Water Quality Analysis Training
Organisation: Environment Agency
Location: National
Type: Technical Support & Training
Link: Visit Website
This training course was developed to teach catchment partnerships how to access, query and analyse data from OpenWIMS, the EA’s Water Quality Archive, and how to supplement this data with locally-derived citizen science or community monitoring data.
Sessions:
- Querying the OpenWIMS data archive and plotting a time series for a single sample point
How to access OpenWIMS
Exercise taking you through how to access OpenWIMS and how to construct a query URL for a single sample point
OpenWIMS Blank Template
Excel workbook to help download, format and plot water quality data from a single monitoring point
OpenWIMS River Medlock Example
The OpenWIMS excel workbook with River Medlock example data
OpenWIMS Measurement River Medlock
the downloaded CSV file from the URL query in the above workbook
2. Building more complex spatial queries and mapping results
UKTAG Phosphate Standards Calculator
Cycle 2 phosphate standards vary in each waterbody, depending on altitude and alkalinity. this calculator helps you work out the standard for your river, so that you can plot this against phosphate measurements.
WFD Standards and Classifications Directions (England and Wales) 2015
PDF detailing the various WFD standards, including water chemistry standards.
Water Quality Sampling Points Finder
Interactive map to help find and select a subset of monitoring points for querying the OpenWIMS water quality archive
Atkins Freeware Water Quality Viewer
Another visualisation tool for graphing multiple determinands at single sampling points
OpenWIMS Batch Exercise
Exercise taking you through how to use the Water Quality Sampling Points Finder to select and download a subset of points for your catchment, and then use the OpenWIMS Batch Query Constructor to write custom queries
Water Quality Sampling Points Finder
Interactive map to help find and select a subset of monitoring points for querying the OpenWIMS water quality archive
OpenWIMS Batch Query Constructor
Excel workbook to streamline construction of more complex queries
Mapping OpenWIMS data example map
ArcGIS Online map showing a subset of results downloaded from OpenWIMS
3. Continuous vs regular vs spot sampling – what difference does it make?
Observations on Chemical Water Quality Monitoring
paper by Peter Lloyd exploring the different information which can be derived from continuous versus spot sampling downstream of sewage discharges
Continuous v Spot Sampling STW Exercise
Worked example showing what information can be derived from different temporal resolutions of data
Appendix to the Exercise
Additional notes
4. Water quality spot testing for targeting catchment interventions
Water Quality spot testing for targeting catchment interventions
Presentation by Simon Browning, Westcountry Rivers Trust
Water Quality spot testing for targeting catchment interventions
Exercise Sheet
Citizen Science Survey Recording Template
Developed by Westcountry Rivers Trust
5. Creating a monitoring plan as part of a catchment plan
Water Quality Monitoring Plan Exercise
Develop a collaborative water quality monitoring strategy for your catchment
Water Quality Monitoring Plan Template
A worksheet to help guide you through the process of planning a collaborative water quality monitoring strategy to answer questions in your catchment. Includes some examples
Practical River Restoration Appraisal Guidance for Monitoring Options
Monitoring Guidance
Further Resources
The related resources below provide further support on water quality monitoring.
Water Quality Monitoring: Practical guidance for CaBA partnerships interested in designing and managing a water quality monitoring programme. Includes a summary of monitoring equipment, data analysis and visualisation ideas, sampling protocols and advice for FIO monitoring and guidance on planning your strategy, engaging volunteers and resourcing.
Citizen Science: Further guidance specific to citizen science initiatives including a collection of useful links, contacts, technical references and case studies which other CaBA partnerships have used and shared.