Synoptic monitoring of water quality and water resources. A suggestion on population and sampling approaches

Abstract

When results from monitoring surveys of water quality in rivers or lakes are presented, the results are often generalized to statements of water quality in a larger river structure or to ‘waters’ within some geographical area of interest. Such generalizations are often performed informally without applications of statistical methods for data collection or estimation. The population to which the generalizations are referred is not always well-defined. Two possible definitions of populations, one in terms of water volume and the other in terms of water momentum can be suggested. A sampling and estimation procedure is possible by which sample points can be selected and averages and proportions can be estimated in the two populations.