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Water Quality

A stream does not comply with the Water Framework Directive (WFD), a swimming water site is experiencing blue-green algae blooms, or a ditch contains excessive concentrations of nitrogen and phosphate. Where does the pollution come from? Which sources have the greatest impact on water quality? And which measures actually yield results?

During this Blended Learning course, you’ll learn how to analyze these issues and support your findings using QGIS. You’ll combine water quality measurements, open geodata, satellite imagery, and hydrological analyses to identify the causes of reduced water quality. You will then translate these analyses into well-founded recommendations, appropriate measures, and effective action plans for water management, nature conservation, and compliance with the Water Framework Directive.

What problems can you solve using water quality analysis with QGIS?

  • Why does a stream, river, or lake fail to meet the requirements of the Water Framework Directive (WFD)?
  • Which point sources and non-point sources are causing elevated levels of nitrogen, phosphate, or other pollutants?
  • Which upstream areas and activities have the greatest impact on water quality?
  • Where do measures have the greatest impact on improving water quality?
  • How does water quality change under the influence of seasons, land use, and climate change?

During this Blended Learning course, you’ll learn how to analyze these issues and support your findings using QGIS. You’ll combine water quality measurements, open geodata, satellite imagery, and hydrological analyses to conduct source analysis and source tracing, and to identify the causes of reduced water quality. You will then translate these analyses into evidence-based recommendations, appropriate measures, and effective action plans for water management, nature conservation, and compliance with the Water Framework Directive.

The Theory Behind Water Quality

A thorough water quality analysis begins with an understanding of the processes that influence the quality of surface water. You will be introduced to key concepts such as nutrients, nitrogen, phosphate, oxygen content, turbidity, chlorophyll, ecology, and sediment transport.

You’ll also learn how point sources, non-point sources, runoff, sewer overflows, and land use affect water quality. You’ll also discover how upstream activities affect downstream waters. By understanding these processes, you’ll be able to not only perform analyses but also interpret them hydrologically, weigh different potential solutions, and translate them into reliable analyses, well-founded recommendations, and appropriate measures.

Working with Open Data and Water Quality Data

A reliable water quality analysis starts with the right data. That’s why you’ll work with up-to-date open datasets that are widely used by water authorities, provinces, municipalities, and consulting firms. You’ll become familiar with, among other things, WFD water bodies, Waterinfo, water quality measurements, AHN, BGT, land use data, OpenStreetMap, and satellite imagery.

You’ll learn how to combine different data sources to gain a comprehensive picture of a watershed. In addition, you’ll discover which datasets are suitable for various water quality issues and how this data can be used to analyze the current situation, conduct source analysis, identify trends, assess climate scenarios, and support decision-making.

Analyzing Water Quality in QGIS

After covering the theoretical basics, you’ll get hands-on experience in QGIS. You’ll learn to combine water quality measurements with watersheds, watercourses, elevation data, and land use to reveal spatial patterns.

You’ll perform analyses such as interpolation, hotspot analysis, buffer analysis, upstream analysis, and time-series analysis. You’ll also learn how these techniques are used for source analysis and source tracing, enabling you to identify point sources, diffuse sources, and upstream influences. You will compare different measures and scenarios to make informed decisions. The goal of the analysis is not only to highlight water quality issues but also to support decision-making and justify the most effective measures.

From Analysis to Informed Advice

During the Blended Learning program, you’ll work with realistic real-world examples and open datasets. You’ll step into the role of a water quality advisor and tackle issues similar to those encountered by water authorities, provinces, municipalities, and consulting firms. You’ll analyze the available data, conduct source analysis, evaluate potential measures, compare different solution scenarios, and justify which set of measures best suits the situation.

You’ll work on assignments such as:

  • A water authority wants to know why a WFD water body does not meet the established standards. Analyze the causes, identify the main sources, and justify possible measures.
  • A province is investigating which upstream agricultural areas have the greatest impact on nitrogen and phosphate pollution.
  • Analyze which point sources, non-point sources, and upstream areas contribute most to deteriorating water quality.
  • Compare various measures to improve water quality and assess their long-term impact.
  • Investigate how water quality evolves under various climate scenarios and changes in land use.
  • Develop a well-founded recommendation for a consulting firm on sustainable water quality management, including a map of promising measures and an appropriate package of measures.

Upon completion, you will have the practical skills to independently analyze water quality data, conduct source analysis and source tracing, and translate spatial analyses into concrete recommendations, appropriate measures, and well-founded decision-making for water management, nature conservation, and the Water Framework Directive.

Enroll

€395,-
  • Start: 1-hour online session
  • Self-study: Review course materials
  • End: 1-hour online session
Register for this course

You’ll receive 1-on-1 guidance. After signing up, our course coordinator will contact you to schedule your first session.

Learning Objectives

  • Analyze the causes of reduced water quality using QGIS, water quality measurements, open geodata, and satellite imagery.
  • Combine open datasets, such as WFD water bodies, Waterinfo, AHN, land-use data, and water quality measurements, to conduct spatial analyses of water quality issues.
  • Conduct water quality measurements, interpolations, hotspot analyses, and time-series analyses to identify sources of pollution, trends, and spatial patterns.
  • Conduct spatial analyses to substantiate the effects of various measures and climate scenarios on water quality.
  • Translate water quality analyses into concrete recommendations, appropriate measures, and evidence-based decision-making for water management, nature conservation, and the Water Framework Directive.

Want to know more?

Do you have questions about the course content? Or are you unsure whether the course aligns with your learning goals or preferences? Would you prefer an in-house or private course? We’d be happy to help.

FAQs: Blended Learning Course on Water Quality Analysis with QGIS

This blended learning course helps you analyze issues such as poor ecological water quality, elevated concentrations of nitrogen and phosphate, blue-green algae, non-point source pollution, and non-compliance with the Water Framework Directive (WFD). You’ll learn how to investigate and substantiate these issues using QGIS and open geodata.

With QGIS, you can combine water quality measurements, watersheds, land use, elevation data, and satellite imagery to reveal spatial patterns. This allows you to identify sources of pollution, analyze trends, and develop evidence-based recommendations for water management and nature conservation.

During the course, you will work with open datasets such as WFD water bodies, Waterinfo, AHN, BGT, OpenStreetMap, land-use data, water quality measurements, and satellite imagery. These datasets are widely used by water authorities, provinces, municipalities, and consulting firms for water quality analyses.

 

 

Yes. The course is well-aligned with issues related to the Water Framework Directive. You will learn how to analyze the causes of water quality problems, compare different measures, and translate the results into well-founded recommendations for sustainable water management.

Upon completion, you will be able to analyze water quality data, identify sources of pollution, recognize spatial patterns and trends, and translate the results into concrete recommendations, appropriate measures, and evidence-based decision-making for water management, nature conservation, and the Water Framework Directive.