DCU Water Institute, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland; DCU School of History and Geography, Dublin City University, St Patrick's Campus, Drumcondra, Dublin 9, Ireland.
DCU Water Institute, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland.
Sci Total Environ. 2021 Aug 20;783:146953. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146953. Epub 2021 Apr 8.
This study investigates water quality along the river Liffey in Dublin city with the help of citizen scientists, including the community of river users such as paddle boarders and those accessing the river from the bank. The primary objective was to evaluate water quality near sources of pollution observed by citizens, while filling data gaps for the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6, Indicator 6.3.2. The participants used field chemistry kits to measure nitrate (NO₃-N) and phosphate (PO₄-P) at 19 locations on a monthly basis over the course of nine months, recording the results on a smartphone app. 10% of nitrate samples were indicative of low quality water values while 35.6% of phosphate samples were indicative of low quality water. Rainfall over the study period was analysed to investigate the impact of run-off from rainwater on the river. Results indicated that excessive rainfall was not a factor in lower water quality in this area. Citizen scientists' observational notes and photographs entered onto the database, with accompanying test results were key to highlighting pollution sources at specific locations which correlated with high levels of nitrate and phosphate resulting in low quality water. Land use was a factor in these areas of recent housing development indicating possible domestic misconnections. Citizen scientist data has the potential to fulfil UN SDG 6, in contributing to Indicator 6.3.2 while detecting contamination.
本研究在公民科学家的帮助下，对都柏林市利菲河的水质进行了调查，其中包括划桨者等河流使用者以及从河岸进入河流的社区。主要目的是评估公民观察到的污染源附近的水质，同时填补联合国（UN）可持续发展目标（SDG）6 指标 6.3.2 的数据空白。参与者使用现场化学试剂盒每月在 19 个地点测量硝酸盐（NO₃-N）和磷酸盐（PO₄-P），并在智能手机应用程序上记录结果。10%的硝酸盐样本表明水质值较低，而 35.6%的磷酸盐样本表明水质值较低。分析了研究期间的降雨量，以调查雨水径流对河流的影响。结果表明，在该地区，过量降雨不是水质较低的一个因素。公民科学家的观测记录和照片输入数据库，并附有相应的测试结果，这是突出特定地点污染来源的关键，这些地点的硝酸盐和磷酸盐含量较高，导致水质较差。土地利用是这些最近住房开发区域的一个因素，表明可能存在家庭连接错误。公民科学家的数据有可能通过检测污染来实现联合国可持续发展目标 6，并为指标 6.3.2 做出贡献。
