Event based monitoring and early warning system for groundwater resources in alpine karst aquifers

Hermann Stadler, Albrecht Leis, Markus Plieschnegger, Paul Skritek, Andreas H. Farnleitner

Research output: Contribution to book/report/conference proceedingChapter in book/report

Abstract

Spring waters from alpine karst aquifers are important drinking water resources. As their water quality can change very rapidly during event situations, water abstraction management has to be performed in near real-time. Four summer event sets (2005-2008) at alpine karst springs were investigated in detail in order to evaluate the spectral absorption coefficient at 254nm (SAC254) as a real-time early warning proxy for fecal pollution. For the investigation Low-Earth-Orbit (LEO) Satellite-based data communication between portable hydro-meteorological measuring stations and an automated microbiological sampling device were used. This allowed a dissemination of the data via the internet and registered users could also download the data. It was demonstrated that it is possible to use SAC254 as a real-time proxy parameter for estimating the extent of fecal pollution after establishing specific spring and event-type calibrations that take into consideration the variability of the occurrence and the transferability of fecal material. To enhance the possibilities of such early warning systems, on-site analyses of the isotopic composition of the spring water were carried out isochronous with other hydrological parameters and with high time resolution. The new developed wavelength scanned Cavity Ring Down Spectroscope (CRDS) was adapted for on-site use. During snowmelt 2010, the system showed the whole dynamic of environmental isotopes, physicochemical and microbial parameters at the karst spring LKAS2.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationGroundwater Quality Sustainability
PublisherCRC Press
Pages89-100
Number of pages12
ISBN (Electronic)9780203137659
ISBN (Print)9780415698412
Publication statusPublished - 01 Jan 2012
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Environmental Science
  • General Engineering

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