WATER QUALITY INFORMATION FOR DECISION SUPPORT: A TALE OF TWO DATASETS

Water quality data can be collected from diverse sources to inform decision making. Two examples are presented: (1) surface water chemistry for drinking water sources, and (2) groundwater chemistry for rural towns relying on private water sources. Public water suppliers are obligated to monitor water quality and collectively have generated an extensive and high-quality time-series for geographically unique locations. In Maine there are 45 water utilities that use 49 surface water sources (lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams). A sub-set of these sources has been analyzed to demonstrate the presence of regional water chemistry gradients that are associated with watershed processes and the formation of disinfection by-products. This knowledge can be used by utility managers to help manage finished water quality. The second project uses groundwater quality results generated from a current citizen-scientist project (GET WET!). Students analyzed drinking water from their home wells to develop a spatial analysis of water chemistry at a town scale. The local community has applied this knowledge in local land use management. Repeated testing in specific towns will lead to the ability to analyze the time varying nature of groundwater chemistry.