Grant: Alliance Grants
University of Windsor
$222,267.00
Using real-time, continuous, and high-frequency water quality data to develop early warning systems for water security in the Great Lakes
FY 2023-24
Summary
Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are becoming more frequent and severe and are degrading Canada's lakes and rivers. HABs can produce chemicals that are toxic to humans, disrupting drinking water service, limiting recreational use of freshwater ecosystems, and compromising agriculture. These events can threaten the Canadian economy, which depends on clean, safe water. To better manage HABs outbreaks, Canada needs to 1) better understand the underlying factors that lead to outbreaks, 2) develop an early warning system that would help us predict and detect events early and quickly, and 3) create models that allow water utilities to ensure delivery of safe water to the public and agricultural industries. To accomplish these goals, we need a system that collects continuous real-time water quality data. We are proposing to use the Real-time Aquatic Ecosystem Observation Network (RAEON) to deploy real-time buoys and autonomous underwater vehicles that will regularly collect real-time data on nutrients and physical, chemical, and biological criteria in the western basin of Lake Erie. These data will be used to develop early warning indicators and water security models. Land use data, nutrient experiments, hydrologic modeling of water currents, and manual water collections will also be used to provide a comprehensive assessment to expand understanding of HAB dynamics. Biogeochemists, limnologists, engineers, and industry managers will work together on this project and will take a whole-system approach to understand how processes in the lake affect water quality. They will use that knowledge to deliver safe water to users, including the public and industry. Three private partners -- Union Water Supply System, InnovaSea, and Pro-Oceanus -- will help facilitate rapid uptake of methods and models into the water quality community. Environment and Climate Change Canada will participate to support development of management and policy for freshwater ecosystems. In addition, this collaboration includes four universities -- Windsor, Trent, Queen's and Toronto -- and will train 10 students in environmental research and technology.
Program
Alliance Grants
Recipient
Location
Ontario, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
555656-2020
Name nom
Fisk, Aaron AT
Department département
Environment, School of the
Organization id
37
Institution établissement
University of Windsor
Province en
Ontario
Province fr
Ontario
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2023
Competition year année de concours
2020
Award amount
222267
Program id
ALLRP
Program name en
Alliance Grants
Program name fr
Subventions Alliance
Group en
RESEARCH PARTNERSHIPS
Group fr
PARTENARIATS DE RECHERCHE
Committee code
96
Committee name en
RPP Internal Decision Cttee
Committee name fr
Cté de décision interne - PPR
Area of application code
1002
Area of application group en
Northern development
Area of application group fr
Développement du nord
Area of application en
Environment
Area of application fr
Environnement
Research subject code
1501
Research subject group en
Environmental engineering
Research subject group fr
Water quality, pollution
Research subject en
Génie de l'environnement
Research subject fr
Qualité de l'eau, pollution
Application title
Using real-time, continuous, and high-frequency water quality data to develop early warning systems for water security in the Great Lakes
Keyword
anoxia; environmental and civil engineering; freshwater; Great Lakes; harmful algal blooms; hydrodynamic modeling; limnology; nutrients; real-time monitoring; water security
Application summary
Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are becoming more frequent and severe and are degrading Canada's lakes and rivers. HABs can produce chemicals that are toxic to humans, disrupting drinking water service, limiting recreational use of freshwater ecosystems, and compromising agriculture. These events can threaten the Canadian economy, which depends on clean, safe water. To better manage HABs outbreaks, Canada needs to 1) better understand the underlying factors that lead to outbreaks, 2) develop an early warning system that would help us predict and detect events early and quickly, and 3) create models that allow water utilities to ensure delivery of safe water to the public and agricultural industries. To accomplish these goals, we need a system that collects continuous real-time water quality data. We are proposing to use the Real-time Aquatic Ecosystem Observation Network (RAEON) to deploy real-time buoys and autonomous underwater vehicles that will regularly collect real-time data on nutrients and physical, chemical, and biological criteria in the western basin of Lake Erie. These data will be used to develop early warning indicators and water security models. Land use data, nutrient experiments, hydrologic modeling of water currents, and manual water collections will also be used to provide a comprehensive assessment to expand understanding of HAB dynamics. Biogeochemists, limnologists, engineers, and industry managers will work together on this project and will take a whole-system approach to understand how processes in the lake affect water quality. They will use that knowledge to deliver safe water to users, including the public and industry. Three private partners -- Union Water Supply System, InnovaSea, and Pro-Oceanus -- will help facilitate rapid uptake of methods and models into the water quality community. Environment and Climate Change Canada will participate to support development of management and policy for freshwater ecosystems. In addition, this collaboration includes four universities -- Windsor, Trent, Queen's and Toronto -- and will train 10 students in environmental research and technology.
