1 Proposed Adoption of Biological and Toxicological Water Quality Data Elements and WQDE Guide LeAnne Astin Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin Herb Brass USEPA Office of Water September 14, 2005 Presented to: ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON WATER INFORMATION

2 OUTLINE OF THIS PRESENTATION What are water quality data elements and why are they important? Why do we need to add biological and toxicological data elements? Recommend that ACWI approve and publish: –Data Elements for Reporting Water Quality Results of Biological (population and community) and Toxicological Analytes –Guide: Data Elements for Reporting Water Quality Monitoring Results for Chemical, Biological, Toxicological, and Microbiological Analytes Data elements and Guide approved by the National Water Quality Monitoring Council and Methods and Data Comparability Board

3 WHAT ARE WATER QUALITY DATA ELEMENTS? Information about data that answer basic questions to facilitate data sharing: Who? (Which organizations are responsible?) What? (What was monitored & found?) Where? (Where was the monitoring done?) When? (When was the monitoring done?) Why? (Why was the monitoring conducted?) How? (How was the sampling/ testing done?)

4 WHY DO WE NEED WATER QUALITY DATA ELEMENTS Data cannot be interpreted by anyone but its owner unless it is explained by metadata Because no single group can collect all the data needed to understand and deal with the complexities of natural systems, we must learn to share data effectively FGDC (2000) : "Data producers and users cannot afford to be without documented data” “

5 WHY DO WE NEED WATER QUALITY DATA ELEMENTS GAO (2004): “[recommend] development of clear guidance on metadata standards so that data users can integrate data from various sources” Many different biological sampling and analysis methods being used in the U.S. – Current documentation/reporting inconsistent Needed to guide database designs “

6 BENEFITS OF COMMON SET OF DATA ELEMENTS Provide the basis for common documentation Can share with confidence Compare results more readily Facilitate more effective and economical use of monitoring resources at all levels

7 OBJECTIVE To develop and recommend a “core” set of data elements for reporting water quality monitoring results, to be voluntarily implemented, that would allow data to be compared regardless of, but recognizing, the purpose of the monitoring activity

8 DATA ELEMENTS ARE ORGANIZED BY MODULES 1.0 Contact 2.0 Results 3.0 Reason for Sampling 4.0 Date/Time 5.0 Location 6.0 Sample Collection 7.0 Sample Analysis

9 CHEMICAL AND MICROBIOLOGICAL DATA ELEMENTS Original Workgroup Included-Local, State, Federal, Private Sector, Research Organizations Austin TX NWQMC Workshop in over 60 participants from all types of organizations Incorporated public comments from 36 organizations Federal Register notice and three public meetings ACWI approved chemical and microbiological data elements May 15, 2001

10 ACWI-APPROVED DATA ELEMENTS ARE BEING USED Adapted by: –Pacific NW Data Exchange –Delaware River Basin Commission –California State Water Resources Control Board Basis for new EPA Environmental Sampling, Analysis and Results (ESAR) data standard –In the Federal Register seeking public comments –Expected to be the basis for the successor to STORET, the WQX

11 WHY DO WE NEED BIOLOGY? Many environmental objectives are directly related to questions of biological condition Biological and toxicological data integrate water quality factors, providing unique information regarding condition Many different biological sampling and analysis methods being used in the U.S. –current documentation/reporting inconsistent Key water monitoring programs in the U.S. include a strong biological component –NAWQA, EMAP, states/tribes, National Fish Tissue Study, National Coastal Assessment, Status and Trends Program, Wadeable Stream Assessment –National Monitoring Network will have a strong biological focus

12 Biological Data Elements “Biological” = ecological and toxicological Biological assessment (bioassessment) evaluates conditions of waterbody using biosurveys & other direct measurements of resident biota Toxicology (ecotoxicology) studies the harmful effects of chemicals on biota in the context of the natural environment: –biomonitoring: evaluation of effects using ecological indicators, populations, etc. –bioassays: evaluates toxicity of water sample or waterbody

13 BIOLOGICAL AND TOXICOLOGICAL DATA ELEMENTS BUILD UPON THE CURRENTLY APPROVED LIST Incorporates many data elements from the current approved list Includes some unique elements that were recommended over a 3-year consensus process Developed in conjunction with numerous local, state, federal, and private sector water- quality sampling entities

14 Who Where When Why What Drives the “How” and the “What” Chem/MicroBioassessmentToxicity Chemical WQDE useful for reporting toxicological data Sample collection WQDE useful for reporting organism contaminant data Sample processing WQDE useful for reporting ambient toxicity data These Modules have data elements common to all types of monitoring data WQDE Organized using a Modular Framework

15 How Example: Toxicological Data Elements Sample Collection temperature of sample [others same as for population /community] Sample Processing temperature at lab [others same as for population/community] Analysis test method used test duration statistical methods used laboratory certifications organism weight, length elements from population /community elements QA/QC - negative control results - control replicate precision - minimum significant difference value reference toxicant test results; QC flags; method issues

16 WATER QUALITY DATA ELEMENTS GUIDE Initiated in 2003 to provide: –Definitions of the chemical and microbiological data elements –Documentation of the process used to develop the data elements –Suggestions on how data elements should be used by water quality monitoring programs Explains the logic and importance of the ACWI data elements

17 WATER QUALITY DATA ELEMENTS GUIDE Encourages data collectors and data users to use data elements as a means to help identify key metadata needed to improve data sharing Contains a consolidated list of data elements for chemical, microbiological, population/community, and toxicological analytes monitoring Further refined in 2004 and 2005 incorporating comments from the NWQMC and the MDCB: –Updated case study examples where ACWI-approved data elements are being incorporated –Information regarding implementation of WQDE in programs –Incorporates discussion of modular concept and additional biological and toxicological data elements

18 Proposed Resolution for ACWI Be it Resolved that the Advisory Committee on Water Information adopts: The Data Elements for Reporting Water Quality Results of Toxicity Tests and Assessments of Biological Populations and Communities and recommends these new data element modules to all Federal agencies and other entities engaged in water quality data collection. And approves for publication: The Guide: Data Elements for Reporting Water Quality Monitoring Results for Chemical, Biological, Toxicological, and Microbiological Analytes