Data Collection

For an overview of how to collect water quality data using Ribbons of Blue methods download our Water quality monitoring guidelines:

Water quality monitoring guidelines

To help plan water monitoring activities, Designing a monitoring program is a step by step guide that takes you through the key questions you need to consider:

designing-a-monitoring-program

What data do we collect?
Ribbons of Blue groups collect data on a wide variety of biological, physical and chemical parameters. Groups most commonly monitor temperature, turbidity, conductivity, pH, macroinvertebrates, and sometimes phosphate and nitrate. Some groups may decide to focus their efforts on one particular parameter. For example, if a group has concerns regarding algal blooms at their site then they would concentrate on monitoring phosphates and nitrates.

Why is data collected?
Groups design monitoring programs for a variety of reasons. A school group may design a program that is primarily for education and awareness purposes, whilst a community group may wish to monitor to assess environmental impacts on their site. Regional Coordinators will assist you in implementing a monitoring program.

How can you be sure that your data is accurate?
The aquatic environment is complex and there will always be variation between the actual and measured value. This is what is termed sampling error. To be confident that your data is accurate a Quality Assurance (QA) plan should be developed. Such a plan ensures that your data collected meets a defined level of quality with a known confidence level.

What is the Quality Assurance plan?
A QA plan encompasses a range of Quality Controls (QC) designed to minimise sampling errors. QC includes training for samplers, field checks, documentation, calibration and equipment maintenance. Your Regional Coordinator will work with you to formulate the appropriate suite of QC for your monitoring program. Provided that you follow your QA/QC procedures recommended by Ribbons of Blue, your data will be quality assured and entered into the National Waterwatch Database. If data does not pass these checks your group will be contacted by your Regional Coordinator who will assist you in rectifying any problems.

Where does the data go?
Data collected by Ribbons of Blue groups can be entered into the Department of Water's Water Information Network (WIN) database. The WIN database is main place of storage for water related data in Western Australia and is used by land management authorities, as well as for reports such as the Department of Environment and Conservation's State of the Environment Report.

To see Ribbons of Blue data as collected for our Snapshot Events see:

Saltwatch Snapshot  

Macroinvertebrate Snapshot  

To visit the Waterwatch Australia web site click here - www.waterwatch.org.au