| Abstract: | State water quality monitoring has been augmented by volunteer monitoring programs throughout the United States. Although a significant effort has been put forth by volunteers, questions remain as to whether volunteer data are accurate and can be used by regulators. In this study, typical volunteer water quality measurements from laboratory and environmental samples in Iowa were analyzed for error and bias. Volunteer measurements of nitrate+nitrite were significantly lower (about 2-fold) than concentrations determined via standard methods in both laboratory-prepared and environmental samples. Total reactive phosphorus concentrations analyzed by volunteers were similar to measurements determined via standard methods in laboratory-prepared samples and environmental samples, but were statistically lower than the actual concentration in four of the five laboratory-prepared samples. Volunteer water quality measurements were successful in identifying and classifying most of the waters which violate United States Environmental Protection Agency recommended water quality criteria for total nitrogen (66%) and for total phosphorus (52%) with the accuracy improving when accounting for error and biases in the volunteer data. An understanding of the error and bias in volunteer water quality measurements can allow regulators to incorporate volunteer water quality data into total maximum daily load planning or state water quality reporting. ?? 2010 American Chemical Society. |
| Genre: | Article |
| ProdID: | 70036420 |
| Citation Author: | Loperfido, J. V.; Beyer, P.; Just, C. L.; Schnoor, J. L. |
| Citation Contributing Office: | |
| Citation Datum: | |
| Citation Day: | |
| Citation Edition: | |
| Citation Editor: | |
| Citation End Page: | 7199 |
| Citation Issue: | 19 |
| Citation Keywords: | |
| Citation Language: | English |
| Citation Larger Work Title: | Environmental Science and Technology |
| Citation LatN: | |
| Citation LatS: | |
| Citation LonE: | |
| Citation LonW: | |
| Citation Month: | |
| Citation No Pagination: | |
| Citation Number Of Pages: | 7 |
| Citation Online Only Flag: | |
| Citation Phsyical Description: | |
| Citation Projection: | |
| Citation Public Comments: | |
| Citation Publisher: | |
| Citation Series: | |
| Citation Series Code: | |
| Citation Series Number: | |
| Citation Search Results Text: | Uses and biases of volunteer water quality data; 2010; Article; Journal; Environmental Science and Technology; Loperfido, J. V.; Beyer, P.; Just, C. L.; Schnoor, J. L. |
| Citation Start Page: | 7193 |
| Citation Volume: | 44 |
| Citation Year: | 2010 |
| Type: | citation/reference |
| Text: | Uses and biases of volunteer water quality data; 2010; Article; Journal; Environmental Science and Technology; Loperfido, J. V.; Beyer, P.; Just, C. L.; Schnoor, J. L. |
| URL (THUMBNAIL): | http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/thumbnails/outside_thumb.jpg |
| URL (DIGITAL OBJECT IDENTIFIER): | http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/es100164c |
| Date Other: | Fri, 1 Jan 2010 00:00 -0600 |
| Publisher: | |
