Groundswell Community Based Groundwater Monitoring Network
4/8/2017 Groundswell Community Based Groundwater Monitoring Network By: Jenna Jones and Makayla Jamieson SR. ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY STUDENTS, NSCC WATERFRONT CAMPUS Jenna Jones, Makayla Jamieson NSCC ENTG Students 401-17 Portland Street, Dartmouth, NS B2Y 1H1 (778)-918-2824, (902)-483-4625 September 13, 2016 NSCC, Waterfront Campus 80 Mawiomi Place Dartmouth, NS B2Y 0A5 Faculty of the Environmental Engineering Program: Groundwater is a very sensitive part of the hydrologic cycle, particularly in Nova Scotia. Currently in Nova Scotia, information and analysis on ground water is remarkably limited. This information is vital when considering the population that is dependent on groundwater. Currently one program dedicated to the monitoring of groundwater is the Groundswell program, run by the Ecology Action Center. By partnering with the EAC to work on Groundswell, we will uncover more information on HRM’s groundwater. Groundswell is a community based groundwater monitoring network that enables the community to monitor groundwater levels from 8 different wells in the HRM. Data from these wells gets collected by community groups and volunteers, and is then processed. This data can be used to find trends, and used for industrial and domestic development plans. Currently the program has de-escalated; data is not being loaded or processed, wells are not being assessed, and the EAC lacks the man power for these tasks. Larissa Holman, freshwater project coordinator of the EAC has agreed to offer assistance in our study and contribution to the Groundswell program. We met to discuss the program, which involves bringing it back to life, enriching current information, performing well inspections, and adding more QAQC controls to the program.
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