This class is intended for technicians who work directly with water quality (QW) instruments. The theory and background of most QW parameters will be discussed briefly, with most of the class time devoted to hands-on practice. The class will concentrate on the “big five” water quality parameters: Water Temperature; Conductivity/Specific Conductance; pH; Dissolved Oxygen; and Turbidity. Experienced instructors will cover the cleaning, maintenance, troubleshooting, and calibration of QW probes in both a laboratory setting and at a real field site. The most commonly used instruments will be used in the class. Students will interface QW probes to various data collection platforms (DCPs) and will demonstrate the ability to record and retrieve data from these systems. Instructors will show examples of useful field equipment and toolkits that have been assembled by very experienced field technicians. Students will deploy QW probes at an on-site river monitoring station and will perform the setup, field servicing, and data retrieval functions under the supervision of instructors. Other topics covered in the class will include: Site selection for QW probe installations; various deployment/installation techniques for QW probes; CHIMP software usage for handling of field data and quality control; post-processing of QW data; and new trends in QW instrumentation.
| MONDAY |
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| 8:00 | Introductions |
| 8:20 | Water Temperature
Units of measure
How is it measured
What do temperature probes look like?
Normal measurement range
Calibration and checkout of temperature probes
How temperature affects other parameters |
| | Conductivity
What is it?
What are the units of measure?
How is it measured?
What do the probes look like?
What are “normal” numbers for different types of water?
What affects conductivity?
Conductivity versus specific conductance
Calibration methods and solutions
Cell constants – What are they?
Relationship to salinity |
| | pH
What is it?
What are the units of measure?
How is it measured?
What do the probes look like?
What are “normal” numbers for different types of water?
What affects pH?
Calibration methods and solutions |
| | Dissolved Oxygen (DO)
What is it?
What are the units of measure?
How is it measured?
Clark cell
Optical
Other
Dependence on stirring of solution
Barometric pressure effects
What do the probes look like?
What are “normal” numbers for different types of water?
What affects DO?
Calibration methods and solutions
Winkler titration
Aeration to saturation
Measuring with another instrument |
| | Turbidity
What is it?
What are the units of measure?
FTU, FNU, JTU
How is it measured?
Secchi disk
Optical absorption
Optical scatter
What do the probes look like?
What are “normal” numbers for different water clarities?
What affects Turbidity?
Suspended solids
Calibration methods and solutions |
| 11:00 | YSI Sonde Setup
Classroom Exercise/Demonstration |
| 11:30 | LUNCH |
| 12:30 | YSI Sondes
Sonde construction
Probe installation and removal
Care and maintenance
Common problems (Student Group #1 in QW Lab)
Troubleshooting hints
Calibration of probes
Antifouling methods and practices
Cleaning of sensors in a Lab
Using handheld “readers” with Sondes |
| 12:30 | Interfacing YSI Sondes with Data Collection Platforms
Sonde setup for internal logging
Timing issues for internal versus external logging
Cabling
Connections to the DCP (Student Group #2 in Classroom)
Programming the DCP
Checking the Sonde for proper operation
Logging data in the DCP
Data retrieval and review |
| 2:30 | BREAK |
| 2:45 | YSI Sondes (continued)
Sonde construction
Probe installation and removal
Care and maintenance
Common problems
Troubleshooting hints
Calibration of probes
Antifouling methods and practices
Cleaning of sensors in a Lab
Using handheld “readers” with Sondes |
| 2:45 | Interfacing YSI Sondes with Data Collection Platforms (continued)
Sonde setup for internal logging
Timing issues for internal versus external logging
Cabling
Connections to the DCP
Programming the DCP
Checking the Sonde for proper operation
Logging data in the DCP
Data retrieval and review |
| 4:30 | Dismissed |
| TUESDAY |
|---|
| 8:00 | YSI Sondes
Sonde construction
Probe installation and removal
Care and maintenance
Common problems (Student Group #2 in QW Lab)
Troubleshooting hints
Calibration of probes
Antifouling methods and practices
Cleaning of sensors in a Lab
Using handheld “readers” with Sondes |
| 8:00 | Interfacing YSI Sondes with Data Collection Platforms
Sonde setup for internal logging
Timing issues for internal versus external logging
Cabling
Connections to the DCP (Student Group #1 in Classroom)
Programming the DCP
Checking the Sonde for proper operation
Logging data in the DCP
Data retrieval and review |
| 9:45 | BREAK |
| 10:00 | YSI Sondes (continued)
Sonde construction
Probe installation and removal
Care and maintenance
Common problems
Troubleshooting hints
Calibration of probes
Antifouling methods and practices
Cleaning of sensors in a Lab
Using handheld “readers” with Sondes |
| 10:00 | Interfacing YSI Sondes with Data Collection Platforms (continued)
Sonde setup for internal logging
Timing issues for internal versus external logging
Cabling
Connections to the DCP
Programming the DCP
Checking the Sonde for proper operation
Logging data in the DCP
Data retrieval and review |
| 11:30 | LUNCH |
| 12:30 | Hydrolab Sonde Setup
Classroom Exsercise/Demonstration |
| 1:00 | Hydrolab Sondes
Sonde construction
Probe installation and removal
Care and maintenance
Common problems (Student Group #1 in QW Lab)
Troubleshooting hints
Calibration of probes
Antifouling methods and practices
Cleaning of sensors in a Lab
Using handheld “readers” with Sondes |
| 1:00 | Interfacing Hydrolab Sondes with Data Collection Platforms
Sonde setup for internal logging
Timing issues for internal versus external logging
Cabling
Connections to the DCP (Student Group #2 in Classroom)
Programming the DCP
Checking the Sonde for proper operation
Logging data in the DCP
Data retrieval and review |
| 3:00 | BREAK ** Student Groups swap between QW Lab and Classroom ** |
| 3:30 | Hydrolab Sondes
Sonde construction
Probe installation and removal
Care and maintenance
Common problems (Student Group #2 in QW Lab)
Troubleshooting hints
Calibration of probes
Antifouling methods and practices
Cleaning of sensors in a Lab
Using handheld “readers” with Sondes |
| 3:30 | Interfacing Hydrolab Sondes with Data Collection Platforms
Sonde setup for internal logging
Timing issues for internal versus external logging
Cabling
Connections to the DCP (Student Group #1 in Classroom)
Programming the DCP
Checking the Sonde for proper operation
Logging data in the DCP
Data retrieval and review |
| 5:30 | Dismissed |
| WEDNESDAY |
|---|
| 8:00 | Travel to Pearl River test facility |
| 8:15 | Installation and Setup of QW Probes with DCPs in Pearl River
Field Calibration Check
Side-by-Side Checks with Field Sondes
Recording Calibration & Installation Data (Paper Forms)
Installing QW Probes and Wiring to DCPs
Programming the DCP
Checking for Proper Operation |
| 11:30 | LUNCH |
| 12:30 | Recap of Installation Session; Questions and Answers |
| 12:45 | Introduction to CHIMP software
Input of Field Data into CHIMP |
| 2:15 | Tour of HIF Facilities |
| 3:00 | HIF Programs and Issues
The HIF rental program
Issues with rental probes
HIF Instrument News |
| 3:30 | New Trends and New Instruments |
| 4:15 | BREAK |
| 4:30 | Site Selection for QW Probes
Classroom Discussion of Installation Issues
Slideshow of Various Installations/Deployments
Profiling, Etc… with QW Probes |
| 5:00 | Field Equipment and Toolkits
Student Toolkits
Suggestions from Instructors
General Discussion and Idea Sharing |
| 5:45 | Dismissed |
| THURSDAY |
|---|
| 8:00 | Discuss Plans for Servicing Visit at Pearl River |
| 8:15 | Travel to Pearl River Test Facility |
| 8:30 | Field Servicing and Data Retrieval Practices
Full Sonde Inspection
Downloading Data (Internal and DCP)
Recording Site Visit Information
Paper Forms
PDAs |
| 11:00 | Servicing of a Sonde after Long-Term Deployment |
| 11:30 | LUNCH |
| 12:30 | Data Post-Processing
Failure and Fouling Issues
Watching for Trends in Data
Good QW Records versus Erroneous Data |
| 2:30 | Recap of Class |
| 2:45 | Question/Answer Session
Suggestions for improvements to class |
| 3:30 | Box up materials for sending home |
| 5:00 | Dismissed |
U.S. Department of the Interior |
U.S. Geological Survey