What is surface water monitoring? What should be noted?

1. What is a surface water monitoring station?

Surface water monitoring stations are established to measure and monitor parameters and indicators related to the quality and quantity of surface water in the environment. These parameters include chemical concentrations, temperature, water level, pH, DO (dissolved oxygen), microorganisms and other ecological indicators related to water.

2. Objectives of the surface water monitoring station

The main goal of the surface water environmental monitoring station is to collect information and data related to the quality and quantity of surface water in the environment to meet the following goals:

- Water quality assessment: Surface water monitoring stations help to assess the water quality, including measuring the concentration of chemicals, microorganisms and other ecological indicators in the water. This information helps to determine the level of pollution and to understand the state of the water environment.

- Measuring water volume: Surface water monitoring stations also measures the water volume, including the water level and the water flow through the monitoring area. This helps to monitor the water resource status, the changes over time and the water resource use efficiently.

- Monitoring environmental changes: Data collected from the surface water monitoring stations provide information about environmental changes, such as changes by season, time and human activities. This helps to better understand the human impact on the aquatic environment.

- Forecasting floods and droughts: Data from surface water monitoring stations can be used to forecast floods and droughts. This helps to warn and respond to emergency situations and minimize damages.

- Water resources management: Information from surface water monitoring stations supports sustainable and reliable water resource management. It helps to better understand the state of water resources and to use water resources effectively.

- Environmental impact assessment: Surface water monitoring stations are an important part in assessing the environmental impact of projects, business and construction activities. This helps to ensure that these operations comply with environmental and water protection regulations.

The goal of the surface water environmental monitoring stations are to collect information and data to better understand the quality and quantity of surface water, to manage the water resources, to assess environmental impacts and to ensure the protection and use of the water resources in a sustainable and effective way.

3. Surface water environmental monitoring parameters

To evaluate the quality and quantity of the surface water in the environment, there are many parameters that need to be monitored. The important parameters include:

- Water temperature: Measuring water temperature helps to understand temperature variations in lakes, rivers, ponds and other water sources. Water temperature affects ecology, the dissolution of chemicals and the life of aquatic organisms.

- pH: pH measures the alkalinity and acidity level of water. A changing pH can affect the life of aquatic organisms and biological activity in the environment.

- DO (dissolved oxygen): Measuring the amount of dissolved oxygen in water is an important factor in assessing the water quality and the viability of water organisms. Many water creatures need oxygen to live and survive.

- Concentration of chemicals: Includes substances such as nitrates, nitrites, phosphates, heavy metals, organic compounds, and other pollutants. Measuring these substances helps to determine the level of pollution and the impact of human activities on surface water.

- Water flow: Measurement of the amount of water flowing through a specific area in a certain period. This helps to monitor and manage the water resources effectively.

- Turbidity: Measurement of the water turbidity is the level at which solid particles and suspended substances are present in the water. Turbidity can affect the survival of water organisms and the ability of light to continue to enter the water.

- Ecological and microbial index: Assessment of the biodiversity and types of microorganisms in water helps to better understand the ecological status of the water environment.

These parameters play an important role for the assessment of the quality and condition of the water environment, helping to provide necessary information to protect and manage the water resources sustainably and effectively.

4. Some methods for monitoring surface water environment

There are many surface water environmental monitoring methods used to collect data on the quality and quantity of water in the environment. Below are some common monitoring methods:

- Collecting water samples: This method includes collecting water samples from water sources such as rivers, lakes, ponds, or wells and measuring water quality parameters such as temperature, pH, DO, concentration of chemicals such as nitrates, phosphates, heavy metals and other pollutants. The water sample is then brought to the laboratory for detailed analysis.

- Automatic sensors: Use of automatic sensors to continuously measure environmental parameters such as temperature, pH, DO, chemical concentration and water flow. Data from these sensors is recorded and stored over long periods of time, helping to track changes over time and creating ongoing data assessments.

- Use on-site measuring equipment (handheld): On-site measuring equipment such as pH meter, DO meter, turbidity meter and temperature meter are used to directly measure environmental parameters on-site water.

- Using remote monitoring systems: Remote monitoring systems are used to quickly and continuously monitor water environmental parameters from afar. This system can use automatic sensors or devices mounted on ships or drones to collect data remotely.

- Using data from environmental monitoring networks: Surface water environmental monitoring networks, including distributed monitoring stations, also provide diverse information about the water environment. Data from these monitoring stations are compiled and analysed to assess the quality and condition of surface water on a large scale.

These surface water environmental monitoring methods all play an important role in collecting data and information to assess the quality and condition of the water environment, helping to protect and manage the water resources in a sustainable and efficient way.

5. Notes when monitoring surface water environment

- Location for monitoring surface water environment

The location for monitoring the surface water environment is chosen to suit the goals of collecting data and assessing the quality and quantity of water in the environment. Surface water environmental monitoring locations are often determined based on the following factors:

+ Representative factor: Monitoring locations should be chosen to represent important areas in the aquatic environment, including rivers, lakes, ponds, streams, grasslands, and urban areas. This helps to ensure a collection of reliable and representative data on surface water conditions in the testing area.

+ Important water sources: Monitoring locations should focus on important water sources such as main rivers, large lakes, and emergency water source areas. This helps to monitor water status and quality in places that have a major impact on the environment and human life.

+ Diverse distribution: Monitoring should be performed in many different locations in the testing area to ensure a diverse data collection on the water quality and quantity. This helps to better understand environmental change and the impact of human activities in large areas.

+ Potentially affected areas: Monitoring locations should be selected in areas potentially affected by human activities such as construction, industry, agriculture, and traffic. This helps to monitor the environmental impact of these activities and to provide effective protection and management.

+ Connect to the monitoring network: Monitoring locations should be selected to be suitable for the overall monitoring network, where data from many monitoring stations are aggregated and analysed to provide a comprehensive assessment of the surface water quality on a large scale.

Surface water environmental monitoring locations are selected based on data collection goals and requirements, ensuring representativeness, diversity and compatibility with the overall monitoring network.

Equipment and sampling tools for monitoring surface water environment

To sample and monitor the surface water environment, it is necessary to use specialized equipment and tools to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the data. Below are some equipment and tools commonly used in surface water environmental monitoring:

+ Water sampling container: Water sampling container can be a bottle, spray bottle, or container. These are the basic tools for collecting water samples from water sources such as rivers, lakes, ponds, streams, or wells.

+ Submersible sampler: Used to take water samples from deep layers in the water source, submersible samplers are often designed with control valves to take samples at different depths.

+ pH meter: Used to measure the alkalinity and acidity of water. pH meters can be handheld devices or automatic meters.

+ DO meter (dissolved oxygen): Used to measure the amount of dissolved oxygen in water, helping to evaluate the level of pollution and the viability of water organisms. There are automatic meters or handheld meters.

+ Temperature gauge: Used to measure water temperature. There are automatic meters or handheld meters.

+ Turbidity meter: Used to measure water turbidity, which is the level at which solid particles and suspended substances are present in the water.

+ Automatic sampling equipment: Used in continuous monitoring stations to automatically sample and measure water environment parameters at set intervals.

+ Microbial sampling tools: Used to sample microorganisms from the water environment, including sample containers and other sampling tools.

+ Personal protective equipment: When performing water environmental monitoring, the operator needs to be equipped with personal protective equipment such as gloves, goggles and gowns to ensure safety.

Depending on the monitoring objectives and the parameters to be measured, one or more of these devices and instruments can be used to collect water environment data reliably and effectively.

6. Criteria for selecting a surface water environmental monitoring unit

Choosing a surface water environmental monitoring unit is an important process and must be done carefully to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the data collected. Below are some important criteria for selecting a surface water environmental monitoring unit:

+ Expertise and experience: The monitoring unit needs to have a team of experts with solid knowledge and experience about the surface water environment, monitoring methods and data analysis. This ensures that monitoring is done properly, and data is processed correctly.

+ Equipment and technology: The monitoring unit needs to be fully equipped with the necessary equipment and technology to collect and measure water environmental parameters accurately and reliably.

+ Accuracy and reliability: The monitoring unit needs to be able to ensure the accuracy and reliability of collected data. This includes testing and calibrating measuring equipment, ensuring monitoring methods comply with regulatory standards and procedures.

+ Achievements and reputation: Consideration of the achievements and reputation of the monitoring unit in the field of surface water environmental monitoring. This helps to evaluate their capabilities and quality in implementing projects and environmental monitoring.

+ Economic efficiency: Assessment of the economic efficiency of the monitoring unit, including costs and benefits of the data collection and water environment measurement.

The surface water environmental monitoring station is located in the environmental monitoring ecosystem , playing an important role in measuring and evaluating the surface water quality. Choosing a surface water environmental monitoring unit is an important decision, and the above criteria need to be carefully considered to ensure the quality and reliability of the monitoring data.