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Monitoring Groundwater Health Using Citizen Scientists in Semi-Arid Regional Australia
Kathryn L Korbel1, Grant C Hose1
1School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Ground Water
|April 4, 2024
Summary
Citizen science (CS) empowers farmers to monitor groundwater health, revealing vital ecosystem data. This approach enhances our understanding of groundwater biota and water quality in arid regions.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Ecology
- Hydrogeology
Background:
- Citizen science (CS) is increasingly used in environmental monitoring, leveraging new technologies.
- While common in aquatic ecology, CS applications in groundwater research are rare.
- Understanding of global groundwater ecosystems is limited due to uneven research distribution.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the viability of using citizen scientists for groundwater health monitoring.
- To collect data on groundwater quality and biota in a semi-arid region.
Main Methods:
- Engaged six volunteer farmers in New South Wales, Australia.
- Provided farmers with sampling kits and instructions for using private wells.
- Collected data on groundwater ecosystems, including water quality and biota.
Main Results:
- Diverse stygofauna were collected, aligning with historical catchment records.
- Data indicated the health of groundwater ecosystems and water quality.
- The project successfully demonstrated the value of citizen scientists in data collection.
Conclusions:
- Citizen science is a viable method for assessing groundwater health and collecting ecological data.
- This approach can complement traditional scientific efforts in understanding groundwater ecosystems.
- The project also served as an educational tool, raising national awareness.
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