Water Quality Monitoring
A practical hub for understanding water quality parameters, selecting monitoring methods, and planning field sampling programs for stormwater, wastewater, surface water, reuse, and facility compliance.
Start with the monitoring objective
Water quality monitoring should begin with the question being answered. Compliance sampling, field screening, treatment verification, and long-term watershed monitoring can require different parameters, sampling frequency, equipment, documentation, and quality control.
Common water quality parameters
| Parameter | What it helps indicate | Common method |
|---|---|---|
| pH | Acidity, alkalinity, treatment effects, discharge signals | pH meter or sonde |
| Conductivity | Dissolved ions, salts, process water, groundwater influence | Conductivity meter |
| Turbidity | Sediment, solids, erosion, runoff impacts | Turbidity meter or sensor |
| Dissolved Oxygen | Aquatic habitat, treatment performance, biological activity | Optical DO meter |