What is the best way to monitor water quality during construction?

1 Why monitor water quality?

Monitoring water quality during construction can help you meet regulatory requirements and standards, protect natural resources and ecosystems, reduce the risk of fines or lawsuits, enhance the reputation of your project, improve efficiency and effectiveness of construction activities, and avoid or minimize the need for costly remediation or restoration.

2 What to monitor?

When it comes to water quality, the type, scale, and location of your project will determine which parameters you need to monitor. Physical parameters to consider include temperature, turbidity, flow, and level. Chemical parameters could include pH, dissolved oxygen, nutrients, metals, and contaminants. Biological parameters might involve bacteria, algae, and aquatic organisms. To identify the relevant water quality parameters for your project, take into account potential sources and impacts of pollution, the sensitivity and value of the receiving water bodies, and applicable regulations and guidelines.

3 How to monitor?

When monitoring water quality during construction, there are various methods and tools available such as sampling and analysis, sensors and probes, and visual inspection. Sampling and analysis can provide accurate and reliable data, but it can also be time-consuming, expensive, and limited in frequency and coverage. Sensors and probes can provide real-time and comprehensive data, but they can also be prone to errors, malfunctions, and maintenance issues. Visual inspection can offer quick feedback but it can also be subjective, inconsistent, and insufficient. When selecting the most suitable method or combination of methods for your project, consider the objectives, scope, budget, and resources of your water quality monitoring plan.

4 When to monitor?

The frequency and duration of water quality monitoring during construction can vary depending on the nature and phase of your project. Pre-construction monitoring can help you establish a reference point for comparison and evaluation of your project's impacts and performance. During construction, monitoring can help you detect and address any issues or changes in water quality that may arise from your construction activities or external factors. Post-construction monitoring can help you verify and document the achievement of your water quality goals and obligations. The optimal frequency and duration of water quality monitoring should be determined based on the level of risk, uncertainty, and variability of your water quality conditions and impacts.

5 Who to monitor?

When it comes to water quality monitoring during construction, the responsibility and authority can be shared among different parties. The project owner is accountable for the water quality outcomes and compliance of the project, while the project contractor is responsible for implementing the water quality monitoring plan and reporting the results and actions. The project consultant can help in designing, conducting, and evaluating the water quality monitoring plan, while the regulatory agency can monitor, audit, and approve the plan. It is essential to define and communicate the roles and responsibilities of each party and establish a collaborative and transparent relationship with them.

6 How to improve?

Monitoring water quality during construction is not a one-time or static activity; it is a dynamic and continuous process that requires constant improvement and adaptation. To ensure your project is compliant, responsible, sustainable, and successful, you should review and update your water quality monitoring plan regularly, evaluate and verify your data and methods, identify and resolve any gaps, errors, or discrepancies in your monitoring, learn from the results and feedback, implement corrective and preventive actions to improve performance, and share and disseminate findings and best practices.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?