SLIDE 1 DESIGNING PROVINCIAL-SCALE WATER MONITORING NETWORKS TO MEET FUTURE NEEDS Provincial Groundwater Monitoring Network (PGMN) Provincial Stream Water Quality Monitoring Network (PWQMN)
Presentation for Solinst Symposium on Recent Advances in Watershed and High Resolution Monitoring Ontario Ministry of Environment October 2009
File: U:\ Solinst October 2009.ppt
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The Ontario Experience
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BACKGROUND
The Ontario Ministry of Environment, Conservation Ontario, the Conservation Authorities, and 10 Municipalities implement two provincial- scale water monitoring programs:
- Provincial Groundwater Monitoring Network (PGMN) Program
- Provincial Stream Water Quality Monitoring Network (PWQMN)
Program
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PRESENTATION
This Presentation will provide: 1) an overview of the current program objectives 2) an overview of the current network designs 3) some examples of current program utility / products 4) anticipated future needs 5) current activities to meet future needs
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(1) CURRENT PROGRAM OBJECTIVES
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1a) CURRENT PGMN (Groundwater) OBJECTIVES
- Monitor ambient groundwater levels and chemistry to:
- support drought response decisions
- support groundwater management activities such as: source
water protection, water allocation, planning decisions
- identify trends and correlations,
- support policy, standard, and guideline
development/assessment
- Monitor precipitation at selected sites to:
- better understand correlations between precipitation,
groundwater levels and groundwater chemistry
- Share information with Local Health Units on potential water quality
concerns (ie. PGMN Exceedence Protocol)
- Share information with other water resource managers, public,
consultants, academia, etc
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1b) CURRENT PWQMN (Stream Water) OBJECTIVES
- Monitor ambient stream water chemistry to :
- support stream water management activities such as: source
water protection, planning decisions, impacts to near shore environments of the Great Lakes
- identify trends and correlations,
- support policy, standard, and guideline development /
assessment
- provide information on emerging contaminants
- Share information with other water resource managers, public,
consultants, academia, etc.
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(2) CURRENT NETWORK DESIGNS
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DESIGN FOUNDATION
Program design is based on the following concepts :
- implementation through a partnership arrangement made
between the Province and the Conservation Authorities or participating Municipalities.
- creation of a continuous, ambient monitoring framework within
which special studies or research can be performed and in which enhancements can be made.
- watershed-scale monitoring
- selection of sites in consultation with program partners; balancing
local and provincial interests
SLIDE 10 10 The PGMN (groundwater) Program monitors:
- ambient groundwater levels once per hour at 474 monitoring wells
- ambient groundwater chemistry once per year at about 360 monitoring wells
- precipitation at ~ 85 monitoring wells (in progress)
- barometric pressure once per hour at ~ 35 monitoring wells
- continuous chemistry at 2 monitoring wells in high infiltration areas
It supports :
- Source Water Protection activities
- Low Water Response Program (in progress)
- Standards and Guideline Development
- Water Allocation / PTTW issuance
- Linkages between Groundwater Monitoring and Health Units
- Understanding Potential Climate Change impacts on the Groundwater Levels
and Chemistry
- Nutrient Management activities
- Groundwater Industry
2a) CURRENT DESIGN OF THE PGMN PROGRAM
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11 Distribution of PGMN (Groundwater) Monitoring Wells
SLIDE 12 12 Field Instrumentation: 474 level loggers 220 dedicated pumps 282 telemetry systems serving 336 wells
- mainly cell phone
- 2 satellite
35 baro-loggers 85 rain gauges 2 in-situ water quality monitoring stations Data Management 1 web-based information system posting on Ministry Geo-portal and public web site (in progress)
PGMN NETWORK INSTRUMENTATION / TECHNOLOGY
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PGMN WELL WITH TELEMETRY SYSTEM
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RAIN GAUGE TIPPING BUCKET ON MAST NEXT TO WELL WITH TELEMETRY SYSTEM
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Continuous Groundwater Continuous Groundwater Quality Monitoring with Quality Monitoring with Satellite Communication Satellite Communication
This site collects continuous groundwater quality and level data. The technology uses in-situ probes that measure the following parameters once per hour and uses satellite communication to send the information to the PGMN information system daily. temperature pH nitrate electrical cond. chloride
A dedicated pump also allows for the manual collection of a water sample for QA/QC
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Groundwater Chemical Analyses under the PGMN Program
- Initial Comprehensive Set of Chemical Analyses
includes most of the Ontario Drinking Water Quality Chemical Standards set out in Regulation 169 of the Safe Drinking Water Act :
- Major ions (Ca++, Mg++, Na+, K+, Cl-, SO4- - , HCO3
- )
- Nutrients ( NO3
- , NO2
- , NH4
+, NH3 , P)
- Metals
- Volatile Organics
- Pesticides / Herbicides
- Subsequent Rounds of Chemical Analyses:
focuses on:
- Major Ions
- Nutrients
- Metals
SLIDE 17 17 The PWQMN (stream water ) Program monitors:
- ambient stream water chemistry typically 8 times per year (in wet and dry
periods) at over 400 core-program monitoring stations;
- nutrient monitoring about 20 times per year at 15 agricultural-based watersheds;
- pathogen monitoring about 20 times per year at 3 monitoring stations,
- urban contaminants monitoring about 12-15 times per year at 10 urban-based
watersheds. It supports :
- Source Water Protection activities
- Nutrient Management activities
- Standards and Guideline Development
- Linkages between Stream Water Monitoring (pathogens) and Health Canada
- Water Allocation / PTTW issuance
- Understanding Potential Climate Change impacts on the stream water chemistry
- Pesticides in Urban and Non-urban watersheds
- Consulting Industry
2b) CURRENT DESIGN OF THE PWQMN PROGRAM
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18 Distribution of PWQMN (Stream Water) Monitoring Stations
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- Monitoring initiated in 2004 to assess
the influence of the Nutrient Management Act activities on stream water quality in agricultural watersheds.
- Fifteen small (<60 km2) watersheds
are being monitored.
- About 20 water samples are collected
at the outlet of each watershed. Both baseflow and storm events are collected.
- A turbidity threshold system has been
installed in the Nissouri Watershed to measure changes in water quality in response to storm events.
NUTRIENT MONITORING STATIONS NUTRIENT MONITORING STATIONS
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- Initiated in 2003 to characterize the
range of contaminants and quantify loadings to Lake Ontario from different land uses.
- Ten sites are monitored in 6 watersheds
(Etobicoke, Mimico, Humber, Don, Highland, Rouge). (1 forested, 6 urban, 3 agricultural)
- 12-15 water samples are collected
throughout year during base flow and storm events.
- A continuous water quality station was
established at Etobicoke Creek to measure changes in water quality in response to storm events.
URBAN CONTAMINANT MONITORING STATIONS URBAN CONTAMINANT MONITORING STATIONS
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Program began in 2007 3 tributaries:
- Nith River
- Canagagigue Creek
- Schneider Creek
PATHOGEN MONITORING STATIONS PATHOGEN MONITORING STATIONS
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50 75 100 12.5 Kilometr es
Stream W ater Sites - Microbiology
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PW Q MN Sites with Microbiological Analysis
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Lake O nt T ributary Study Sites
# *
Source Protection
es
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Source Protection
es
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Nutrient Management Project Sites
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22 Field Instrumentation grab samples are taken from core monitoring sites 10 automated sampling stations (urban contaminants) 1 Turbidity Threshold Station (TTS – nutrient monitoring program) Data Management posting on Ministry Geo-portal and public web site (in progress)
PWQMN NETWORK INSTRUMENTATION/TECHNOLOGY
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Automated Sampling at 10 Stations in the Greater Toronto Area Automated Sampling at 10 Stations in the Greater Toronto Area
Automated Sampling Cellular communication Remote triggering Large volume samples – PAHs – PCBs – General chemistry
– Fluorinated compounds
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Sampling boom
Turbidity Threshold Station in Nissouri Creek
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- Core Monitoring Stations:
- temperature, pH, conductivity, dissolved oxygen – field parameters
- total phosphorous, phosphate
- nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, total kjeldahl nitrogen
- suspended solids, turbidity
- pH, alkalinity, conductivity
- chloride
- major ions ( Ca, Mg, Na, K)
- hardness
- pesticides are monitored at a limited number of stations
- Nutrient Management Monitoring Stations
- special focus on nutrients
- Pathogen Monitoring Stations
- cryptosporidium
- giardia
- Urban Contaminant Stations
- special focus on urban contaminants
Stream Water Chemical Analyses
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(3) PROGRAM UTILITY AND EXAMPLE PRODUCTS
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WATER QUALITY MAPS
Correlations:
- Water Chemistry and Land Use Activity
- Water Chemistry and Geology
Compare Chemistry to Standards / Guideline Concentrations:
- Ecological Receptors (eg. Provincial or Canadian Water Quality
Objectives
- Human Receptors (eg. Ontario Drinking Water Quality
Standards)
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Nitrate Concentrations in Stream Waters
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Phosphorous Concentrations in Stream Waters
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Nitrate + Nitrite Concentrations in PGMN Wells Nitrate + Nitrite Concentrations in PGMN Wells
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Fluoride Concentrations in PGMN Wells Fluoride Concentrations in PGMN Wells
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32 Arsenic Concentrations in PGMN Wells
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Uranium Concentrations in PGMN Wells Uranium Concentrations in PGMN Wells
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GROUNDWATER LEVEL PROFILES
Ambient Seasonal Variations/ Patterns Correlations with Precipitation Trends over Time
SLIDE 35 35 PGMN Well 336-1
Seasonal Variation in Groundwater Level is 5 to 5.75 m
blue shale limestone meters below ground surface 10 20 30 40 clay with sand
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25 50 75 10 125 clay limestone limestone shale and limestone limestone limestone
meters below ground surface
PGMN Well 406-1
Seasonal variation can be up to 11 meters Karstic Geology Real-time chemistry monitoring in progress
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Enlarged view of the period August 2008 to March 2009
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gravel clay and silt meters below ground surface
PGMN Well 220
2 4 6 8 screen
Groundwater Level and Precipitation Data from Well 220 Well 220 has elevated nitrate concentrations
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STREAM WATER QUALITY TRENDS
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PWQMN Stations 202 and 1102 Core program monitoring and Nutrient Management monitoring
Nitrate Concentration at Bayfield River
5 10 15 20 1964 1967 1969 1972 1975 Year Nitrate Concentration (mg/L)
Nitrate Concentration at Bayfield River
5 10 15 20 2001 2004 2006 2009 Year Nitrate Concentration (mg/L)
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Turbidity Threshold Sampling of Turbidity Threshold Sampling of Nissouri Nissouri Creek Creek
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Turbidity Threshold Sampling Turbidity Threshold Sampling
Relationship between turbidity and suspended sediment concentration
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(4) ANTICIPATED FUTURE ISSUES / NEEDS
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(a) Climate Change Impacts
(b) Relationships between Components of the Hydrologic Cycle (Integrated Monitoring ) (c) Insitu Real -Time Monitoring Capacity (d) Emerging Chemicals and Pathogens (e) Predictive Capacity (Modelling) FIVE KEY ANTICIPATED FUTURE MONITORING NEEDS
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(5) CURRENT ACTIVITIES TOWARD MEETING ANTICIPATED FUTURE ISSUES / NEEDS
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5a) Climate Change Impacts: Detection and Adaptation
PGMN and PWQMN Climate Change Assessment Project (in progress)
- 2.5 year project
- Led by Ontario Ministry of Environment and Conservation Ontario
- Funded by Canada-Ontario Agreement
- Development of a Methodology for Assessment
- In-put of Expert Advice ( academia, experts in climate change
field, etc
- Core working team ( MOE, CO,MNR, OMAFRA)
- Considerations include: coverage, integration, prioritization/vulnerability
- Final Report : Early summer 2010.
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SOME PRELIMINARY CONSIDERATIONS FOR PGMN AND PWQMN ENNHANCEMENTS
DETECTION OF CLIMATE CHANGE SIGNALS: ▲ Integrated Monitoring within Reference Hydrometric
Basin Networks
ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS: ▲ Monitoring Coverage and Integration in Sensitive Areas (as a priority) ▲ Integrated / Real-time Monitoring ▲ Establishing indicator / trigger levels in select PGMN Monitoring wells for use in the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR)–led Low Water Response Program
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Map Under Construction Map of Quaternary Watershed Sensitivity to Climate Change
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gravel clay meters below ground surface
PGMN Well 056-1
10 20 30 40 screen gravel soil
217.6 217.7 217.8 217.9 218.0 218.1 218.2 218.3 218.4 218.5 218.6 2001/07/25 2001/10/25 2002/01/25 2002/04/25 2002/07/25 2002/10/25 2003/01/25 2003/04/25 2003/07/25 2003/10/25 2004/01/25 2004/04/25 2004/07/25 2004/10/25 2005/01/25 2005/04/25 2005/07/25 2005/10/25 2006/01/25 2006/04/25 2006/07/25 2006/10/25 2007/01/25 2007/04/25 Date Groundwater Elevation (m asl) 75th Percentile Median or 50th Percentile 25th Percentile Trigger 1 10th Percentile Trigger 2 5th Percentile Trigger 3 Minimum 30 day average of measured levels Linear (30 day average of measured levels)
Gap 75th Percentile 50th Percentile Trigger 1 Trigger 2 M inimum Level Above Normal: 30 day average above 75 th percentile Normal to Above Normal: 30 day average in 75th to 50th percentile range Below Normal: 30 day average in 50th to Trigger 3 Trigger 3
PGMN Well # 56-1 is being tested for use in the Low Water Response Program Percentile Method
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5d) Emerging Chemicals and Pathogens
monitoring stream waters in the urban environment for flame retardants and fluorinated compounds has begun, but has not yet begun for ground waters monitoring stream waters in the a select watershed for pathogens has begun, however due to the current nature of the groundwater program, pathogens in groundwater has not been monitored monitoring for pharmaceuticals or personal care products has not begun in either program.
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5e) Predictive Capacity (Modelling)
Modelling of Nutrients in Stream Waters in South-western Ontario is just beginning under the PWQMN Program It is anticipated that the modelling will allow for predictions to be made for various scenarios or to test the efficacy of Best Management Practices
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Thank you
