumberland Co.• NS Dep. of Agriculture and

Fisheries, Bible Hill• St. Martha’s Hospital, Antigonish

Water Testing Laboratories in Northern Nova Scotia


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• Cape Breton Health Care Complex, Sydney

• Maxxam Analytics, Sydney

Water Testing Laboratories in Eastern Nova Scotia


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• Nova West Laboratories Ltd., Digby County

• South Shore Regional Hospital, Bridgewater

• Valley Regional Hospital, Kentville• Yarmouth Regional Hospital, Yarmouth

Water Testing Laboratories in Western Nova Scotia


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Major Ions and Nutrients

Alkalinity NO3+NO2

Ammonia pH

Calcium Potassium

Chloride Silica

Color Sodium

Conductivity Sulfate

Hardness TKN

FluorideTotal

Nitrogen

Dissolved Organic Carbon

Total Phosphorous

Magnesium Turbidity

Trace Elements

Aluminum Manganese

Antimony Molybdenum

Arsenic Nickel

Barium Selenium

Beryllium Silver

Boron Strontium

Cadmium Thallium

Chromium Tin

Cobalt Titanium

Copper Uranium

Iron Vanadium

Lead Zinc

Lithium

QEII Environmental Services LaboratoryLab Testing Capabilities

Total Coliforms and E.coli

Funding Water Quality Monitoring

Funding opportunities:

To see funding opportunities through Environment Canada, see Green Source, an online guide:• http://www.environment-canada.ca/ecoaction/

default.asp?lang=En&n=910BBE65-1

A few options that may fund Water Quality Monitoring are:

• Environment Canada’s ecoAction Community Funding Program• Deadline: November 1, 2009

• Environmental Damages Fund• 3 deadlines per year: March 31st, August 31st, &

November 30th (draft proposal due November 17th)• Habitat Stewardship Program for Species at Risk

• Deadline: November 6, 2009


Funding opportunities:• NS Species at Risk Conservation Fund

• Average of 10,000$ awarded• http://www.gov.ns.ca/natr/wildlife/habfund/

• Sage Environmental Program• provides funding to studies and projects geared

toward environmental protection • initial proposal (2-3 paragraphs) deadlines:

November 1st and May 1st

• full proposal deadlines: November 15th and May 15th • http://www.sagegreen.ca/grants.html

• HRM Community Grants Program• http://www.halifax.ca/Boardscom/bccgrants/

CommunityGrantsProgram.html• Salamander Foundation

• http://www.salamanderfoundation.org• TD Friends of the Environment Foundation

• http://www.fef.td.com/


Funding opportunities:• RBC Blue Water Project

• http://www.rbc.com/environment/bluewater/index.html

• Nova Scotia Salmon Association’s Adopt-a-Stream• provides funding for stream restoration work,

including riparian work• http://www.novascotiasalmon.ns.ca/

projectsandprograms/adoptastream.htm• The Nova Scotia Youth Conservation Corps via NSE

provides subsidized youth to work on summer projects (NSE pays 2/3 wages): • http://www.gov.ns.ca/nse/youth/

• Employment Nova Scotia - Job Creation Partnership program• provides funding toward the cost of interns to work

on various projects through which the interns build their skills – interns must be unemployed or have been on EI benefits within the past three years to qualify

• http://www.gov.ns.ca/employmentnovascotia/programs/job-creation-partnerships.asp

Groups doing water quality monitoring• Clean Annapolis River Project - annual reports of

volunteer water quality monitoring program• http://www.annapolisriver.ca/

publication_archive.php#2007• Woodens River Environmental Organization – Steering

Committee Report on Water Quality• http://www.wrweo.ca/wrweoFiles/CWC/reports/

CWC8_040309.pdf• ACAP Saint John – report from 16 week water quality

monitoring program• http://www.acapsj.com/Reports/Entries/

2009/9/11_Wetlands_Water_Quality_Monitoring_-_2009.html

• Kings County Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program• http://www.county.kings.ns.ca/comdev/lakemon/

Default.htm• Sackville Rivers Association

• http://www.sackvillerivers.ns.ca/• CAMP – Community Aquatic Monitoring Program

(Department of Fisheries and Oceans) – Estuary Monitoring• http://www.glf.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/os/camp-pcsa/index-

e.php

Community Based Environmental Monitoring Network

St. Mary’s Universityhttp://www.envnetwork.smu.ca/

• assists individuals, community groups and other organizations in the initiation of environmental monitoring

• conducts suspended sediment analysis, water quality testing, stream health assessments, forest research, etc.

• lends out equipment through the Environmental Stewardship Equipment Bank

• provides a place for groups to assist others and area network for the environmental stewardship community in Atlantic Canada

• offers information about environmental monitoring protocols

• offers long-term support for individuals, community groups and other organizations in their attempts to document a perceived environmental problem or threat

Government sources of water quality data• Government of Nova Scotia

• Surface Water Data, Maps and Publications:• http://www.gov.ns.ca/nse/surface.water/

surfacewater.research.asp#databases

• Governmental water quality report for nine lakes in near Yarmouth:• http://www.gov.ns.ca/nse/surface.water/docs/

Yarmouth.Area.Lakes.Report.with.Appendices.pdf

ReferencesBartram J. and Ballance R. 1996. Water Quality Monitoring: A practical guide to the design

and implementation of freshwater quality studies and monitoring programmes. United Nations Environment Programmes, World Health Organization.

Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME). 1999. Canadian water quality guidelines for the protection of aquatic life. In: Canadian environmental quality guidelines. Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment, Winnipeg, Manitoba. Available at: http://ceqg-rcqe.ccme.ca/?config=ccme&thesite=ceqg&words=&image.x=8&image.y=8

Glenen J. and Sharpe A. 2009. Annapolis River 2008 Annual Water Quality Monitoring Report. Clean Annapolis River Project. Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia. Available at: http://www.annapolisriver.ca/downloads/Annapolis_River_Guardians_2008.pdf

MacMillan et al. 2005. Canadian Technical Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 2582: Characterization of Summer Water Temperatures for 312 selected sites in Nova Scotia. Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Moncton, New Brunswick.

Wieler C. 2007. Delivery of Ecological Monitoring Information to Decision-Makers. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Network, Environment Canada, Burlington, Ontario. Available at: http://www.eman-rese.ca/eman/reports/publications/intro.html

Testing The Waters A Water Quality Workshop

Education

Transcript of Testing The Waters A Water Quality Workshop