&EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
he RiveHncfex Project
ower Great Miami Rive
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Disclaimer
This document has been reviewed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and approved for publication.
Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation of their use.
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Research and Development
Environmental Information
EPA625/R-03/002
www.epa.gov/empact
January 2003
Delivering Timely Water Quality
Information to Your Community
The River Index Project:
Lower Great Miami River Watershed
Prepared for
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
National Risk Management Research Laboratory
Office of Research and Development
Cincinnati, OH 45268
Recycled/Recyclable
Printed with vegetable-based ink on paper that contains a minimum of
50% postconsumer fiber content processed chlorine-free.
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Contributors
Dr. Dan Petersen (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Risk Management Research Laboratory)
served as principal author of this handbook and managed its development with the support of ERG, Inc., an EPA
contractor. Contributing authors include the following:
Dr. Allen Burton, Wright State University Institute for Environmental Quality
Scott A. Hammond, Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission
Michele Jones, City of Dayton
Bill Littleton, YSI, Inc.
Mike Lucas, Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission
Beth Moore, City of Miamisburg
Ned Pennock, CH2M HILL, Inc.
Donna Winchester, City of Dayton
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Contents
1. Introduction 1
1.1 About the EMPACT Program 1
1.2 About the River Index Project 2
1.3 Other Local Monitoring Efforts 4
1.4 About this Handbook 5
1.5 For More Information 6
2. How To Use This Handbook 7
3. Water Quality Monitoring 9
3.1 Water Quality Monitoring - An Overview 9
3.2 Designing a Real-Time Water Quality Monitoring Project 15
3.3 Selecting Your Sampling Frequency 17
3.4 Selecting Water Quality Parameters for Monitoring 18
3.5 Selecting Monitoring Equipment 20
3.6 Siting Monitors 21
3.7 Installing Monitoring Equipment 22
3.8 Calibrating Monitoring Equipment 28
3.9 Maintaining Monitoring Equipment 31
4. Collecting, Transferring, and Managing Real-Time Water Quality Data 35
4.1 System Overview 35
4.2 Processing the Information 39
4.3 Calculating a River Index 39
4.4 Lessons Learned 44
5. Depicting Real-Time Water Quality Data 45
5.1 What Are Data Visualization Tools? 45
5.2 Data Visualization Tools Employed in the River Index Project 46
6. Communicating Real-Time Water Quality Data 50
6.1 Creating an Outreach Plan for Real-Time Water Quality Data 50
6.2 Elements of the River Index Project Outreach Program 55
6.3 Resources for Presenting Water Quality Information to the Public 57
7. Sustaining Timely Water Quality Information 60
7.1 Building on Existing Programs 60
7.2 Housing of Database and the Web Server 61
7.3 Public Support 61
7.4 Determining Data to Collect 62
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Appendix A: Glossary of Terms 64
Appendix B: Graphs of Water Quality Data Collected in 2000 68
Appendix C: Ratings for Water Quality Parameters 73
Appendix D: Telephone Survey Form 74
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1. Introduction
People who spend time in, on, or close to rivers can benefit from timely information
about water quality. This information can help people make day-to-day decisions
about when and how to use the river. For example, swimmers can find out about
fecal coliform levels to protect their health when bacteria levels in a river are too
high, and anglers can use the information to help decide when and where to go fish-
ing. If the information is not communicated in a timely manner, the value of the
information can be reduced and, in some cases, lost.
In 2000, a team of academic and government organizations launched a project
to gather and communicate timely environmental information to the public in
the southwest Ohio and southeast Indiana region of the Great Miami River
watershed. This project, known as the River Index Project, was funded with a
grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) EMPACT
Program. The goal of disseminating timely information to the was achieved by:
Designing and operating a system of water quality monitoring stations to
gather real-time water quality data.
Designing and operating a system to retrieve, manage, and analyze real-time
water quality data.
Using the real-time water quality data to develop a water quality index and a
river index for each water quality monitoring station.
Developing a plan to communicate timely water quality information to the
public.
This technology transfer handbook presents a case study of the River Index
Project. It describes how the River Index Project started, how real-time water
quality data are collected in the Lower Great Miami River Watershed, and how
those data are processed and then communicated to the public. The handbook
also presents lessons learned during the project and provides readers with infor-
mation on how to develop similar water quality monitoring, data processing,
and outreach programs for their community. The handbook is written primarily
for community organizers, non-profit groups, local government officials, tribal
officials, and other decision-makers who implement or are considering imple-
menting environmental monitoring and outreach programs.
1.1 Abouf I he EMPACT Program
This handbook was developed by EPA through its EMPACT Program.
EPA created EMPACT (Environmental Monitoring for Public Access and
Community Tracking) to promote new and innovative approaches to collecting
and managing environmental information and for communicating the informa-
tion to the public.
1 For this handbook, real-time data are data collected and communicated to the public in a time
frame that allows the public to use the data to make day-to-day decisions.
Introduction
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1.2 Abouf fhe River Index Project
The Great Miami River watershed includes approximately 10,680 square kilo-
meters of land in southwest Ohio and southeast Indiana (see Figure 1). The
Great Miami River flows from northeast to southwest through southwest Ohio
and eventually drains into the Ohio River near Cincinnati, Ohio. Major tribu-
taries on the Great Miami River include the Stillwater River and the Mad River,
both of which join the Great Miami River in Dayton, Ohio.
Toledo
Cleveland
Figure 1. The Great Miami River Watershed
The Lower Great Miami River Watershed is the local name for the drainage area
covering most of Montgomery County, the southeast portion of Miami County,
and the northwest portion of Greene County in Ohio (see Figure 2). It covers
1,204 square kilometers (465 square miles) and includes 18 townships and 24
villages and cities. In addition to the Stillwater and Mad Rivers, tributaries to
the Great Miami River in the Lower Great Miami River Watershed include Bear
Creek, Wolf Creek, Twin Creek, and Holes Creek.
Introduction
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Darke County
*°«creek *
Preble
County
Warren
County
:: - - - t.
Greene
County
Figure 2. The Lower Great Miami River Watershed
Much of the greater Dayton area, which comprises the largest urbanized area in
the Miami Valley Region, is in the Lower Great Miami River Watershed. With a
1990 census population of 613,000, the Dayton urbanized area makes a signifi-
cant contribution to the complex mixture of urban, suburban, and rural land
uses in the Lower Great Miami River Watershed. This land use mixture and the
associated pollution sources (e.g., urban and suburban stormwater runoff, nutri-
ents and pesticides from lawns and crop land, and eroded soil from agricultural
and construction sites) have resulted in increased reliance and stress on the pre-
cious, dynamic water resources in the watershed.
In 1986, the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission (MVRPC), the
agency responsible for areawide water quality planning in the Lower Great
Miami River Basin, initiated the Lower Great Miami Watershed Enhancement
Program (WEP). The goal of the WEP was to coordinate the efforts of the area's
many public agencies and private organizations in the development and imple-
mentation of cost-effective and non-duplicative watershed protection activities.
One aspect of the WEP was the initiation of educational programs to make the
public more aware of the quality of the region's surface water resources. The
idea of developing a "river index' that would translate complex water quality
data into user friendly information was an "action item' identified early by the
WEP stakeholders. When the EMPACT Program grants were initiated, a group
of WEP partners joined together to write the grant proposal and subsequently
carry out the River Index Project.
Introduction
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The River Index Project helps water quality management organizations and
other interested parties learn more about the characteristics of the rivers in the
Lower Great Miami River Watershed through remote real-time monitoring of
river water quality. Data gathered are used to calculate an index that portrays the
quality of the river at each of the monitoring stations in the River Index Project.
Indexes often are used to combine several measures of a complicated process
into a single number. A good example is the Dow Jones Industrial Index: a sin-
gle number designed to reflect the trend of the entire U.S. stock market.
The MVRPC is the lead agency for the River Index Project. Original partners
with the MVRPC on this project are listed below:
Miami Conservancy District (MCD)
City of Dayton, Ohio
Wright State University
. CH2M HILL, Inc.
. YSI, Inc.
Unites States Geological Survey (USGS)
In addition, the City of Miamisburg assisted with the operation of a monitoring
station during 2001 and 2002.
MCD left the project in the fall of 2000.
The River Index Project leverages several existing programs. For example,
MCD's experience and expertise were used during the collection of river stage
and water quality data. MCD, a regional agency formed in 1915, worked with
the USGS and YSI, Inc. to retrofit existing gauge houses for use as water quality
monitoring stations. Wright State University's Institute for Environmental
Quality (IEQ), in conjunction with MCD, USGS, and YSI, Inc., oversaw the
field activities for the project.
In addition, the City of Dayton used its experience and expertise in developing
the communication materials for the project, and Wright State University's
Center for Urban and Public Affairs (CUPA) designed and implemented pre-
and post- random telephone surveys to assess the effectiveness of the communi-
cations component of the project. Finally, approximately 32 percent of the costs
of the River Index Project was obtained through in-kind services.
1.3 Of her Local Monitoring Efforfs
The Miami Valley has always been on the cutting edge of managing valuable
water resources. Management projects include the early formation of the Miami
Conservancy District for flood control, the development of the City of Dayton's
world-renowned Wellfield Protection Program, and the federal designation of
the Great Miami/Little Miami Sole Source Aquifer. Today, the region is host to a
number of programs aimed at evaluating, protecting, and managing the water
resources of the basin. Some examples are:
Introduction
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The Lower Great Miami Watershed Enhancement Program (WEP)
As previously mentioned, this program, coordinated by the MVRPC, seeks to
bring together stakeholders in the Lower Great Miami River Watershed to identi-
fy and prioritize needs and to take actions to protect and improve water quality.
For more information on the WEP, go to .
Wolf Creek Watershed Project
This is a WEP program that focuses on raising local awareness about water
quality threats and protection strategies in the mixed urban and rural Wolf
Creek watershed.
The Honey Creek/Great Miami River Watershed Protection Program
The objective of this program is to protect the water resources of the Honey
Creek watershed and the Great Miami River watershed in Montgomery, Miami,
Champaign, and Clark Counties north of Dayton.
The Stillwater River Watershed Protection Project
This is a program that facilitates the identification of water quality problems and
the implementation of protective measures for the state-designated scenic
Stillwater River in Darke and Miami Counties. It focuses primarily on rural areas.
The National Water Quality Assessment Program
This is a USGS program that assesses the status of and trends in the quality of
the Nation's water resources. A long-term study is underway that focuses on the
Great and Lower Great Miami River Watersheds. For more information on this
study, go to .
Numerous Locally-Based Well Field Protection Programs
More than 95 percent of the Miami Valley's population depend on groundwater
for their drinking water supply. Many County, City, and Village water suppliers
have implemented strategies to protect their wellfields from possible contamina-
tion.
1.4 Abouf I his Handbook
Several communities throughout the United States have expressed interest in
projects similar to the River Index Project. The purpose of this handbook is to
help interested communities and organizations learn more about the River
Index Project and to provide them with the technical information they can use
to develop their own programs. The Technology Transfer and Support Division
of the EPA Office of Research and Development's (ORD) National Risk
Management Research Laboratory initiated the development of this handbook
in collaboration with EPA's Office of Environmental Information. ORD, work-
ing with the River Index Project partners, produced the handbook to leverage
EMPACT's investment in the project and minimize the resources needed to
implement similar projects in other areas.
Introduction
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Both the print and CD-ROM versions of the handbook are available for direct
online ordering from ORD's Technology Transfer Web site at
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2. How To Use This
Handbook
This handbook provides you with step-by-step information in an easy-to-under-
stand format on developing a program that provides timely water quality infor-
mation to your community. Using the River Index Project for the Lower Great
Miami River Watershed in southwest Ohio as a model, the handbook contains
information on how to:
Design, site,
operate, and
maintain a
system to gather
real-time water
quality data.
Design, operate, and
maintain a system
to retrieve, manage,
and analyze your
real-time water
quality data.
Develop a
water quality
index and
a river index
using those
data.
Chapter 3 provides detailed information on water quality monitoring. The
chapter begins with an overview of water quality monitoring in freshwater
systems and then focuses on the manual and automated water quality moni-
toring done in the River Index Project. It provides step-by-step instructions
on how to install, calibrate, and maintain the automated equipment used in
the River Index Project to gather real-time water quality data.
Chapter 4 provides information on how to operate and maintain an auto-
mated system to transmit, store, retrieve, and analyze water quality data col-
lected using automated equipment. The chapter focuses on the software used
by the River Index Project Team.
Chapter 5 provides information on how to present the water quality data in
an understandable format. It focuses on the water quality and river indexes
developed in the River Index Project, including the weighting factors and
measures used to rate the water quality parameters. You might want to use
these measures and weighting factors in developing indexes to communicate
your real-time water quality data to the public.
Chapter 6 outlines the steps involved in developing an outreach plan to
communicate information about the quality of your community's rivers. It
also provides information about the outreach efforts for the River Index
Project. The chapter includes a list of resources to help you develop easily
understandable materials to communicate information about your real-time
water quality monitoring program to a variety of audiences.
Chapter /addresses how water quality monitoring can be sustained over
time. It discusses building on existing programs, housing of a database and
Web server, obtaining public support for water quality monitoring, and
determining the information that can be collected with respect to fund avail-
ability.
Develop a plan to
communicate
information about
water quality to
residents in your
community.
How to Use This Handbook
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This handbook is designed for decision-makers considering whether to imple-
ment a real-time water quality monitoring program in their community and for
technicians responsible for implementing these programs. Managers and deci-
sion-makers likely will find the initial sections of Chapters 3, 4, 5, and 6 most
helpful. The latter sections of these chapters are targeted primarily at profession-
als and technicians and provide detailed "how to" information. Chapter 7 is
designed for managers.
The handbook also refers you to supplementary sources of information, such as
Web sites and guidance documents, where you can find additional guidance
with a greater level of technical detail. Interspersed throughout the handbook
are discussions of some of the lessons learned by the River Index Project Team
in developing and implementing its real-time water quality monitoring, data
management, and outreach programs.
CHAPTER 2
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3. Water Quality Monitoring
This chapter provides information about water quality monitoringthe first
step in the process of generating timely information about water quality and
making it available to the public. Each section's contents are as follows:
Section 3.1 provides a broad overview of water quality monitoring. The
chapter then focuses on the remote real-time water quality monitoring con-
ducted as part of the River Index Project.
Section 3.2 discusses factors to consider when designing a remote real-time
water quality monitoring project.
Sections 3.3 and 3.4 explain how to select remote real-time monitoring fre-
quencies and parameters, respectively.
Sections 3.5 and 3.6 discuss selecting monitoring equipment and the loca-
tion of your remote real-time water quality monitoring stations, respectively.
Sections 3.7, 3.8, and 3.9 explain how to install, calibrate, and maintain the
remote real-time water quality monitoring equipment used in the River
Index Project.
Readers primarily interested in an overview of water quality monitoring might
want to focus on the introductory information in Sections 3.1 and 3.2. If you
are responsible for the actual design and implementation of a monitoring proj-
ect, you also should review Sections 3.3 through 3.9. They provide an introduc-
tion to the specific steps involved in developing and operating a remote
real-time water quality monitoring project and information on where to find
additional guidance.
3.1 Wafer Qualify Monitoring: An Overview
Water quality monitoring provides information about the condition of streams,
lakes, ponds, estuaries, and coastal waters. The information reveals whether
these waters are safe for swimming, fishing, or as a source for drinking water.
The Web site of EPA's Office of Water (www.epa.gov/owow/monitoring) pro-
vides essential background information on water quality monitoring. Another
good source of information on water quality monitoring is the Web site for the
River Index Project (www.riverindex.org). Information presented in the follow-
ing paragraphs is summarized from these Web sites.
The following parameters often are measured to evaluate the quality of
surface waters:
1. Chemicals. These include both inorganic and organic chemicals.
Inorganic chemicals include metals such as iron, calcium, and magne-
sium, and nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus. Organic chemi-
cals include a wide range of carbon-containing compounds. Some
organic chemicals originate from natural sources, while others, such as
pesticides and solvents, are synthetic.
Water Quality Monitoring
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2. Physical parameters. These include general conditions such as water
temperature, clarity, and flow rate. Water temperature has a direct effect
on biological activity and growth of aquatic organisms, while clarity is
related to the concentration of total suspended solids in the water. Flow
rate is a measure of the volume of water that flows past a location over a
period of time.
3. Biological populations. Typically, insects living on the bottom of a
water body (benthic macro invertebrates) and fish are the two biological
populations monitored to evaluate water quality. To address human
health, the density of either fecal coliform or E. coli bacteria is meas-
ured. These bacteria are indicators of the presence of human and animal
wastes in surface waters that might cause human disease.
4. Habitats. Aquatic organisms need good habitats in which to hide, feed,
and reproduce. A good habitat consists of many features including:
Coarse stream bottoms that contain sand, gravel, and cobbles with
smaller amounts of clay and silt.
Combinations of deep pool and shallow riffle areas that allow for
either slow or fast water conditions.
Tree limbs, boulders and debris piles that provide places for crea-
tures to hide, spawn, and forage for food.
Stream banks covered with vegetation to prevent erosion and pro-
vide food.
Overhanging trees and fringing plants to provide shade and a source
of leaves and other organic matter that serve as a food source for
aquatic species.
You can conduct several kinds of water quality monitoring projects, such as those:
On a continuous basis at fixed locations.
On an as-needed basis or to answer specific questions at selected locations.
On a temporary or seasonal basis (such as during the summer at swimming
beaches).
On an emergency basis (such as after a spill).
Many agencies and organizations conduct water quality monitoring, including
state pollution control agencies, Indian tribes, city and county environmental
offices, EPA and other federal agencies, and private entities, such as universities,
watershed organizations, environmental groups, and industries. Volunteer moni-
torsprivate citizens who voluntarily collect and analyze water quality samples,
conduct visual assessments of physical conditions, and measure the biological
health of watersalso provide important water quality information. EPA pro-
vides specific information about volunteer monitoring at .
Water quality monitoring primarily is conducted to:
Characterize waters and identify trends or changes in water quality over time.
Identify existing or emerging water quality problems.
10 CHAPTERS
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Gather information for the design of pollution prevention or restoration
projects.
Determine if the goals of specific programs (such as the implementation of
pollution prevention strategies) are being met.
Respond to emergencies such as spills or floods.
EPA helps administer grants for water quality monitoring projects and provides
technical guidance on how to monitor and report monitoring results. You can
find a number of EPA's water quality monitoring technical guidance documents
on the Internet at . EPA's
"Surf Your Watershed" Web site (www.epa.gov/surf3) also contains information
on water quality monitoring.
In some cases, special types of water quality data (e.g., real-time data) or special
water quality monitoring methods (e.g., remote monitoring) are needed to meet
a water quality monitoring program's objectives. Real-time environmental data
are data collected and communicated to the public in a time frame that makes
them useful for making day-to-day decisions about public health and the envi-
ronment. They may be displayed immediately after the data are collected or
after a time delay depending on the equipment used to process the data.
Monitoring is considered "remote" when the operator collects and analyzes data
from a location different from the monitoring site itself.
Remote Real-Time Water Quality Monitoring: The River Index Project
The River Index Project Team uses state-of-the-art automated monitoring
equipment to collect daily data for flow and key water quality parameters, while
data for other water quality parameters such as E. coli bacteria are collected
manually. Remote monitoring is conducted at six locationsthe Englewood
Dam station on the Stillwater River, the Huffman Dam station on the Mad
River, the Wolf Creek station in west Dayton, the Taylorsville Dam Station on
the Great Miami River, and the Miamisburg Station on the Great Miami River
(see Figure 3).
WaterQualityMonitoring 11
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ffman
Downtown Dayton
Figure 3. Location of Water Quality Monitoring Stations
for the River Index Project
Existing MCD and USGS gauge houses are used to house the monitoring instru-
mentation at the Englewood Dam, Miamisburg, Huffman Dam, and Taylorsville
Dam sites. A phone line and an electric line were installed at the Englewood
Dam, Miamisburg, and Huffman Dam sites. A cell phone powered by a solar
panel is used at the Taylorsville Dam site. In addition, river intake pipes were
installed at each site, and tanks, pumps, and monitoring sondes were installed in
each of the existing gauge houses at the Englewood Dam, Miamisburg, and
Huffman Dam monitoring stations. Because there is no electrical service at the
Taylorsville Dam station, the monitoring sonde was placed directly into the river
intake pipe, and batteries are used to power the sonde.
At the Downtown Dayton site, a monitoring station was established in a City of
Dayton storm sewer pump station. For the Wolf Creek monitoring station,
MCD relocated an out-of-use concrete gauge house from a site south of Dayton
and modified it so that it could be used in the River Index Project (see Figure 4).
1 2
CHAPTER 3
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Figure 4. Water Quality Monitoring Station at Wolf Creek
The diagram in Figure 5 illustrates the water quality monitoring set-up at the
Englewood Dam, Miamisburg, Huffman Dam, Downtown Dayton, and Wolf
Creek monitoring stations. As shown in the diagram, water flows continuously
from the river to a flow-through (see Figure 6) tank in the monitoring station.
Water is pumped through a 3-foot long pump screen using a 3/4-hp Prosser
Model 9-01011-28FK submersible pump. This pump has two advantages: it can
be used when the suspended solids concentration in the water is high, and it is
reliable when installed in the horizontal position.
To Utility Pole
Drain Hose
Pump Intake Hose
Power Cable (continuous)
Corrigated Steel 'Junction' Box
with 1/4-inch Steel Lid
10-inch Ribbed
PVC Pipe Support
Clamp
Low Flow
Pump
Figure 5. Diagram Illustrating the Water Quality Monitoring Set-up
Water Quality Monitoring
1 3
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To ensure that the water quality monitoring probes are completely submerged,
water fills the flow-through tank to a depth of 10 inches. The water drains by
gravity through an overflow pipe and is discharged back to the river several feet
downstream of the pump intake. If operated during winter, heaters can be
placed in the monitoring stations to keep the equipment warm.
The set-up illustrated in Figure 5 offers the following advantages:
It reduces the probability of vandalism because monitoring equipment is kept
in a secure building.
It reduces the probability of losing equipment during high flow events.
It facilitates field calibration of equipment during bad weather conditions.
Figure 6. Flow-through Tank at the Wolf Creek Monitoring Station
Data for several parameters were collected at each monitoring station and
used to calculate river indexes during the first monitoring season in 2000.
The parameters included:
Ammonia-Nitrogen
Atrazine
Chlorpyrifos
Dissolved Oxygen
E. coli Bacteria
Fish Toxicity
Flow (River Discharge)
Nitrate - Nitrogen
Polycyclic hydrocarbons
PH
Specific Conductance
Turbidity
Water Temperature
Fish and Benthic Communities
Habitat
1 4
CHAPTER 3
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Real-time data for ammonia-nitrogen, dissolved oxygen, flow rate, nitrate-nitro-
gen, pH, specific conductance, turbidity, and water temperature were collected
hourly, and retrieved automatically three times per day. The data were then
uploaded automatically to a central database. In addition, concentration data for
pesticides (i.e., atrazine and chlorpyrifos), E. coll bacteria, and polycylic aromat-
ic hydrocarbons (PAH) were collected weekly, and fish toxicity data were col-
lected monthly; those data also were entered into the central database. Data for
all of these parameters were used to calculate the river indexes for each monitor-
ing station. Fish and benthic communities and habitat data also were collected
seasonally, but were not used to calculate the indexes.
During and following the first monitoring season, the monitoring parameters
were evaluated with respect to importance in characterizing overall water quality
and cost-effectiveness. Based on the results of those evaluations, the number of
monitoring parameters was reduced during the second and third monitoring
seasons.
Parameters that were deleted include: ammonia-nitrogen, atrazine, chlorpyrifos,
fish toxicity, nitrate-nitrogen, PAH, fish and benthic communities, and habitat.
Data for these parameters were not cost-effective with respect to providing sus-
tainable and timely information to characterize water quality and river condi-
tions. Parameters for which data currently are collected in the River Index
Project include:
Dissolved Oxygen
E. co//Bacteria
Row (River Discharge)
. pH
Specific Conductance
Turbidity
Water Temperature
3.2 Designing a Real-Time Wafer Qualify Monitoring
Project
The first step in developing any water quality monitoring project is to define
your objectives. Keep in mind that remote monitoring might not be the best
method for your organization or community. For example, you would not likely
require a remote real-time monitoring capability when conducting monthly
monitoring to comply with a state or federal regulation.
Here are some questions to help determine if remote monitoring is appropriate
for your monitoring objectives:
What types of questions about water quality do you want to answer? Do you
need real-time data to answer these questions? For example, do you want to
know more about how rapid events, such as urban or agricultural runoff
from storms, might affect water quality in your area by stimulating algal
blooms?
WaterQualityMonitoring 15
-------
If you already have other water quality monitoring projects in place, how
does the addition of real-time data enhance them? For example, does the
frequent review of real-time data allow you to tailor your other monitoring
projects to yield more representative water quality data or conserve your
organization's labor and analytical resources?
How does your community or organization benefit from a real-time moni-
toring project? For example, do real-time data provide you with a better
opportunity to communicate water quality issues to your community?
Making the Most of Your Real-Time Water Quality Data
Currently, your organization will find a limited number of cost-effective
real-time monitoring technologies available. Also keep in mind that real-
time data might not be as accurate, precise, or consistent as "conven-
tional" laboratory data. You should carefully consider how your project
uses real-time data and make the most of data for the real-time moni-
toring parameters you select.
In designing your program, think about how you could use real-time
measurements of certain parameters as indicators of the phenomena
you wish to document. For example, depending on your water body's
characteristics and the location of your monitoring equipment, you could
use turbidity and dissolved oxygen measurements as indicators of an
algae bloom. Then you could learn more about the bloom by conduct-
ing manual monitoring of parameters that might not currently be avail-
able to you on a cost-effective, real-time basis (e.g., atrazine and
chlorpyrifos). Another example might involve using real-time measure-
ments of turbidity and conductivity to estimate the impact of a storm
event on the concentration of paniculate matter (as indicated by turbidi-
ty) and dissolved solids (as indicated by conductivity) in a stream or river.
Designing the River Index Project
The River Index Project Team's decision to collect near real-time water quality
data grew out of an interest to make the public better informed about water
quality in the Lower Great Miami River Watershed. The objectives of the River
Index Project are presented in the box on page 17.
After you define the objectives of a water quality monitoring project, the fre-
quency of monitoring, parameters for which data are collected, and the equip-
ment used to monitor water quality have to be selected. The sites where
monitoring occurs also have to be selected.
1 6
CHAPTER 3
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The River Index Project Objectives
The economic vitality and public health of the Miami Valley are tied
closely to the quality of the region's water resources. The success of
efforts to stimulate economic growth and activity along the rivers also
relies on the condition of the rivers and the public's perception of the
river condition.
Although the quality of the rivers in the Lower Great Miami River
Watershed has improved greatly over the last 25 years, public percep-
tion is that the rivers are not clean and are not safe places on which to
recreate. For the public to be better informed, they need to have access
to understandable timely information regarding river water quality. For
this reason, the objectives of the River Index Project are to:
1. Provide the public access to clear and understandable information
regarding the quality of the area's rivers.
2. Enhance initiatives by other groups and agencies that seek to
heighten access to and awareness of the region's waterways.
3. Support efforts to stimulate economic growth and activity along
the rivers.
4. Increase the use of the river corridors (e.g., for canoeing and
fishing) and areas adjacent to the river corridors (e.g., parks
and bikeways).
5. Foster a sense of public ownership of the rivers.
6. Generate long-term data that can be used to evaluate changes in
water quality because of water quality improvement initiatives.
7. Sustain the River Index Project beyond the life of the EMPACT grant
by incorporating it into existing programs and activities.
As you will read in this chapter, information obtained through remote
real-time monitoring helps the River Index Project Team achieve
these objectives.
3.3 Selecting Your Monitoring Frequency
The frequency of monitoring you select for your remote real-time water quality
monitoring project depends on your project's objectives. For example, if you
want to determine the effects of storm-related nonpoint sources on water quali-
ty in your area, you could tailor your monitoring frequency to collect data dur-
ing storm events. If you want to study a water body affected by tidal flow, you
could tailor your monitoring frequency to collect data during tidal events. It is
appropriate to experiment with different monitoring frequencies to optimize
your ability to fulfill your project's objectives.
Water Quality Monitoring
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River Index Project Monitoring Frequency
Data for several of the water quality parameters monitored in the River Index
Project are collected hourly and are retrieved three times per day. This monitor-
ing frequency allows the river index for each monitoring station to be updated
every eight hours. To insure the quality of the data collected, the data's accuracy
and precision have to be certified. See the discussion on Data Quality Assurance
and Quality Control (QA/QC) in the box below.
Data Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC)
QA/QC procedures ensure that collected data are accurate, precise,
and consistent. QA/QC involves following established rules in the field
and in the laboratory to ensure that samples are representative of the
water you are monitoring, free from contamination as a result of the
sampling activity, and analyzed using standard procedures.
Two types of water quality data were collected in the River Index Project:
1. Real-time data collected using YSI, Inc. water quality sensors.
2. Data obtained from the collection and analyses of weekly and
monthly water samples by trained staff. In addition, fish and benth-
ic community samples and habitat samples were collected and
analyzed seasonally.
To ensure the QA/QC of data collected using YSI sensors, the River
Index Project Team follows the manufacturer's instructions for sensor cali-
bration and maintenance (See Sections 3.8 and 3.9 for more informa-
tion on the calibration and maintenance procedures). To ensure QA/QC
of the other data collected, the River Index Project Team follows guide-
lines set forth by EPA and the American Public Health Association.
The team also has several years of experience identifying systematic
errors associated with sensor deterioration, or biofouling, that occurs
when algae, bacteria, and fungi grow on the sensor when it is sub-
merged continually in water.
EPAs publication The Volunteer Monitor's Guide to Quality Assurance
Project Plans provides more information on QA/QC plans for monitor-
ing projects. For information on this guide, visit .
3.4 Selecfing Wafer Qualify Paramefers for
Monitoring
Your selection of real-time water quality monitoring parameters depends on
your project's objectives and on the remote real-time technologies available to
you. To satisfy the objectives of the River Index Project, the project team chose
to monitor parameters important to aquatic life. In selecting those parameters,
the project team considered information such as EPA's water quality criteria,
Ohio Environmental Protection Agency water quality and biocriteria standards,
existing water quality in the Lower Great Miami River Watershed, the cost-
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effectiveness of data for each parameter, and the expense and availability of the
monitoring equipment.
Six parameters were chosen to be monitored on a real-time basis: dissolved oxy-
gen, flow rate, pH, conductivity, turbidity, and water temperature (ammonia-
nitrogen and nitrate-nitrogen also were monitored at the Taylorsville and
Miamisburg stations during the first year of the project). A brief description of
these parameters is presented in the box below.
River Index Project Real-Time Water Quality
Parameters
Dissolved Oxygen. The concentration of dissolved oxygen (DO) in
water affects the number and type of aquatic organisms that live in the
water. Dissolved oxygen must be present at a concentration high enough
to sustain these organisms. It is important to measure DO frequently. For
example, some streams impacted by wastewater discharges have a fluc-
tuating DO. An average DO of eight is not acceptable if there are
episodes where the DO is zero, even for short periods.
Flow Rate. The volume of water that flows past a monitoring station
over a period of time (e.g., cubic feet per second). River stage data were
collected during the River Index Project and then converted to flow rate
data.
pH. pH is a measure of the acidity of the water. A pH of seven is neu-
tral. Values lower than seven are acidic and higher than seven are
basic. Many important chemical and biological reactions are strongly
affected by pH. In turn, chemical reactions and biological processes
(e.g., photosynthesis and respiration) affect pH. Low pH values increase
the concentration of some dissolved metals in the water, increasing the
toxicity of these metals.
Conductivity. Conductivity is an estimator of the amount of total dis-
solved salts or total dissolved ions in water. Many factors influence the
conductivity of water, including the watershed's geology, wastewater from
point sources, runoff from nonpoint sources, atmospheric inputs, evapo-
ration rates, and some types of bacterial metabolism. Conductivity also
is a function of temperature; therefore, the data have to be standardized
to 25° C. Conductivity corrected to 25° C is specific conductance.
Turbidity. Turbidity describes the clarity of water. Turbidity increases as
the concentration of total suspended solids in the water increases.
Water Temperature. Water temperature has a direct effect on biologi-
cal activity and the growth of aquatic organisms because most aquatic
organisms are "cold-blooded" (i.e., they cannot regulate their core body
temperature). Temperature also affects biological activity by influencing
water chemistry. For example, because warm water holds less oxygen
than does cold water, warm water might not contain enough oxygen to
support some types of aquatic life.
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In addition to the real-time parameters, measurements were taken for atrazine,
chlorpyrifos, E. coli bacteria, and PAH on a weekly basis during the first moni-
toring season. Also, fish toxicity was measured monthly, and habitat and benthic
community analyses were conducted seasonally during the first monitoring sea-
son. Results of the habitat and fish and benthic community analyses were not
included in the calculation of the river indexes.
3.5 Selecting Monitoring Equipmenf
Your selection of remote real-time water quality monitoring equipment also
depends on your project's objectives. When selecting monitoring equipment,
you should consider equipment lifetime, reliability, and maintenance require-
ments.
River Index Project Monitoring Equipment
The automatic water quality monitoring equipment selected by the River Index
Project Team includes a data acquisition system, water quality sondes, and water
quality probes manufactured by YSI, Inc. The table below contains the model
numbers for the equipment.
Description
Data Acquisition System (DAS) and
Data Collection Platform (DCP)
Water Quality Sonde
Temperature Probe
pH Probe
Conductivity Probe
Dissolved Oxygen Probe
Turbidity Probe
Ammonium-Nitrogen Probe
Nitrate- Nitrogen Probe
Model Number
YSI 6200 DAS with Ecowatch
DCP
YSI 6820
YSI 6920 (Taylorsville station only)
YSI 6560 (all stations)
YSI 6561 (all stations)
YSI 6560 (all stations)
YSI 6562 (all stations)
YSI 6026 (all stations)
YSI 6883 (Taylorsville and
Miamisburg stations only)
YSI 6884 (Taylorsville and
Miamisburg stations only)
A water quality sonde is a device that houses program software and the electron-
ics used to calibrate sensors and communicate data collected by the sensors. A
probe is a device that contains one or more water quality sensors (the device that
actually collects the data). For example, YSI Model 6560 is a probe that contains
both a water temperature sensor and a conductivity sensor.
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The ammonium-nitrogen and nitrate-nitrogen probes require additional calibra-
tion steps that are cumbersome to do in the field. For this reason, extra sondes
were purchased at the beginning of the River Index Project. This allowed sondes
to be calibrated in the laboratory and then switched with the sondes in the field.
3.6 Siting Monitors
You should select monitoring locations that best fulfill the objectives of your
remote real-time water quality monitoring project. You should consider several
factors when making your final siting decisions. See the checklist of questions
below when choosing your location.
Monitoring Site-Selection Checklist
Q Are the real-time data you collect at these locations likely to fulfill
your project's objectives? Specifically, what questions can you
answer with your data, and how do the answers help you to meet
those objectives?
Q Do people in your community support equipment installation and
remote real-time monitoring at your locations?
Q Does the monitoring equipment pose a potential danger to the
people in your community? For example, are your monitoring loca-
tions near a heavy traffic area?
Q Is monitoring equipment safe at your locations? For example, is the
equipment susceptible to vandalism or tampering?
Q What local, state, or federal regulations do you need to consider
when choosing your locations?
Q Is flexibility important to your project? Do you want the option to
move your monitoring equipment to different locations, or do you
want to monitor at several locations concurrently?
Q Do you foresee any site-specific problems with installing, operating,
and maintaining your monitoring equipment at these locations? Do
these locations pose any safety hazards to your personnel?
[_j Can you adequately survey and access your locations? What
equipment-specific considerations do you need to make?
The River Index Project Monitoring Locations
Six monitoring stations are used in the River Index Project to collect water qual-
ity data in the Lower Great Miami River Watershed (see Figure 3). The selected
locations are near recreational areas, key habitat areas, and population centers.
Several of these locations allow the water quality monitoring station to be locat-
ed in an existing MCD river gauge station.
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One station is located at each of the three flood control dams in the Dayton
area. The dams, which are the location of popular nature reserves, are on the
Stillwater River (Englewood Dam), the Great Miami River (Taylorsville Dam),
and the Mad River (Huffman Dam). Another monitoring station is located in
the downtown Dayton area, immediately downstream of the confluence of the
Stillwater, Great Miami, and Mad Rivers in the middle section of a popular
downtown bikeway. A fifth monitoring station is located on Wolf Creek, which
runs through a highly populated portion of West Dayton. Another monitoring
station is located on the Great Miami River in Miamisburg, several miles south
of the Downtown Dayton area.
3.7 Insfailing Monitoring Equipment
This section summarizes the basic procedures for installing the water quality
monitoring equipment used in the River Index Project. These procedures were
taken from the YSI Environmental Operations Manual available from YSI, Inc.,
1725 Brannum Lane, Yellow Springs, OH 45387. Consult the YSI, Inc. manual
for detailed step-by-step installation, calibration, and maintenance guidance.
You also may contact YSI, Inc. at .
The monitoring equipment used at each monitoring station in the River Index
Project includes a water quality sonde, a temperature probe, a pH probe, a con-
ductivity probe, a dissolved oxygen (DO) probe, and a turbidity probe. In addi-
tion, ammonium-nitrogen and nitrate-nitrogen probes were used during the
first year of the River Index Project at the Taylorsville Dam and Miamisburg
monitoring stations.
Connecting the Water Quality Sonde
A water quality sonde is a torpedo-shaped monitoring device that is placed into
the water to gather water quality data (see Figure 7). Sondes support multiple
probes. Each probe may have one or more sensors that collect water quality data.
Figure 7. Water Quality Sonde
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A sonde may be connected to a computer, data collection device, or to a dis-
play/logger. In the River Index Project, a field cable connects a sonde to a Data
Collection Platform (see Figure 8).
Sonde to Data Collection Platform
Field Cable
Sonde
You will need:
Sonde
Field Cable
Data Collection Platform
Figure 8. Connecting sonde to data collection platform (DCP)
Preparing the Sonde for Use
To prepare the sonde for calibration and operation, you first need to install a new
membrane on the DO probe and then install the probes with the sensors into
the connectors on the sonde bulkhead. It is recommended that you install the
DO membrane before placing the DO probe into the sonde bulkhead. For sub-
sequent membrane changes, you might be able to install the membrane without
removing the probe. This depends on whether the other installed probes interfere
with your ability to install a membrane. The four steps for getting your sonde
ready for use are:
Install the membrane on the DO probe
Place the probes in the sonde bulkhead
Connect the power
Connect the field cable
Step 1: Install the DO probe membrane (see Figure 9)
1. Unpack the YSI 6562 DO Probe Kit.
2. Open the membrane kit and prepare the electrolyte solution. Dissolve the
potassium chloride (KCl) in the dropper bottle by filling it to the neck with
Water Quality Monitoring
2 3
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deionized or distilled water and shaking until the solids are fully dissolved.
After the KCl is dissolved, wait a few minutes until the solution is free of
bubbles.
3. Remove the protective cap from the DO probe and the dry membrane from
the DO sensor. Be careful not to scratch or contaminate the sensor tip.
4. Hold the probe in the vertical position and apply a few drops of KCl solu-
tion to the tip. The fluid should completely fill the small moat around the
electrodes and form a meniscus on the tip of the sensor. Be sure no air bub-
bles are stuck to the face of the sensor. If necessary, shake off the electrolyte
and start over.
5. Secure a membrane between your left thumb and the probe body. Always
handle the membrane with care, touching it only at the ends.
6. With the thumb and forefinger of your right hand, grasp the free end of the
membrane. With one continuous motion, gently stretch it up, over, and
down the other side of the sensor. The membrane should conform to the
face of the sensor.
7. Using the thumb and forefinger of your left hand, secure the end of the
membrane.
8. Roll the O-ring over the end of the sensor, being careful not to touch the
membrane surface with your fingers. No wrinkles or trapped air bubbles
should be in the membrane. Small wrinkles can be removed by lightly tug-
ging on the edges of the membrane. If bubbles are present, remove the mem-
brane and install again using Steps 4 through 9.
9. Trim off any excess membrane with a sharp knife or scissors. Rinse off an
excess KCl solution, but be careful not to get any water in the connector.
TIP: You may find it more convenient to mount the probe vertically in a vise
with rubber jaws while applying the electrolyte and membrane to the sensor tip.
24 CHAPTERS
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Figure 9. Installing the DO probe membrane
Step 2: Place the probes in the sonde bulkhead
1. Remove the transport clip from the sonde by hand to expose the bulkhead
(see Figure 10).
Transport clip
Bulkhead with
probe port plugs
Figure 10. Probe with transport clip
2. Using the probe installation tools provided, remove the port plugs. Save all
port plugs for possible future use. In place of the tool provided for port
removal, you may use a 7/64" hex key.
3. Apply a thin coat of O-ring lubricant to the O-rings on the connector side
of each probe that is installed. Make sure there are no contaminants between
the O-ring and the probe. Contaminates under the O-ring may cause the CD-
ring to leak when the sonde is placed in use.
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2 5
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4. Before installing a probe, be sure the probe port is free of moisture. If
moisture is present, you may use a can of compressed air to blow out
the moisture.
5. Place a probe into the correct port and gently rotate the probe until the two
connectors align. With the connectors aligned, tighten the probe slip nut
with the probe installation tool provided. Do not cross thread the probe nut
and do not over tighten the slip nut.
6. A turbidity probe should be installed first due to its center position in the
sonde bulkhead.
7. Ammonium-nitrogen and nitrate-nitrogen probes do not have slip nuts and
should be installed without tools. Use only your fingers to tighten.
8. After the probes are placed in the bulkhead, install the probe guard by align-
ing it with the threads on the bulkhead and turn the guard clockwise until it
is secure. The probe guard protects the probes during calibration and meas-
urement procedures (see Figure 11).
Caution: Be careful not to damage the DO membrane during installation of the
probe guard.
Turn clockwise by hand
to secure
Probe guard
Bulkhead
(probes installed)
Figure 11. Sonde with probe guard
Step 3: Connect the power
1. Connect the sonde to an external power source.
2. For the YSI 6920 sonde, place the batteries into the sonde using the follow-
ing procedure (see Figure 12):
Position the bail so that it is perpendicular to the sonde and use it as a
lever to unscrew the battery cap by hand. Then slide the battery lid up
and over the bulkhead connector.
Insert eight AA-size alkaline batteries into the sonde, paying special
attention to polarity. Labeling on the sonde body describes the proper
orientation of the batteries with respect to polarity.
26 CHAPTERS
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Check the O-ring and sealing surfaces for any contaminants that could
interfere with the O-ring seal of the battery chamber. Contaminants
under the O-ring may cause the O-ring to leak when the sonde is
placed in use.
Lightly lubricate the O-ring on the outside of the battery cover. DO
NOT lubricate the internal O-ring.
Replace the battery lid and tighten by hand. DO NOT OVER
TIGHTEN.
Bulkhead
connector
with cap
Sonde body
(not shown)
Bail
Screw on
battery cap
\
AA batteries
(note polarity)
Figure 12. Location of sonde batteries
Step 4: Connect the field cable (see Figure 13)
1. Remove the waterproof cap from the sonde connector and set it aside for
later reassembly during storage.
2. Connect the field cable to the sonde connector. A built-in "key" ensures
proper pin alignment. Rotate the cable gently until the "key" engages and
then tighten the connectors together by rotating them clockwise.
3. Attach the strain relief connector to the sonde bail. Rotate the strain relief
connector nut to close the connector's opening.
4. The other end of the field cable for all sondes is a military-style 8-pin con-
nector (MS-8). Through the use of a YSI 6095B MS-8 to DB-9 adapter, the
sonde can be connected to a computer for setup, calibration, measurement,
and uploading files.
5. For laboratory use, a YSI 6067B calibration cable can be used instead of a
field cable. This cable is not waterproof and should not be submersed in
water. To use, plug the proper end of the cable into the sonde connector and
attach the DB-9 connector of the cable to the COM port of your computer.
Water Quality Monitoring
2 7
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Field cable
connector
Remove
waterproof
cap
Sonde
connector
Strain relief
connector
Figure 13. Connecting field cable
3.8 Calibrating fhe Monitoring Equipmenf
The following general calibration procedure is used for the most commonly used
sensors. Consult the YSI, Inc. manual to determine whether a different proce-
dure is used for a specific sensor. Calibration can be done using either the cali-
bration cup that comes with the sonde or laboratory glassware. Follow the
instructions in the text box on page 29 when the calibration cup is used in the
general calibration procedure. If you do not use the calibration cup, you are cau-
tioned to do the following:
Perform all calibrations with the probe guard installed. This protects the
probe from possible physical damage.
Use a ring stand and clamp to secure the sonde body to prevent the sonde
from falling over. Some laboratory glassware has convex bottoms.
Insurer that all sensors are immersed in calibrations solutions. Many of the
calibrations factor in readings from other probes (e.g., temperature probe).
The top vent hole of the conductivity sensor also must be immersed during
calibrations.
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The following are the steps in the general calibration procedure:
Using the Calibration Cup to Calibrate Sensors in YSI
6820/6920 Sondes
/ Ensure that a gasket is installed in the gasket groove of the cali-
bration cup bottom cap and that the bottom cap is tightened.
/ Remove the probe guard from the sonde, if installed.
/ Remove the sonde O-ring, if installed.
/ Inspect the installed gasket on the sonde for obvious defects and,
if necessary, replace it with the extra gasket (supplied).
/ Screw calibration cup assembly into place on the threaded end of
the sonde and securely tighten, but do not over tighten.
/ Sonde calibration can be accomplished with the sonde upright or
upside down. A separate clamp and stand, such as a ring stand, is
required to support the sonde in the inverted position.
/ To calibrate the DO sensor, loosen the bottom cap or cup assem-
ble to allow pressure equilibration before calibration. The DO cali-
bration is a water-saturated air calibration.
/ Follow the general calibration procedure to calibrate a sensor
unless a different procedure is used for a specific sensor.
/ To ensure more accurate results, you can rinse the calibration cup
with water, and then rinse with a small volume of calibration solu-
tion for the sensor that you are calibrating. Discard the rinse solu-
tion and add fresh calibration solution. Consult the YSI, Inc.
manual for the correct volume of calibration solution for a sensor.
Step 1:
Carefully immerse the probes in the calibration solution. It is recommended
that the sonde be supported with a ring stand and clamp to prevent the
sonde from falling over.
Step 2:
With a field cable connecting the sonde to a personal computer (PC), access
EcoWatch for Windows and proceed to the Main menu. From the Main
menu, select number 2-Calibrate.
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29
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Step 3:
From the Calibrate menu, select the number of the sensor that you are cali-
brating. A number in parenthesis appears next to the selected parameter.
This is a default value that is used during calibration unless you input a dif-
ferent value. For parameters for which no default value is shown, you must
type in a value. After you are satisfied with the default value, press "enter."
Step 4:
After you press "enter," a real-time display appears on the screen. Carefully
observe the stabilization of the readings for the parameter that is being cali-
brated. When the readings are stable for approximately 30 seconds, press
"enter" to accept the calibration.
Step 5:
Press "enter" to return to the Calibrate menu, and proceed with the calibra-
tion for the other sensors.
Calibration Tips
Temperature sensors do not require calibration.
The key to successful calibration is to insure that the sensors are com-
pletely submersed when calibration values are entered.
For maximum accuracy, use a small volume of previously used cali-
bration solution to pre-rinse the sonde. You may wish to save old cal-
ibration standards for this purpose.
Fill a bucket with water at ambient temperature to rinse the sonde
between calibrations using different solutions.
Have several clean, absorbent paper towels or cotton cloths available
to dry the sonde between rinses and calibration solutions. Shake the
excess rinse water off the sonde, especially when the probe guard is
installed. Dry off the outside of the sonde and probe guard to reduce
carry-over contamination of calibration solutions.
If you use laboratory glassware instead of a calibration cup, you do
not need to remove the probe guard to rinse and dry the probe
between calibrations using different solutions. The inaccuracy result-
ing from just rinsing the probe compartment and drying the outside
of the sonde is minimal.
Make certain that port plugs are installed in all ports where probes
are not installed. CAUTION: It is extremely important to keep these
electrical connectors dry.
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River Index Project
For the River Index Project, the probes were calibrated initially on a weekly basis.
After several weeks of testing the equipment, the calibration frequency was
decreased to biweekly.
The ammonium-nitrogen and nitrate-nitrogen probes require additional calibra-
tion steps that are cumbersome to do at a monitoring site. For this reason, extra
sondes were purchased at the beginning of the River Index Project. This allowed
sondes to be calibrated in the laboratory and then switched with the sondes at
the monitoring site.
3.9 Maintaining Monitoring Equipment
Most of the maintenance activities for the monitoring equipment focus on
cleaning the sondes and the probes. The activities vary by the type of probe
used.
The YSI 6570 Maintenance Kit is available for a sonde. The kit includes two
types of O-rings (for probes and cable connector), probe installation and
replacement tools, two cleaning brushes for the conductivity sensor, O-ring
lubricant, and a syringe for cleaning the depth sensor port. These items are
helpful in performing routine maintenance on your sondes.
To prevent water from entering a sonde port, it is extremely important that the
entire sonde and all probes be thoroughly dried prior to the removal of a probe
or probe plug. If moisture is present inside a probe port when either a probe or
plug is removed, use compressed air to completely dry the connector inside the
port. Remember, you will never a need to gain access to the interior circuitry of
a sonde during cleaning, because the sonde is sealed at the factory.
Maintenance activities for the cable connector port and the different sensors are
discussed below.
Cable Connector Port
The cable connector port at the top of the sonde should be covered at all times,
and the cable should be tightened at all times. This assures that a proper con-
nection is made and prevents moisture and contaminants from entering the
sonde. If moisture enters a connector, dry the connector completely using com-
pressed air, a clean cloth, or a paper towel.
When a communications cable is not connected to the cable connector port,
the pressure cap supplied with the instrument should be tightened. Apply a thin
coat of the lubricant that comes in the maintenance kit to the O-ring inside the
cable connector cap prior to each use.
DO Probe
For best results, the KCl solution and the membrane on the tip of the DO
probe should be changed prior to each time the sonde is used and at least every
30 days during use. The KCl solution and membrane also should be changed
if 1) bubbles are visible under the membrane, 2) if significant deposits of dried
WaterQualityMonitoring 31
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electrolyte are visible on the membrane or O-ring, or 3) if the probe provides
unstable readings.
Dry the probe tip completely with lens cleaning tissue.
Hold the probe in a vertical position and place one of the sanding disks sup-
plied by manufacturer under your thumb.
Stroke the probe face in a direction parallel to the gold electrode (located
between the two silver electrodes). The motion is similar to that used to
strike a match.
Usually, 10 to 15 strokes of the sanding disk are sufficient to remove the
black deposits on the silver electrodes. In extreme cases, more sanding may
be required to regenerate the original silver surface.
After completing the sanding procedure, rinse the probe face with clean
water and wipe with lens cleaning tissue to remove any grit from the sanding
disk.
Rinse the entire tip of the probe with distilled or deionized water and install
a new membrane.
Be sure only to use the fine sanding disk provided by the manufacturer and
sand in the direction of the gold electrode. Not adhering to both of these
instructions can damage the electrodes.
Conductivity/Temperature Probe
The openings that allow liquid access to the conductivity electrodes must be
cleaned regularly. Dip a small cleaning brush (provided in the maintenance kit)
in clean water and insert it into each hole 15 to 20 times. In the event that
deposits are on the electrodes, adding a mild detergent in the cleaning water
might be necessary. After cleaning, check the response and accuracy of the con-
ductivity cell with a calibration solution.
The temperature portion of the probe requires no maintenance.
pHProbe
Cleaning of the pH probe is required whenever deposits or contaminants are on
the glass surfaces of the probe, or whenever there is a slow response. Several pro-
cedures are used to clean the pH probe after it is removed from the sonde.
The initial procedure is to use clean water and either a saturated soft clean
cloth, lens cleaning tissue, or cotton swab to remove all foreign material from
the glass bulb. Then, use a moistened cotton swab to carefully remove material
that may block the reference electrode junction of the sensor. Be careful not to
wedge the swab tip between the guard and the glass sensor. If necessary, remove
the cotton from the swab tip so that the cotton can reach all parts of the sensor
tip without stress.
32 CHAPTERS
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If good pH response is not restored using the initial procedure, perform the fol-
lowing procedure:
1. Soak the probe for 10 to 15 minutes in clean water containing a few drops
of commercial dishwashing liquid.
2. Gently clean the glass bulb by rubbing with a cotton swab soaked in clean-
ing solution.
3. Rinse the probe in clean water, wipe with a cotton swab saturated with clean
water, and then rinse again with clean water.
If good pH response still is not restored, perform the following additional
procedures:
1. Soak the probe for 30 to 60 minutes in one molar hydrochloric acid solu-
tion. Be sure to follow the safety instructions that come with the acid solu-
tion.
2. Gently clean the glass bulb by rubbing with a cotton swab soaked in the acid
solution.
3. Rinse the probe in clean water, wipe with a cotton swab saturated with clean
water, and then rinse again with clean water. To be certain that all of the acid
solution is removed from the probe crevices, soak the probe in clean water
for about an hour with occasional stirring.
If good pH response is not restored through the above procedures or if biologi-
cal contamination of the reference junction is suspected, perform the following
additional cleaning step.
1. Soak the probe for approximately one hour in a one-to-one dilution of com-
mercially available chlorine bleach.
2. Rinse the probe with clean water and then soak for at least one hour in clean
water with occasional stirring to remove residual bleach from the junction. If
possible, soak the probe for longer than one hour to be certain that all traces
of chlorine beach are removed. Then rinse the probe with clean water and
retest.
If good pH response is achieved at the end of any of the above procedures, dry
the sonde port and probe connector with compressed air and apply a thin coat
of lubricant to all O-rings. Then place the pH probe in the sonde. If good pH
response is still not achieved, consult the manufacturer.
Turbidity Probe
The turbidity probe requires minimal maintenance. After each use, the optical
surface of the tip of the turbidity probe should be inspected for fouling. If nec-
essary, clean the surface by gently wiping the probe face with moist lens-clean-
ing paper. The wiper assembly might have to be replaced periodically depending
on the quality of water that is monitored.
WaterQualityMonitoring 33
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River Index Project
Initially, maintenance activities were performed weekly in the River Index
Project. After several weeks of testing, the maintenance frequency was reduced to
biweekly.
As mentioned previously, extra sondes were purchased at the beginning of the
River Index Project so that sondes could be maintained in the laboratory and
then switched with sondes at the monitoring sites. Approximately one hour is
needed to clean, service, maintain, and calibrate a sonde in the laboratory. The
time required for maintenance of each sonde and any problems encountered with
the sonde are recorded in a log book.
Field maintenance includes cleaning of the flow-through tank wall, back flushing
of the monitoring system by turning off the pump, cleaning pipes, and confirm-
ing the pump is in good working condition by recording the time it takes to
refill the flow-through tank. All field activities are recorded on a sheet that
remains at the monitoring station.
34 CHAPTERS
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4. Collecting, Transferring,
and Managing Real-Time
Water Quality Data
To effectively assess the water quality of a river, it is necessary to collect repre-
sentative field samples over a time span that takes into account as many influ-
ences on the water body as possible. Conducting a comprehensive manual
sampling program that covers different times of the day and different seasons
and seasonal events presents distinct challenges. As a result, many agencies
responsible for water quality monitoring rely on automated systems in which
remote water sampling units collect data at programmed intervals and then
transmit the collected data to a project headquarters for storage, retrieval, and
analysis. Automated systems measure a variety of water quality parameters that
are laborious to monitor manually on a daily basis (e.g., pH, temperature, con-
ductivity, and flow rate). A commitment to automation gives an agency the free-
dom to focus their resources on collecting samples for measurements that
usually are not made using automated systems: bacteria counts, chemical analy-
ses, and broad ecological assessments, for example.
Using the River Index Project as a model, this chapter provides you and your
community with information on how to operate and maintain automated data
collection systems:
Section 4.1 provides introductory information as an overview of the system.
Sections 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, and 4.5 explain technical information on implement-
ing this system, such as processing information, calculating a river index, and
lessons learned in the River Index Project.
4.1 Sysfem Overview
An automated data collection, transfer, and management system benefits your
community in two ways: it enables you to automate the collection of water
quality data and it allows you to control the resulting data easily. By using the
system's software, you can program your remote data acquisition system (DAS)
to collect water quality data at specified intervals and store them. Then you can
program a computer in your headquarters to call the DAS at specified times and
download recent data. With little or no need for human intervention, the infor-
mation can be exported to a database, set in a standard format, and merged
with manually collected data. After the data are available in a database, they can
be used in a wide variety of applications. They can be:
Manually inspected for quality control purposes
Plotted using graphing software
Mapped using a geographical information system (GIS)
Processed and combined with other data
Made available to the public via a connected Web server
WaterQualityData 35
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River Index Project
Various components make up the automated data collection, transfer, and man-
agement system for the River Index Project. They are:
Data Acquisition System (DAS). This is a small, rugged computer located
at each of the monitoring stations in the Lower Great Miami River
Watershed (see Figure 14). It receives data directly from the water quality and
flow sensors, provides short-term storage for the data, and periodically trans-
mits the data to computers that call in. The DAS is set up for either cellular
or land-line telephone service. Each DAS is controlled by proprietary soft-
ware developed by the manufacturer:
- Data Collection Platform (DCP). DCP is software designed specifical-
ly by the DAS manufacturer. It controls the operation of the DAS
instruments, causes data to be stored, and uploads data to computers
that dial the DAS.
Figure 14. Data acquisition system at Downtown Dayton monitoring station
The project headquarters Station, located in Dayton, Ohio, contains a
computer that runs different software programs:
- Procomm Plus software. This is a general purpose telecommunications
program that can be set to automatically dial the DAS and download
recent river stage data. This program also is used to upload river stage
and water quality data to the database server at the distribution station.
For more information on Procomm Plus software, go to
.
3 6
CHAPTER 4
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EcoWatch for Windows. This software, which was developed by YSI,
Inc., calls and downloads data collected using the dissolved oxygen, pH,
conductivity, turbidity, temperature, and nitrogen sensors.
The Distribution Station, located at CH2M HILL's office in San Francisco,
California, receives data, stores them in a database, and distributes data to
the public over the Internet. Most of the computer hardware and software
needed for the River Index Project is used to provide information to the
public through the project's Web site. The distribution station runs the fol-
lowing software:
- Microsoft SQL Database Server. This software formats, quality checks,
and stores the collected data. The server responds to queries (either
directly from users or from other software programs) by providing
appropriate records from its database.
- Microsoft IIS Web Server provides Internet users with a graphical user
interface (i.e., a "Web site"). When the server needs real-time data to
send to an Internet user, it obtains the data from the database server.
The Distribution Station in California collects data from the project headquar-
ters Station to save money on long distance calls. It cost less to make one long
distance call to the project headquarters Station than to make six long distance
calls to the monitoring stations.
WaterQualityData 37
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DAS
Monitoring
Systems
Modem
connection over
cell phone or
landline
Dial-in
Computer at
Project
Headquarters
Telephone
connection with
distribution
station
Database
Server at
Distribution
Station
Network
connection
within
distribution
Web Server
at
Distribution
Station
station
Runs DCP
Software to
collect data
Runs Procomm Plus
and EcoWatch for
Windows to gather
data collected at
monitoring stations
Runs Procomm Plus
to upload data to
database server at
distribution station
Runs Microsoft SQL
to format and store
data, and to do
quality checks on
data
Runs Microsoft IIS
to retrieve data
from database
server and display
data on Web site
To learn more about how to use the software products, consult the manufactur-
ers' documentation.
How often should you collect data?
Given the system's flexibility, communities are able to establish sampling
and data transmission protocols based on their specific monitoring
needs. For example, one community might program its DAS to sample
every hour, seven days a week to monitor general trends over time.
Another community might collect only event-specific samples relevant to
the period of a nonpoint source event. This might involve continuous
monitoring at a single depth before, during, and after a storm.
The River Index Project Team programmed their computers to collect
water quality and flow data every eight hours. Each eight-hour reading
is itself an average of eight hourly readings collected by the DAS.
Manually collected water quality data, such as E. coli bacteria density
measurements, were collected less frequently (either once a week or
once a month) during the first year of the River Index Project. When a
river index is calculated, the most recent data, both automated and
manual, are used in the calculation. Graphs of the dissolved oxygen,
pH, temperature, turbidity, and specific conductance data collected in
the River Index Project during 2000 are presented in Appendix B.
3 8
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4.2 Processing fhe Information
In the River Index Project, data processing includes quality control and format-
ting. For quality control, checks are performed to determine the accuracy of the
data. For formatting, data are modified so that they can be stored together in a
database.
Quality Control Checks
One of the most important data processing functions is to perform quality con-
trol checks of data collected automatically. The primary quality control check
used by the River Index Project Team is to validate data by comparing them to
data collected using a hand-held probe. During the biweekly maintenance oper-
ations, the River Index Project Team collects data manually and compares them
to data collected automatically.
A judgement was made that if the values of the data collected automatically are
within 10 percent of the values of the data collected manually, they are consid-
ered valid. If the values for the automated data are different from the data col-
lected manually by more than 10 percent, the automated data are considered
suspect.
A Web-based tool allows field personnel to qualify data uploaded to the master
database as valid, suspect, or invalid. The "invalid" flag is used in cases where
there is an obvious problem with the data (e.g., low pH data at a monitoring
station). Periodically, the River Index Project Team also compares the data col-
lected from the same probe (e.g., pH) at the different monitoring stations. If the
data at one monitoring station vary significantly from the data at another moni-
toring station, further reviews are conducted to determine why those data vary.
Data Formatting
Three types of data are transmitted to the database at the distribution station:
Real-time water quality data collected by the DAS at the monitoring stations.
Water quality data collected manually by field staff and keyed into a data col-
lection program.
River flow data collected automatically.
A computer procedure at the distribution station formats these three data sets so
that they "fit together" in the same database.
4.3 Calculating a River Index
An innovative risk communication tool of the River Index Project is its indexing
system. The indexing system converts measurements into a single, easy-to-under-
stand index that is disseminated to the public on the River Index Project Web
site (www.riverindex.org).
A key concern for the River Index Project Team as they developed the index and
other risk communication tools was that the tools meet, and be perceived as
meeting, the highest professional and scientific standards. Yet generating a river
WaterQualityData 39
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index involves making judgement calls about where to set cutoffs between differ-
ent categories of environmental quality (i.e., between "excellent" and "good" river
quality). It involves similar judgement calls about how to weight and combine an
array of dissimilar measurements into a single measurement of water quality. To
this end, the River Index Project Team recruited eight internationally-recognized
water quality experts to serve on a peer review panel for the project.
Drawing on their own expertise and that of the members of the peer review
panel, the River Index Project Team developed the following indexes:
A Water Quality index that synthesizes and summarizes data for these water
quality parameters:
- Ammonia-nitrogen
- Atrazine
- Chlorpyrifos
- Dissolved oxygen
- E. coli bacteria
- Fish toxicity
- Nitrate-nitrogen
- pH
- Conductivity
- Water temperature
A River index that synthesizes and summarizes data for the parameters in the
water quality index, plus data for two additional parameters:
- Flow rate
- Turbidity
While the water quality index focuses on those issues pertaining to the health of
the river, the river index provides a broader sense of whether river conditions are
right for recreation. Flow rate (river stage) is a particularly important parameter
for determining river safety. A very high flow rate not only indicates strong,
potentially dangerous currents, but it warns of possible flooding. For the sake of
safety, the river index is set up to automatically take the "poor" rating (regardless
of how good the other parameters are) if flow rate approaches a level characteris-
tic of flood activity. Under these circumstances, the River Index Project Web site
also displays a special flood warning.
Index Definitions
General vs. specific ratings. The river index is a mathematical procedure for
"rating" a stretch of water in terms of its current suitability for recreational pur-
suits. The index system does not specify which particular recreational activities
are likely to be safe or advisableit is simply a statement about whether the river
40 CHAPTER4
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conditions are favorable for recreation in general. The River Index Project Team
originally considered issuing use-based advisories (e.g., the river is safe for boat-
ing, swimming, and fishing) but ultimately decided against this strategy because
they felt it called for overly subjective judgements and exposed the Project to
potential legal liability. It remains the responsibility of individual users to make
their own judgments about whether a particular river activity is wise. The Web
site for the River Index Project also provides the raw data on which the river
index is based to assist the user in making such decisions.
What the ratings mean. The rating used to describe the river index at each
monitoring station varies from "excellent" to "poor." The point range assigned to
each rating and the meaning of the rating are presented in the table below.
Ratings Used to Describe River Index
Point Range
Some measurements meet or exceed
water quality standards. Conditions
marginally favorable for recreation.
Averaging parameter values. Because the value for some of the parameters in
the river index change frequently, the river index also changes frequently. It is
updated every eight hours using an average of the previous eight hourly auto-
mated readings and the most recent manual readings. Web site visitors can "drill
down" to the most recent automated readings from the monitoring stations if
they wish. One reason for updating the index every eight hours (rather than
hourly) is to prevent it from fluctuating in a seemingly random and confusing
manner.
It is conceivable that, depending on the values for particular water quality
parameters, the river index might be on the borderline between two different
ratingsfor example, "good" and "fair." If the index is updated every hour,
insignificant variation (i.e., "noise") in the values for the water quality parame-
ters might cause the rating to flip-flop between good and fair. This phenome-
non might undermine public confidence in the index's reliability. This potential
pitfall is averted by reliance on averaged data, which are more likely to reflect
significant changes in water quality.
Water Quality Data
4 1
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Calculating the River Index
Except in the special case of flood danger, the procedure for calculating a River
Index is described below.
Step 1: Rate individual water quality parameters. Each of the water quality
parameters that contribute to the River Index has a different value. The River
Index rates these values as either poor (1 point), fair (2 points), good
(3 points), or excellent (4 points). The advantage of this system is that it places
values in a standardized formthere are only four possible ratings for each
parameter.
Take the case of dissolved oxygen as an example. Based on Ohio EPA regula-
tions and the judgement of several water quality experts, dissolved oxygen con-
centrations greater than 9 mg/1 are considered "excellent," and those between 5
and 9 mg/1 are considered "good." The range from 2 to 5 mg/1 is "fair" and any
value below 2 mg/1 is "poor." Therefore, a value of 5.6 mg/1 for dissolved oxygen
translates into a good rating, which receives three points as shown below. The
ratings for the other water quality parameters are presented in Appendix C.
Ratings Used to Describe River Index
Dissolved Oxygen
Concentration (mg/1)
>9
5-9
2-5
<2
Rating/Points
Excellent / 4
Good / 3
Fair/ 2
Poor / 1
Step 2: Weight and score the points from Step 1 and add the scores for each
parameter to obtain the total score for a monitoring station.
Not all of the parameters measured are equally important in describing water
quality. To address this issue, the River Index Project Team developed the
weighting factors presented below for each of the parameters. Those factors and
the points for a parameter from Step 1 are used to calculate a score for the
parameter. The total score for a monitoring station is obtained by adding the
scores for all of the parameters:
Points for a parameter from Step 1 x weighting factor for the parameter =
score for the parameter.
Total score = sum of the scores for all of the parameters.
4 2
CHAPTER 4
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Weighting Factors for Parameters
Parameter
Dissolved oxygen
E. co// bacteria
pH
Conductivity
Water temperature
Flow rate
Turbidity
Weighting Factor
3
1
1
1
1
2
1
Step 3: Assign a final rating based on the total score for the parameters.
The final step in developing a river index for a monitoring station is to assign a
rating to the total score from Step 2. As mentioned previously, the River Index
Project Team used the following ratings and point ranges for the ratings.
Ratings for Total Score and Corresponding Point Ranges
One important caveat for the river index rating system is that it has a limited
ability to convey information about extreme deviations from the norm for any
particular parameter. For example, if the rating for pH is poor (e.g., pH = 1),
the score for pH would be 1 (point value of 1 for poor rating times weighting
factor of 1 for pH). Thus, out of a possible total score of 40, only one point
would be lost because of low pH. If the total score for all other parameters is
between 32 and 39, the rating for a river with a poor rating for pH would still
be excellent.
This, of course, is a highly unlikely scenario because there is no practical reason
why the pH of a river in the greater Dayton area would suddenly drop in such
an extreme fashion. The scenario merely demonstrates the logical limitations
inherent in an empirically weighted, linear indexing system. The River Index
Project Team addressed this issue for flow rate by instituting a safety override to
Water Quality Data
4 3
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prevent extremely high flow rates from getting "hidden" in the index's scoring
system.
4.4 Lessons Learned
Over the course of the first year, the River Index Project Team encountered a
variety of minor obstacles that it had to work around to provide uninterrupted
access to real-time water quality data:
Lightening strikes. The computers at the project headquarters occasionally
lost communication with the DAS at the monitoring stations because of
lightening strikes. Power surges resulting from the lightening strikes traveled
along the telephone lines, damaging the modem at the monitoring station.
This problem can be solved by equipping the monitoring stations with effec-
tive surge protectors.
Clock synchronization problems. The Taylorsville Dam monitoring station
is powered by solar energy due to its remote location. To conserve this highly
limited energy, the station only turns on its cell phone for a few brief periods
each day. The dial-in computer at the project headquarters is scheduled to
call the DAS at precisely the moments when the DAS is "awake" and ready
to be called. However, from time to time the clock on the DAS and the
clock on the dial-in computer get out of synchronization. When this hap-
pens, the two computers do not communicatethe dial-in computer calls
during times when the DAS is not answering the phone. This problem was
addressed by using a newer version of EcoWatch that synchronizes the dial-
in computer and DAS clocks every time the project headquarters computer
connects with the DAS.
Interpreting unreliable data. Some of the instruments used in the River
Index Project reported values that deviatedinexplicablyfrom normal
ranges without a corresponding change in values for other parameters.
For example, the pH sensor at the Downtown Dayton monitoring station
reported values that were highly erratic and generally much lower than those
at the other stations. In one year, for example, this station reported values
ranging from pH 2 to pH 8 while the other stations reported values ranging
from 6.5 to 8.5. Certain dissolved oxygen sensors experienced similar prob-
lems. These problems can be addressed initially by replacing the sensors.
If this does not solve the problem, the underlying causes should be investi-
gated further.
44 CHAPTER4
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5. Depicting Real-Time
Water Quality Data
Now that your water quality monitoring network is in place and you have col-
lected the resulting data, you can turn to the next step in providing your com-
munity with timely water quality information: using data visualization tools to
graphically depict this information. By using the types of data visualization tools
described in this chapter, you can create graphic representations of water quality
data that can be used on Web sites, in reports and educational materials, and in
other outreach and communication initiatives.
Section 5.1 provides an overview of data visualization.
Section 5.2 contains an introduction to the data visualization tools used by
the River Index Project Team.
If you are interested in a basic introduction to data visualization, you might
only want to read the initial section. If you are responsible for choosing and
using data visualization software to model and analyze data, you also should
consult Section 5.2
5.1 What Are Data Visualization Tools?
In this handbook, data visualization tools are any graphic representations that
communicate environmental information. Presenting data in a visual format
enhances your audience's understanding of and interest in the data. Data visuali-
zation tools discussed below include maps, color coding, icons, graphs, and
Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
Maps. Maps are one of the most basic and familiar data visualization tools
used to communicate timely environmental information. If kept simple
(e.g., clutter-free) and a good key explaining the different map symbols is
provided, maps are one of the easiest data interpretation and visualization
tools to develop and use.
Color coding. Like maps, color coding is a data visualization tool that is
already familiar to many people, and thus its message can be easily under-
stood. The use of color coding to indicate "good" or "poor" environmental
conditions (and ranges between those extremes) has been combined success-
fully with maps, graphs, indexes, icons, and other tools for risk communica-
tion. Appropriate choices of colors (and ranges of colors) enhance a viewer's
understanding. For example, using well-known color coding schemes, such as
green to represent "go" (i.e., it is safe to swim in a particular beach based on
water quality conditions) and red to represent "stop" (i.e., do not swim in this
beach today because of poor water quality conditions) is recommended.
Icons. The term "icon" is used here in a very general sense to describe any
visual cue or image used to communicate informationanything from a
physical placard (e.g., a beach closure symbol or sign) to a symbol on a com-
puter screen. Although words may be added, an icon ideally should be able
to convey at least its basic meaning without relying on language.
DepictingReal-TimeWaterQualityData 45
-------
Graphs. Graphs are another commonly used and relatively easy-to-under-
stand data visualization tool. They are often used to convey information
about how several variables are related or compare. Some projects allow users
to generate graphs as needed by specifying which variables they want plotted
and how they would like them plotted.
Geographic Information Systems (GIS). GIS are effective data visualization
tools for displaying, analyzing, and modeling spatial or geographic informa-
tion. GIS maps, animations, and two-and three-dimensional models can be
generated after the detailed data are input into the system by skilled staff,
which can be labor-intensive and fairly expensive. Two key advantages of GIS
are the ability to quickly overlay and view several different data layers simul-
taneously, such as open space lands, water resources, and population, and to
view and compare different future scenarios (e.g., future land uses) and their
possible impacts (e.g., on environmental resources).
By applying these tools to water quality data, you can help your community's
residents gain a better understanding of factors affecting water quality in area
rivers and streams. Once you begin using data visualization tools, you will
immediately be impressed with their ability to model and analyze your data for a
variety of purposes, from making resource management decisions to supporting
public outreach and education efforts.
5.2 Data Visualization Tools Employed In the River
Index Project
On the home page of its Web site (see Figure 15), the River Index Project
displays a schematic map of the Miami River Valley, centered on the city of
Dayton, Ohio. The purpose of this map is to provide an "at-a-glance" summary
of water quality for all the rivers covered by the project. The most prominent
features of the map are the area's rivers and streams, colored in light blue. The
name of each river is written on the map. The background color of each river's
label changes to match the river's current indexa key on the map reminds the
viewer of what each color means. The map also displays the boundaries of the
Lower Great Miami River Watershed and of local counties. In addition, the home
page has an image of the River Index's "happy fish' that the River Index Project
Team created to provide the public with an easily recognizable mascot for the
River Index.
46 CHAPTERS
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Mi.
Figure 15. Home page for the River Index Project Web site
Color-Coded Index Ratings
Each of the river index ratings is paired with a color. The color scheme chosen by
the River Index Project Team and the cultural significance of each color are pre-
sented below. The color scheme amplifies and coincides with the explanatory text
for each rating. This is particularly important because some people might not
bother reading or thinking about the carefully-crafted text that explains each rat-
ing. They may simply note the color of the rating and make their conclusions
about the river based on their intuitive understanding of that color. Other people
might actually read the explanatory language but be confused about its practical
significance (e.g., the difference between "favorable" and "highly favorable condi-
tions') . Colors with a known cultural significance help to communicate the level
of risk reflected by the different ratings.
Depicting Real-Time Water Quality Data
4 7
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Color-Coding System Used in the River Index Project
Rating
Excellent Green
Cultural Significance of Color
affic signals, the green light says "go ahead." Similarly, this rating
vely entices the index user to "go ahead" and use the river for recre-
n. Green also connotes environmental well-being. It suggests that
Good
Fair
Yellow
3 the other three colors, blue is not used in traffic signals. Good
s, therefore, the direct impact of the other ratings possess. In aes-
c terms, however, it is widely accepted as the normal color of water.
veil though "good" is not the best possible rating, the color blue reas-
ures the user that the water is still clean and safe.
Yellow is the caution light in traffic signals. Without forbidding passage,
it exhorts the viewer to exercise discretion and maintain a heightened
state of awareness. Similarly, a yellow rating encourages the user to
think twice about his or her plans for using the river. The color encour-
ages the user to learn more about the specific nature of the river's
problems
affic, the color red commands the viewer to stop. In an environ-
ital context, it also conveys an impression of danger, emergency,
i authority. The color red anchors "poor" at the bottom of the rank-
system, and indicates that there is, at present, a serious problem
"Dial" Displays of River Index
Before the widespread use of digital readouts, scientific instruments typically
presented their readings by means of analog dials. In automobiles, these dials
remain the principal technology for communicating real-time information (e.g.,
speed, RPMs, oil pressure) to the driver. Thus, for many people the idea of
reading a value off a dial is quite intuitive.
In the River Index Project, each dial has four sections, one for each of the four
ratings. The needle of the dial always points squarely in the middle section of
the dial. The sections of the dial are labeled (poor, fair, good, excellent) but only
the one that the needle is pointing to is illuminated. These dials do not repre-
sent continuous variation in index values. Because the needle simply "jumps'
from one state to the next, the dial does not distinguish between a "good" rating
that is very close to "fair" and one that is very close to "excellent." An interested
user can make this distinction by looking at the total numerical score for the
index.
4 8
CHAPTER 5
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6. Communicating Real-Time
Water Quality Data
As your community develops its real-time water quality monitoring and report-
ing systems, you need to think about the best ways to communicate the infor-
mation these systems yield. This chapter discusses how to communicate that
information.
Section 6.1 outlines the steps in creating an outreach plan for real-time water
quality data.
Section 6.2 discusses the elements of the River Index Project outreach plan.
Section 6.3 provides guidance for communicating information effectively,
including resources for water quality monitoring and promoting awareness that
you can incorporate into your own communication and outreach materials.
6.1 Creating an Oufreach Plan for Real-Time Wafer
Qualify Dafa
Outreach is most effective if you plan it carefully, considering such issues as:
Whom do you want to reach? What information do you want to disseminate?
What are the most effective mechanisms to reach people? Developing a plan
ensures that you consider important elements of an outreach project before you
begin. The plan itself provides a blueprint for action.
An outreach plan is most effective if you involve a variety of people in its devel-
opment. Where possible, consider involving:
A communications specialist or someone who has experience developing and
implementing an outreach plan.
Technical experts in the subject matter (both scientific and policy).
Someone who represents the target audience (i.e., the people or groups you
want to reach).
Key individuals involved in implementing the outreach plan.
As you develop your outreach plan, consider whether you would like to invite
any organizations to partner with you in planning or implementing the out-
reach effort. Potential partners might include local businesses, environmental
organizations, schools, boating associations, local health departments, local
planning and zoning authorities, and other local or state agencies. Partners can
participate in planning, product development and review, and distribution.
Partnerships can be valuable mechanisms for leveraging resources while enhanc-
ing the quality, credibility, and success of outreach efforts.
An outreach plan does not have to be lengthy or complicated. You can develop
a plan simply by documenting your answers to each of the questions discussed
below. As you answer the questions, you might want to revisit and refine the
decisions you made based on answers to earlier questions until you have an inte-
grated, comprehensive, and achievable outreach plan.
Communicating Real-Time Water Quality Data 49
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Whom Are You Trying To Reach?
Identifying Your Audience (s)
The first step in developing an outreach plan is to clearly identify the target
audience or audiences for your outreach effort. Outreach goals often define the
target audience. You might want to refine and add to your goals after you have
specifically considered which audiences you want to reach.
Target audiences for a water quality outreach program might include, for exam-
ple, the general public, local decision-makers, land management agencies, edu-
cators and students (high school and college), and special interest groups (e.g.,
homeowner associations, fishing and boating organizations, gardening clubs,
and lawn maintenance/landscape professionals). Some audiences, such as educa-
tors and special interest groups, might serve as conduits to help disseminate
information to other audiences you have identified, such as the general public.
Consider whether you should divide the public into two or more audience cate-
gories. For example: Are you providing different information to certain groups,
such as citizens and businesses? Does a significant portion of the public you are
trying to reach have a different cultural or linguistic background from other
members? If so, it is appropriate to consider these groups as separate audience
categories.
Profiling Your Audience (s)
Outreach is most effective if the type, content, and distribution of outreach
products are tailored specifically to the characteristics of target audiences. After
you identify your audiences, the next step is to develop a profile of their situa-
tions, interests, and concerns. This profile helps you identify the most effective
ways of reaching the audience. For each target audience, consider:
What is their current level of knowledge about water quality?
What do you want them to know about water quality?
What information is likely to be of interest to the audience? What informa-
tion will they want to know once they develop some awareness of water
quality issues?
How much time are they likely to give to receiving and assimilating the
information?
How does this group generally receive information?
What professional, recreational, and domestic activities does this group typi-
cally engage in that might provide avenues for distributing outreach prod-
ucts? Are there any organizations or centers that represent or serve the
audience and might be avenues for disseminating your outreach products?
Profiling an audience essentially involves putting yourself "in your audience's
shoes." Ways to do this include consulting with individuals or organizations who
represent or are members of the audience, consulting with colleges who have suc-
50 CHAPTER6
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cessfully developed other outreach products for the audience, and using your
imagination.
What Are Your Outreach Goals?
Defining your outreach goals is the next step in developing an outreach plan.
Outreach goals should be clear, simple, action-oriented statements about what
you hope to accomplish through outreach. Once you have established your
goals, every other element of the plan should relate to those goals.
What Do You Want To Communicate?
The next step in planning is to think about what you want to communicate. In
particular, think about the key points or "messages' you want to communicate.
Messages are the "bottom line" information you want your audience to walk
away with, even if they forget the details.
A message usually is phrased as a brief (often one-sentence) statement. For
example:
The River Index allows you to track daily changes in river water quality.
The River Index helps you plan river-related recreational activities.
Outreach products often have multiple related messages. Consider what mes-
sages you want to send to each target audience group. You might have different
messages for different audiences.
What Kinds of Outreach Products Will You Develop?
The next step in developing an outreach plan is to consider what types of out-
reach products are the most effective for reaching each target audience. There
are many different types of outreach products: print, audiovisual, electronic,
events, and novelty items. The table below provides some examples:
Communicating Real-Time Water Quality Data 51
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Outreach Products
Print
Brochures
Educational curricula
Newsletters
Posters
Question-and-answer
Editorials
Fact sheets
Newspaper and magazine articles
Press releases
Utility bill inserts sheets
Audiovisual
Cable television
Exhibits and kiosks
Videos
Public service programs
announcements(radio)
Electronic
Events
Novelty Items
E-mail messages
Web pages
Briefings
Fairs and festivals
One-on-one meetings
Public meetings
Banners
Buttons
Floating key chains
Magnets
Subscriber list servers
Community days
Media interviews
Press conferences
Speeches
Bumper stickers
Coloring books
Frisbee discs
Mouse pads
The audience profile information you assembled earlier is helpful in selecting
appropriate products. A communications professional can provide valuable
guidance in choosing the most appropriate products to meet your goals within
your resource and time constraints. Questions to consider when selecting prod-
ucts include:
How much information does your audience really need to have? How much
does your audience know now? The simplest, most straightforward product
generally is most effective.
Is the product likely to appeal to the target audience? How much time does
it take to interact with the product? Is the audience likely to make that time?
How easy and cost-effective is the product to distribute or, in the case of an
event, organize?
How many people is this product likely to reach? For an event, how many
people are likely to attend?
What time frame is needed to develop and distribute the product?
How much does it cost to develop the product? Do you have access to the
talent and resources needed for development?
5 2
CHAPTER 6
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What other related products are already available? Can you build on existing
products?
When will the material be out of date? (You probably want to spend fewer
resources on products with short lifetimes.)
Is it effective to have distinct phases of products over time? For example, a
first phase of products designed to raise awareness, followed at a later date by
a second phase of products to encourage changes in behavior.
How newsworthy is the information? Information with inherent news value
is more likely to be rapidly and widely disseminated by the media.
How Will Your Product Reach Your Audience?
Effective distribution is essential to the success of an outreach strategy. There are
many avenues for distribution. Some examples are:
Your mailing list TV
Partner's mailing list Radio
Phone/Fax Print media
E-mail Hotline that distributes products on request
Internet Meetings, events or locations (e.g., libraries)
where products are made available
Journals or newsletters
You should consider how each product is distributed and determine who
is responsible for distribution. For some products, your organization might
manage distribution. For others, you might rely on intermediaries (such
as the media or educators) or organizational partners who are willing to partici-
pate in the outreach effort. Consult with an experienced communications pro-
fessional to obtain information about the resources and time required for the
various distribution options. Some points to consider in selecting distribution
channels include:
How does the audience typically receive information?
What distribution mechanisms has your organization used in the past for
this audience? Were these mechanisms effective?
Can you identify any partner organizations that might be willing to assist in
the distribution?
Can the media play a role in distribution?
Does the mechanism you are considering really reach the intended audience?
For example, the Internet can be an effective distribution mechanism, but
certain groups might have limited access to it.
How many people is the product likely to reach through the distribution
mechanism you are considering?
Communicating Real-Time Water Quality Data 53
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What Follow-up Mechanisms Will You Establish?
Successful outreach might generate requests for further information or concern
about issues you introduced to the audience. Consider whether and how you
will handle this interest. The following questions can help you develop this part
of your strategy:
What types of reactions or concerns are audience members likely to have in
response to the outreach information?
Who will handle requests for additional information?
Do you want to indicate on the outreach product where people can go for
further information (e.g., provide a contact name, number, or address, or
establish a hotline)?
What is the Schedule for Implementation?
Once you have decided on your goals, audiences, messages, products, and distri-
bution channels, you need to develop an implementation schedule. For each
product, consider how much time is needed for development and distribution.
Be sure to factor in sufficient time for product review. Wherever possible, build
in time for testing and evaluation by members or representatives of the target
audience in focus groups or individual sessions so that you can get feedback on
whether you have effectively targeted your material for your audience. Section
6.3 contains suggestions for presenting technical information to the public. It
also provides information about online resources that provide easy to under-
stand background information that you can use in developing your own out-
reach projects.
6.2 Elemenfs of fhe River Index Projecf Oufreach
Program
With the assistance of the other project team members, the City of Dayton took
the lead in developing and implementing mechanisms to communicate timely
water quality informationas well as information about the project itself to
the public in the Lower Great Miami River Watershed area. Elements of the
project's communication program are highlighted below.
Random telephone surveys. Wright State University's Center for Urban and
Public Affairs designed and conducted a random telephone survey to assess citi-
zens' attitudes and behaviors toward the Great Miami River and other water-
ways in Montgomery County. A core set of questions on the survey was
administered as a pre-and post-test that included a set of questions to evaluate
citizens' awareness of the River Index Project communication strategy. By asking
the same set of attitude and behavioral questions in the pre- and post-test, it
was possible to determine whether the River Index Project communicated time-
ly information about water quality in a user-friendly manner. Computer Aided
Telephone Interview equipment was used to minimize human data entry error
and to manage the telephone interviewing process. The telephone survey form is
presented is Appendix D.
54 CHAPTER6
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Newspapers. During the 17-week high-use period beginning in mid-May and
ending in late-September, the river index for each monitoring station is present-
ed daily on the weather page of the area's largest newspaper. Indexes are not
reported during the remainder of the year.
The newspaper published the river index information in color, which meant
that a different scale did not have to be developed to portray the river index in
the newspaper. Weather staff at the newspaper simply obtained the river index
information from the Web site and used it in the newspaper.
Television. The goal of the River Index Project Team was to have the river
index for each monitoring station presented during weekend weather forecasts
on major television stations during the 17-week high-use period. However,
because of the time required to obtain the information, only one station pre-
sented the river index during the weather cast, and this was done infrequently.
Web site. The River Index Project Web site, designed and maintained by
CH2M HILL, Inc., is the primary vehicle for communicating timely informa-
tion to the public. For this reason, the River Index Project Team concluded that
the site should:
Be nonmechanical looking.
Be easy to navigate.
Contain the most important and easy to understand information up front.
Contain detailed information for the technical user at deeper levels within
the site.
The Web site was developed on a Microsoft IIS server running Windows NT
using Fireworks, Cold Fusion, Cold Fusion Studio, Chart FX, ASP, and
Microsoft SQL 7. It contains a summary sheet with the current index for each of
the water quality monitoring stations and explains how an index is calculated.
The site also contains information on the River Index Project and the Lower
Great Miami River Watershed as well as general information on water quality
monitoring. In addition, the site contains a page with a "Search The Index'
graphing feature.
Automated sampling data are uploaded three times per day into a master
Microsoft SQL database, which resides on the Web server. After the data are
loaded, a stored procedure is automatically initiated within SQL that runs the
most current data through the river index calculation. The updated river indexes
are available immediately for viewing through the River Index Project Web site
(www.riverindex.org).
Because not all of the River Index Project data are collected daily, a Web-based
data entry application was developed to facilitate data entry. All data collected
manually are entered into the database using the entry application. After they
are entered into the database, the most recent data are used to calculate the river
indexes.
Brochures and flyers. Several brochures and flyers were created with varying
degrees of technical information, and distributed to the public.
Communicating Real-Time Water Quality Data 55
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Signs and banners. A River Index advertisement sign was developed and
installed on several Regional Transit Authority buses that serve downtown
Dayton. A large River Index banner also was developed and used at a booth
during local and regional events.
Free promotion items. Pens, can koozies, and refrigerator magnets with the
"happy fish" logo, River Index name, and Web site address were developed and
distributed at various local and regional events.
6.3 Resources for Presenting Wafer Qualify
Information fo fhe Public
As you begin to implement your outreach plan and develop the products select-
ed in the plan, you want to make sure that these products present your messages
and information as clearly and accurately as possible. You might want to review
available resources on the Internet to help you develop your outreach products
or serve as additional resource materials (e.g., fact sheet).
How Do You Present Technical Information to the Public?
Environmental topics are often technical in nature, and water quality is no
exception. Nevertheless, this information can be conveyed in simple, clear terms
to nonspecialists, such as the public. Principles of effective writing for the public
include avoiding jargon, translating technical terms into everyday language the
public can easily understand, using the active voice, keeping sentences short,
and using headings and other format devices to provide a very clear, well-organ-
ized structure. You may refer to the following Web sites for more ideas about
how to write clearly and effectively for a general audience:
The National Partnership for Reinventing Government has developed a
guidance document, Writing User-Friendly Documents, that can be found on
the Internet at .
The Web site of the American Bar Association (www.abanet.org) has links to
important online style manuals, dictionaries, and grammar primers.
As you develop communication materials for a specific audience, remember to
consider what the audience members are already likely to know, what you want
them to know, and what they are likely to understand. Then tailor your infor-
mation accordingly. Provide only information that is valuable and interesting to
the target audience. For example, environmentalists in your community might
be interested in why turbidity is important to aquatic life. However, it's not
likely that school children are interested in this level of detail.
When developing outreach products, be sure to consider any special needs of
the target audience. For example, if your community has a substantial number
of people who speak little or no English, you should prepare communication
materials in their native language.
The rest of this section contains information about online resources that provide
easy to understand background information that you can use in developing your
own outreach projects. Some of the Web sites listed contain products, such as
56 CHAPTER6
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downloadable fact sheets, that you can use to support your education and out-
reach efforts.
Federal Resources
EPA's Surf Your Watershed
www.epa.gov/surf3
EPA provides this service to locate, use, and share environmental information on
watersheds. One section of this site, "Locate Your Watershed," allows the user to
enter the names of rivers, schools, or their zip code to learn more about the water
resources in their local watershed. Users also can access the Index of Watershed
Indicators (IWI) from this site. The IWI is a compilation of information on the
"health" of aquatic resources in the United States. The index uses a variety of
indicators that point to whether rivers, lakes, streams, wetlands, and coastal areas
are "well" or "ailing."
EPA's Nonpoint Source Pointers
www.epa.gov/owow/nps/facts
This Web site features a series of fact sheets on nonpoint source pollution.
Topics covered by the fact sheets include: programs and opportunities for
public involvement in nonpoint source control, managing urban runoff, and
managing nonpoint pollution from various sources (e.g., agriculture, boating,
and households).
U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service
www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/water/quality/frame/wqam
Go to this site and click on "Guidance Documents." The resources there include
a simple tool to estimate water body sensitivity to nutrients, a procedure to eval-
uate the conditions of a stream based on visual characteristics, and information
on how to design a monitoring system to observe changes in water quality associ-
ated with agricultural nonpoint source controls.
Education Resources
Project WET (Water Education for Teachers)
www.montana.edu/wwwwet
The goal of Project WET is to facilitate and promote awareness, appreciation,
knowledge, and stewardship of water resources by developing and disseminating
classroom-ready teaching aids and establishing state and internationally spon-
sored Project WET programs. This site includes a list of all the State Project
WET Program Coordinators to help you locate a contact in your area.
Communicating Real-Time Water Quality Data 57
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Global Rivers Environmental Education Network (GREEN)
www.earthforce. org/green
The Global Rivers Environmental Education Network (GREEN) helps people
protect the rivers, streams, and other vital water resources in their communities.
This program merges hands-on, scientific learning with civic action. It contains
extensive information on water quality monitoring.
Adopt-A-Watershed
www.adopt-a-watershed, org/about. htm
Adopt-A-Watershed is a K-12 school-community learning experience. Adopt-A-
Watershed uses a local watershed as a living laboratory in which students engage
in hands-on activities. The goal is to make science applicable and relevant to stu-
dents' lives.
National Institutes for Water Resources
http://wrri.nmsu.edu/niwr/niwr.html
The National Institutes for Water Resources (NIWR) is a network of 54 research
institutes throughout the United States. They conduct basic and applied research
to solve water quality problems unique to their area and establish cooperative
programs with local governments, state agencies, and industry.
Other Organizations
The Watershed Management Council
www.watershed.org
The Watershed Management Council is a nonprofit organization whose mem-
bers represent a broad range of watershed management interests and disciplines.
Membership includes professionals, students, teachers, and individuals whose
interest is in promoting proper watershed management.
58 CHAPTER6
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7. Sustaining Timely Water
Quality Information
This chapter discusses how real-time water quality monitoring can be sustained
over time. This is necessary to insure that the public and interested groups con-
tinue to have information on which to base decisions on how and when to use
an area's water resources.
Section 7.1 discusses using existing programs to collect real-time water
quality data.
Section 7.2 discusses where to house the database and Web server for a water
quality monitoring project.
Section 7.3 addresses public support for water quality monitoring.
Section 7.4 discusses the water quality data that can be collected given
a certain level of funding.
7.1 Building on Existing Programs
A key aspect of a water quality monitoring program is the ability to sustain the
program over the long term. This can be done by building on existing pro-
grams, whenever possible, by using existing infrastructure, and by using low
maintenance automated equipment to collect data. This approach reduces the
funding needed to continue a water quality monitoring program and at the
same time helps ensure full use of existing facilities.
River Index Project
One of the existing programs that was leveraged in the River Index Project is
the program for collecting and analyzing river stage data. MCD currently main-
tains the existing river gauge houses throughout the Great Miami River Basin,
and collects river stage data at those locations. MCD's experience and expertise
were used to collect river stage data and water quality data at the six water quali-
ty monitoring stations for the River Index Project.
MCD also worked with the USGS and YSI, Inc. to retrofit existing gauge hous-
es so that they could be used in the River Index Project. In addition, Wright
State University's Institute for Environmental Quality (IEQ) in conjunction
with MCD, USGS, and YSI, Inc. oversaw the field activities for this project as
well as the laboratory analyses that were conducted. IEQ has extensive experi-
ence in the assessment of contamination of freshwater ecosystems.
The communication component of the River Index Project also relies on an
existing program. The City of Dayton, the River Index Project partner responsi-
ble for this component, used its expertise and experience in developing the
communication materials for this project and in implementing the communica-
tions component. In addition, Wright State University's Center for Urban and
Public Affairs (CUPA) designed and implemented pre- and post- random tele-
Sustaining Timely Water Quality Information 59
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phone surveys to assess the effectiveness of the communications component for
this project.
Another example of leveraging existing programs is in-kind services. Approx-
imately 32 percent of the costs for the River Index Project was obtained through
in-kind services. In-kind services also are expected to be approximately 30 per-
cent of the annual budget to sustain the River Index Project in the future.
7.2 Housing of Database and Web Server
The database and Web server for a water quality monitoring project can be
located at several locations or at one location. When deciding where to house
your database and Web server, consider the advantages of one location. The
benefits of one location include better administrative control, easier manage-
ment, and less expense. In addition, less software and licensing agreements are
needed when the database and Web server are housed at one location. One dis-
advantage is that redundancy has to be included at the single location. Housing
the database and Web server at multiple locations provides this redundancy.
River Index Project
The River Index Project Team concluded that the database and Web server for
the River Index Project should be housed physically at one location. The select-
ed location is CH2M HILL's office in San Francisco, California. Even though
the server is outside of CH2M HILL's network at that location, it is still under
their direct control, connected to the Internet through a dedicated telephone
line and DSL.
7.3 Public Supporf
Public support is critical to sustaining a water quality monitoring program. It
keeps decision-makers informed of the public's level of interest in the quality of
an area's rivers and streams. This knowledge is important when decisions are
made on project funding. Without public support, there is little to no impetus
to either initiate or continue a water quality monitoring program.
River Index Project
Several new initiatives in the greater Dayton area are aimed at reviving econom-
ic development along the river corridors. Along with the new economic focus,
citizens and local organizations are demonstrating increasing interest in environ-
mental issues, which rallies great public support for the River Index Project.
Because of this, several organizations expressed an interest in supporting the
River Index Project. The presence of partnering agencies such as the City of
Dayton along with letters of support received from a wide variety of organiza-
tions in the area are evidence of this interest.
60 CHAPTER?
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Sustainable Support for the River Index Project
Letters of support, including pledges of in-kind services in some cases,
were received from the following:
Five Rivers MetroParks
League of Women Voters
Dayton Power & Light
General Motors Corporation
Miami Valley Project GREEN
Dayton Daily News
WKEF-TV NBC 22
Rhine McLin, Ohio State Senator
Dixie J. Allen, Ohio State Representative
Ohio Environmental Protection Agency
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
Downtown Dayton Partnership
Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce
Interest in the River Index Project was greatest when projects funds were
obtained through the EMPACT grant. The project's strength has waned since
funds have been provided by local agencies. One approach that might secure
continued collection of river stage and water quality data is to incorporate the
River Index Project monitoring stations into MCD's surface water monitoring
program. MCD would maintain the monitoring equipment and monitoring
stations and would make the data collected available to the River Index Project
partners. The project partners then would communicate the data to the public
through the project Web site. If this approach is not accepted, the River Index
Project may not be able to continue until after another source of funding is
obtained. Other water quality monitoring projects may experience similar prob-
lems in obtaining the long-term funding needed to sustain the projects.
7.4 Determining Data To Collect
Data that can be collected in a real-time water quality monitoring program
depend on the available funding. When funds are limited, the critical water
quality parameters for a water body should be determined, and the monitoring
effort should focus on collecting data for those parameters. Any seasonal varia-
tion in the critical parameter should be considered when designing the monitor-
ing program.
Sustaining Timely Water Quality Information
61
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River Index Project
The parameters monitored in the River Index Project represent important aspects
of water quality. While developing the list of parameters, the project team con-
sidered information such as EPA's water quality criteria, Ohio EPA's water quality
criteria and biocriteria standards, peer-reviewed scientific literature, natural back-
ground conditions of the rivers and creeks, and the expense and availability of
manual and automatic data collection methods.
During the first year of the River Index Project, daily real-time data were collect-
ed for ammonia-nitrogen, dissolved oxygen, flow rate, nitrate-nitrogen, pH, spe-
cific conductance, and water temperature. Data for atrazine, chlorpyrifos, E. coli
bacteria, and PAH were collected weekly, and fish toxicity data were collected
monthly. These were the initial parameters that the project team selected to
describe water quality in Lower Great Miami River Watershed.
Based on the experience obtained during the first monitoring season, several
changes were made in the monitoring program for the River Index Project. These
changes, which were made to reduce the monitoring costs, include eliminating:
Monitoring at the Taylorsville Station because of problems associated with
the cell phone modem.
Automated monitoring of ammonium-nitrogen and nitrate-nitrogen because
of the high cost and maintenance of the probes.
Sampling and analysis for atrazine, chlorpyrifos, and PAH because the low
concentrations for these pollutants during the 2000 monitoring program did
not affect the rating for the river indexes.
Sampling and analysis for fish toxicity.
As a result of the above changes, the parameters used to calculate the river
indexes in 2001 and 2002 included: dissolved oxygen, E. coll bacteria, flow rate,
pH, specific conductance, turbidity, and water temperature. The project team
concluded that the monitoring data for these parameters are adequate to
describe water quality conditions at the River Index Project monitoring stations.
62 CHAPTER?
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Appendix A: Glossary of Terms
Algae: Small plants that lack roots, stems, flowers, and leaves; living mainly in
water and using the sun as an energy source.
Algal bloom: Rapid growth of algae on the surface of lakes, streams, or ponds;
stimulated by nutrient enrichment.
Alkalinity: A measurement of water's ability to neutralize acid.
Ammonium: A nitrogen compound, NH^, having the chemical relations of a
strongly basic element like the alkali metals.
Aquifer: A soil or rock formation saturated with water.
Atrazine: An herbicide used extensively for weed control for corn, sorghum,
and sugarcane, and found frequently in streams and rivers, particularly follow-
ing floods and periods of heavy rain; designated a "possible human carcinogen"
by EPA.
B
Basin: The geographic area drained by a stream; also referred to as Drainage
Basin or Watershed.
Benthic: The environmental setting and organisms associated with the bottom
of a water body.
c
Chlorpyrifos: A broad-spectrum, organophosphate insecticide used to control
foliage- and soil-borne insect pests on lawns and a variety of food, feed and
ornamental crops; in residential settings it is used for lawn care, termite and
mosquito control, indoor foggers and pet collars.
Conductivity: A measure of the ability of water to conduct an electrical current
as measured using a 1 -cm cell and expressed in units of electrical conductance
(i.e., Siemens - S or ohms) at 25° C. Conductivity is related to the type and
concentration of ions in solution and can be used to approximate the total dis-
solved solids (TDS) content of water by testing its capacity to carry an electrical
current; conductivity corrected to 25° C is specific conductance.
D
Dissolved Oxygen (DO): The amount of oxygen dissolved in water. Adequate
concentrations of dissolved oxygen are necessary for the life of fish and other
aquatic organisms and the prevention of offensive odors. Dissolved oxygen levels
are considered the most important and commonly employed measurement of
water quality and indicator of a water body's ability to support desirable aquatic
life. Generally, proportionately higher amounts of oxygen can be dissolved in
colder waters than in warmer waters.
GlossaryofTerms 63
-------
Drainage basin: The total land area drained by a stream. A drainage basin may
be composed of many small watersheds; see also Basin and Watershed.
E
E. coli (Escherichia coli): A bacterium of the intestines of warm-blooded
organisms, including humans, that is used as an indicator of the presence of dis-
ease causing organisms.
Erosion: The wearing away of the land surface by physical and chemical
processes.
Eutrophication: The process by which water bodies are enriched with nutrients
(usually phosphorus and nitrogen) that generally result in excessive aquatic plant
growth. Eutrophication can lead to low levels of dissolved oxygen. Natural
eutrophication is the process of water body aging. Cultural eutrophication
occurs when nutrients are added from agricultural runoff, sewage, or other
sources.
Fecal coliform bacteria: The portion of the coliform group that is present in
the gut or feces of warm-blooded animals. The presence of fecal coliform bacte-
ria in water is an indication of pollution and potential human health problems.
G
Groundwater: Water in the pores and cracks in soil and rock below the land
surface.
H
Habitat: The environmental setting in which an organism lives.
I-L
Inorganic compound: Any compound not containing carbon.
M
MCL (Maximum Contaminant Level): The allowable concentration of a
compound in drinking water; EPA considers the properties of the compound,
the known human health effects of the compound, the likely occurrence in
drinking water, and the detection limit for the analytical method used to ana-
lyze a sample of drinking water when developing a MCL for a compound.
N
Nitrogen: An often limiting nutrient for plant growth in the aquatic environ-
ment. When nitrogen is present in a water body in high concentrations, algae
can grow quickly, resulting in a depletion of dissolved oxygen.
NTU - Nephelometric Turbidity Units: a unit of measurement that indicates
the depth that light can penetrate a water sample.
64 APPENDIXA
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Nutrient: Any substance necessary for growth of living things.
o
Organic material: Any compound containing carbon.
P
Pesticide: A chemical agent used for the control of specific organisms, such as
weeds and insects.
pH: The measurement of acidity or alkalinity on a scale of 0 - 14. A pH of 7 is
neutral while a pH lower than 7 is acid and a pH higher than 7 is alkaline
(basic).
Phosphorus: An essential plant nutrient that in excessive quantities can con-
tribute to the eutrophication of water bodies.
Photosynthesis: Process by which green plants use sunlight to produce food or
energy.
Point source pollution: Pollutants originating from an identifiable "point"
source, such as a pipe, vent, or culvert.
Probe: A device that contains one or more sensors that collect water quality
data; a probe usually is placed in a sonde.
Q
QA/QC (Quality Assurance/Quality Control): The process by which data
accuracy and precision are evaluated in a scientific inquiry. In laboratory water
analyses, the process often includes performing duplicate tests and testing sam-
ples that contain a known concentration of a compound.
R
Real-time data: Data that depict conditions in the present. These data may be
displayed immediately after they are collected or after a short time-delay depend-
ing on the eouinment used to nrocess the data.
vjioijiaycvj iiiiiiicvjidLciy CIILCI Lucy cue V^WIICV^LCVJ ^
ing on the equipment used to process the data.
River corridor: Land areas with physical characteristics, such as vegetation, that
show the direct influence of a body of water. Steam sides, lake borders, and
marshes are typical river corridor areas.
Runoff: Water from rain, snowmelt, or irrigation that flows over the ground sur-
face and runs into a water body.
s
Sediment: Soil, sand, and minerals deposited in a water body.
Sonde: A torpedo-shaped device placed in water to gather water quality data.
Sensors that collect water quality data are placed in probes that are then placed
in a sonde.
GlossaryofTerms 65
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Stormwater: The water and associated material draining into streams, lakes, or
sewers as the result of a storm.
Storage: The volume of water detained in a drainage basin in groundwater,
channel storage, and depression storage. The terms "drainage basin storage" and
"basin storage" sometimes are used to describe the volume of water in natural
storage in a drainage basin.
Surface water: Waters that are exposed naturally to the atmosphere. Examples
include rivers, lakes, reservoirs, ponds, streams, impoundments, seas, and estuar-
ies.
Total dissolved solids (TDS): A measure of the concentration of material
(mostly inorganic salts) dissolved in water. High concentrations of TDS can lead
to discolored water with unpleasant tastes or odors and can sometimes affect the
quality of drinking water. TDS cannot be removed by filtering.
Total suspended solids (TSS): Whole particles, such as silt, sand, or small algae
or animals that are carried or suspended in the water and cause discoloration of
the water. These substances can be removed from the water by a filter.
Toxicity: A measurement of how harmful a substance is to plants and animals.
Turbidity: Dissolved or suspended solids in water that make the water unclear,
murky, or opaque.
u-v
Urban runoff: Water that drains from the surfaces such as roofs, paved roads,
and parking lots in subdivisions.
w-z
Water chemistry: The study of the chemical reactions in surface water and
groundwater. The study of microbial activity and its effect on surface water and
groundwater often is included in water chemistry studies.
Water quality: The condition of the water with regard to the presence or
absence of pollution.
Watershed: The surface drainage area that contributes water in a stream or river
at a specific location. Also see "basin" and "drainage basin."
66 APPENDIXA
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Appendix B: Graphs of Water
Quality Data Collected in 2000
O)
E.
o
a
Dissolved Oxygen
The results from the Miamisburg, Dayton, and Wolf
Creek stations are all questionable
# f
&&&&.&.&&.&J&&
rOrOrOrOrOrOrOrOrO
v-* CY-* CY-* CV^ fV CY-* CY-* CV^ CV^
-> .n'O .n'O .nV .nV .n'O .n'O .n'O .rN>
T ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ '
Date
Graphs of Water Quality Data Collected in 2000
6 7
-------
PH
Q.
Date
Te mpe ratu re
<^<^rv<^<^<^<^<^rvrv<^<^<^<^rvrv<^<^<^<^rv
-------
Turbidity
800 i
700
Date
o
u
u
1C
8
Q.
Specific Conductivity
Specific conductivity data from Dayton
^
/-W /-W pSJ pSJ pSJ pSJ
Date
Graphs of Water Quality Data Collected in 2000
69
-------
Appendix C: Ratings for Water Quality
Parameters
Parameter
Ammonia- Na
Atrazine3
Chlorpyrifos3
Dissolved
oxygen
E. co//
Fish Toxicity3
Flow Rate
Nitrate - Na
PAHa
pH (upper)
pH (lower)
Conductivity
Turbidity
Temperature
(upper)
Temperature
(lower)
Units
mg/l
ppb
mg/l
#/100ml
% survival
cfs
mg/l
ppb
standard
units
standard
units
MS/cm
NTU
Celsius
Celsius
Range for
"Excellent"
Range for
"Good"
Range for
"Fair"
0.6 - 0.8
20 -50b
2 - 5
576 - 850
60- 70
Specific
0.6 - 0.8
50-100
8.5 - 8.9
8.5 - 8.9
0.6 - 1
Specific
32.79 - 34.43
10.01 - 15.56
Range for
"Poor"
' Parameter only monitored during the first monitoring season.
' Combined rating for atrazine and chlorpyrifos.
7 0
APPENDIX C: Ratings for Water Quality Parameters
-------
Appendix D: Telephone Survey Form
MIA.MI VALLEV RIVER INDEX
::L.|:J. HM-, is
calling from WrighJ Stale University. t'm calling to fnul
what citizens from ihe M:;irr.i Valley region, hkc yourself, ihmk aihnui our rivers, May 1
spcalt to a person who is 18 or older and wto mosl recently celebrated his or her
birth* Lay?
I. Yes
2. No hei up a time tv call back)
I know your time is valuable, so I won'i keep you long Do you have five 1o ten minutes
to answer a few brief, but important questions For me?
Y«
2. No (thank ywtforyffttr time; fj
Do you live in Mont^ornqry County?
I
2.
Yes
Nti (thank you for your time; fxit thf. i
I, Do you know ihe name of the nearest river, stream, at creek lu yauf
2.
Yes
htft
Doji'1 know
Refused
2. What ts the name of it?
I.
2.
}..
'..
s
7
I
Great Miami Valky River
Slill Winer River
Mad River
Wolf Creek
Don'1 krinw
Refused
3. Appiox.imalelv. how [>r is your home from the nvw, slream, or creek you just named?
I, Within 1 mite
2. 1-5 miles
3. 6-LO milts
4. Mare tliau ID mi ILK
Por.'I know
9, Refused
Telephone Survey Form
1 1
-------
Now, I'm going to nsk you abtmi Mime aspects of river waiei qualiiy of tbt: row major
rivcra in Uiis area. The ftnir nvers are the Great Miami River; Still Water River. Mad
River, aiki Wolf Creek,
x>u aboul the water quality of these Four oven? Are you:
] Very ct>nct:mEi.l
2. Somewhat concerned
3. Somewhat not CLUicerncd, ot
4, Nol at all aynoernerl
7. Don't fcrrow,'>Jo opinion
9. Refused
5. How satisfied BJC ymi wjlh chw overall *jm»|«y of lh* rivers'? Are you:
1 . Very satisfied
2. S. rr:",',-h;r[ ;;;ili -I i> J
3. Somcwhot dissalisficd, or
4. Very dissatisfied
7. Don't Know/No Opinion
9. Refused
6 How wo-iild ycju T;HE llie quality ufllie nvtrs? WouUl you say ihej are:
1. Excellent
2.
3.
4.
7.
9.
Fair, or
Poor
Don't Know/No Ornnuin
Refused
7 How or>nccxTKHi aje y(Hi aboui how clear Uic waia is for (beae four riveis? Are _vuu:
1 . Very concerned
1 Stitikcwliat COI'ILCI lit J
3 Somewhiit mil Loneenwtl,
-------
S. How satisfied sic yc with now clear tine rivers *rs? Are y*jgr
2.
3.
4 .
9
Very sul
.SDIIILA liuC
Soinewluu dissatisfied,. or
Very d i $ 53 1 i s fi «1
Oon't Know/No Opinion
Refused
9. I low would you ralE the clearness of [lie nvers'.' Would you say Uiey ;
Hxcclletil
Good
Fair, or
Pwf
Dcvn'l KTIDW/NCI Opinion
2.
3.
4.
7
9.
10. Da you (eel thdd fish cdugtu from (hs rivaw arc safe for people ID eai?
2
^
5
Yes
Mo (Why?
11. Do you
I
2.
7
9.
Vl VrwwrNo npininn
Reiused
drainateateh basins in your ueig^bw!hood?
Yes
DoiTl know
12. Wliefc do >'ijy shirk
of Ihcsc steam drains go?
1 ,
?
3
7
9
phnlM
River; wilhi>ul liealmenl
Riviera wil
Refused
I'ju going [o ask you some questions about Ihc cuviroiuiiceiL
County Jiaa a waaUewaier trealmcnt plnnl. not all water is treated. Rain watet aisd
sub^lariccs Ihat enlcr slorm 4nins *nd sewers are c^rrial beck to 1he rivers whhuut
treatmcnl
Telephone Survey Form
1 3
-------
1 .1. Dei you think mem people are aware of the foci fliai not all v»alc* is
I. Yea
2. No
Dcin'l Icrmw.'Na opinion
a. Refused
] 4. DM! yo*i Jtrk>w that Lawn fertilizer is washed into ihc fivers by rain?
Yes
NQ
Don! know/No
I
2,
7.
9.
IS. Now thai you know that rain washes pollutants into the river, what da you feel an the
worst pollutants BiTetling our four rivets?
16. Do you feel thai loca] officiils should spend money to better educate citizens, tike
your fiieflifa end neighbors about how our rivets become polluted?
I. Yes
Z, No
7. Dtin'l IcnOwi'No OpiniOrt
9. KcfilSCd
Now, 1 am going to *sk yxm abput recrottHui appnnimities involving the i»e of rivers arid
Tiver cwriclnr; in Ihe Miami Valky.
17. Wluch nvfef da you nwiM often visit?
I, Gfeal Miami Valley River (skip to £?/ 9J
1 Still Wales- River ^fa/j fr» Ql 9)
3, Mnd River (skip to Qt9)
4. Wolf Creek fr*^ ^e (J/ ffj
5. (Jlhcr _ (skip to
it. Hone
7. Don'(
9. Refused
7 4
APPENDIX D
-------
] S. What kccpi >ou firom go-ing to the rivers?
I.
2.
1
4.
i.
4i.
Safely
Nnlhing In ilu ihure
I'm Tou busy
li is too Car aiii'm out of tltc way
Other _
Donl brow/No opini-wi
RefcswL
9. Have ynu been Ui a Fivu KBVCTS M.LLTCI t'atk. ur (lily of Diiylan park in the last
months?
L.
7.
9.
Yes
Nn fskip to Q22)
Don't kiM-wi'Na
Refused
20. Ware say of the parks you visited located akwg a river?
I. Yes
2.
7.
9.
Dmf
Refused
21 . Was tfie river on LukhLiuiial fcacurt bf wliy you viutwl the park"?
].
2.
7.
9-
Yes
No
Dcinl Innw/Nfl
kcl.i:,.-;!
22. Thinking, back over die Laa twelve months, how often have you or
itietikboa used Hie: river recreatrai opportunities cffercd *1 1hc riven?
family
2.
3.
J.
5.
i.
a.
10.
I L
9.
Never have used
1 (line a year nr les.5
2 3 limetu'vear fj*r^ to
4 - 1 1 tlmca'ycal (skip IP Q24)
I utnc/rnonlh fitotp w
2-3 limWriionrh
Wtckly ft*^ w
More Ihan once a week fskip »
Daily r-sfrfc m pJ^
Don'1 knowi'no opinion
Telephone Survey Form
7 5
-------
23. Whac is the key reason why yoa UK river Twrwlion Ira Hum on« » year?
Now I'm going 1"
*J Jiny (jf 1hern
21. DD >XHI fiSli if)
I
1
7.
a lul
puupk LIIJUV. HL^L Id I int A'|-jclht:r you
Ye*
Nc:
Don'
Refused
IS. Do you canoe on the rivers?
1.
2.
Yes
Nti
[>ous
Refused
Opdnion
26. D& you picnic along
I, Yes
2. Nu
7. Don'l Know/No Opinion
9. Refused
27. Do you bike, joju rolkrtjtwte, or walk along the ri
I Yes
I. N*
7. Don '( Kjww/No Opinion
''. Refiiacd
2S. Is itiere Biiythhj else ypu enjoy in or alcmji Ihe
7 6
APPENDIX D
-------
29 Ovcrallh how would you rale llic TecrcntjtJMl
ccimtans in Lhe Miunu Valley
I
2,
9.
available 0(1 HtC river
Excelknl
Good
Fur
Row
Don 't KnrywiTVo Opinion
RclustJ
. How do you receive most of your infonnadan aLxiui ihu I|UU.!LL^ uf
ii Valley Region? Sthct nil 1hnt npply
News
in
1 1 . Da_vlDii
12. Oihtt
l.v T.V.ads
M T.V.rcws
14 Radio news
L7. IDiTecL muihn^
IH. Klytrs
1^. Other
20. Don'1 know/No opinion
2L. Refused
31. Have you received infurmulKin abinit llie River CJiialhy |^(Je!( from
I V-.-,
2. No
Don't know/No opinion
9. Refused
H2. Flarvt you receivrd inli>rmalKin about the River Quality Index from Ihc
ntwi?
2.
9.
Yes
Wo
Don'1
Rcfuw)
Telephone Survey Form
7 7
-------
3 3. Have y-mi receiver! information nbcsufl ihe River Quality (ride* from the Internet?
]. Yes
: No
7. Lton'lkjiCuwNo upinidrt
9, Refused
14 Da you IIKL Ihc Kivcr
activities?
Ludux when dividing to tue the nvurfs)
I. Yes
2. No
Don'1 Icnnwi'Ni-' ;- i i
9. Rdiised
i>i a scale of I 1o I0h wHti I meaning I don't crijoy «1 *ll and 10 meaning t ctijoy
very mucK Ko*- much da JIMI cnjay nver water activilics?
I
10
I drm't enjoy at all fillip to Q33} 1 enjoy very much Onn'l know Refused
S. Mott of the iLnre, where do you go for river wader arfividea? Do you go (o:
1. Local rivets, or
2. Elsewhere oilier cliisify trus inlerview
37. Wha( is your home zip cod*?
38. What year were >ou bora?
77.
W.
Dan'l Lmw
'2.
3
4.
:.
al 5tnhis?
Married
Single
Divorced
Other
Drai't KnawfSfi Opinion
7 8
APPENDIX D
-------
40. Do >xw rent or own your btinie?
I.
2,
7.
Own
£>otiT know/No opinion
Refused
41 . If any, liunv iriaiiy ..Mildldl do y&U hflV*?
41. Do you cnn-tider yi-iuniL'ir lu be Whjlft, African- Amerjcan, Asian uc anolher race''
I.
2,
3.
4.
7,
9.
While
AlnEaii-Aratnuan
Another reee
l>nn°l Know/No Optmcm
Refused
43. What is your tola] houserwk) income before twtes, inchiding
hpiiser»W and >H wuroes af incfime? Ls il:
membcni of your
Under J 10,000
J 10,00 1 J2D.MO
$2«,00 1- $30,000
130,00 1 -140,000
L.
2,
3.
4.
5,
6.
S.
44. WTint was Ihc last grade i: I'
Pflfi'l Knnw/Na Opinion
I .
2.
3.
4.
5,
1.
*.
Less irwm Hijh Sdio*j-l
H.^h School Cirad
SMIK ColkgaTech School
College Graduate
Prat Grarfuale Work nr Degree
Dtin'l know
Telephone Survey Form
7 9
-------
45. How lung havL- yuu li>«J M your
I
J
4
5.
M
I.
.
9.
44. \sc you:
I.LIH lhan 1
1 year. DOL IML tfian 2
2 to 3 y*srs
4 1n fi ytus
7 ID L
------- |