- Title
- Assessing catchment water quality: the "snapshot study"
- Creator
- Lucas, S. A.; Coombes, P. J.; Geary, P. M.; Dunstan, R. H.
- Relation
- Rainwater & Urban Design 2007: 13th International Rainwater Catchment Systems Conference and 5th Water Sensitive Urban Design Conference. Proceedings of Rainwater & Urban Design 2007 (Sydney 21-23 August, 2007)
- Relation
- http://www.rainwater2007.com
- Publisher
- Tour Hosts Conference & Exhibition Organisers
- Resource Type
- conference paper
- Date
- 2007
- Description
- Monitoring catchment water quality is typically based on monthly/weekly grab sampling at-a-site over a given length of time. Interpretation of water quality data is then usually based on threshold criteria (ANZECC/ARMCANZ, 2000) and the catchment response evaluated relative to these values. However, monitoring programs of this nature rarely capture all catchment processes operating at the time of sampling and therefore evaluation of catchment response is limited. A recent approach to characterising catchment water quality has been the "Snapshot Study". The Snapshot Study is based on three fundamental criteria including categorising catchment landuse, designing a sampling/analysis strategy based on catchment hydrology and knowledge of the climatic conditions before and during the time of sampling. Results from various sourcetracking techniques are then used to compare relative contaminant contributions from mixed landuses. The snapshot study allows numerous sites within a catchment to be sampled and results can be interpreted in the context of the hydrological processes at the time. This provides a water quality "fingerprint" of catchment waterways, whilst allowing an improved evaluation of potential contaminant sources and subsequent waterway health. However, the interpretation of contaminant contributions using different source-tracking techniques resulted in contradiction in several sub-catchments. This was considered an important outcome between subcatchments and ultimately characterised sub-catchment water quality. The monitoring approach is novel and this paper discusses the main outcomes from two snapshot studies undertaken, whilst highlighting the complex relationships between landuse and catchment/sub-catchment water quality.
- Subject
- catchment water quality; monitoring programs; water sampling
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/30485
- Identifier
- uon:2683
- Language
- EN
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