Application of automatic monitors for state water quality surveillance
Date
1972-08
Authors
Sylvester, Marc, author
Ward, Robert C., advisor
Skogerboe, Gaylord V., committee member
Reed, Edward B., committee member
Wilber, Charles G., committee member
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Abstract
Field use of automatic water quality monitors began during the mid 1950's. Experience gained since that time has revealed that the best application of automatic monitors is to supplement grab sampling surveillance systems. When employed on a real-time basis using telemetry and computer processing of collected data, automatic monitors are capable of satisfying the abatement objectives of state water quality management agencies. Presently, only five reliable sensors (DO, T, pH, Cond, and Turb) are available. With this limitation, automatic monitors are not presently able to provide 100 percent pollution event detection effectiveness. However, the present state-of-the-art on sensor detection ability indicates that a detection effectiveness of greater than 50 percent is possible using DO, T, pH, Cond, and Turb sensors. With this detection capability the abatement objectives of a state water quality management agency can be fulfilled by designing an automatic monitoring system which will optimize traceability (the accuracy and expediency with which a pollution event can be traced). The network of automatic monitoring stations which optimizes traceability is called the effective primary network. The design procedure developed in this study provides: (1) A quantitative basis for determining the location of effective primary stations and (2) A method of relating abatement effectiveness to the number of effective primary stations. The relationship between cost and number of effective primary stations is developed by computing the cost of automatic monitoring networks (1-30 stations in size) using average costs for purchase price, installation, and first year operation and maintenance expenditures. The cost effectiveness relationship is generated by comparing cost and abatement effectiveness while summing over the number of stations comprising the effective primary network. The cost effectiveness relationship reveals the benefits gained in abatement effectiveness per increment of cost for the acquisition of each effective primary station. A schedule for effective primary station acquisition is also indicated.
Description
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Subject
Water quality management