Compilation of Lincoln University water quality monitoring data for Lake Ellesmere/Te Waihora catchment 1993 - 2011

Abstract

This report outlines the development of a database to house all of the water quality that has been collected by Lincoln University’s Department of Environmental Management or associated groups; Waterwatch and Lincoln Envirotown Trust, over the period 1993-2011. The database itself is available as a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, and is partly reproduced in hardcopy in the appendices of this report. Data include; location, weather conditions , flow, temperature, pH, conductivity, total dissolved solids, total hardness, dissolved oxygen, dissolved carbon dioxide, soluble and total phosphate, nitrate and total nitrogen, ammonia, turbidity, suspended solids, oxygen demand and microbiology (mainly faecal coliforms & E. Coli). Some macro-invertebrate data is available, but has not been included due to inconsistencies in measurement methodology and reporting. A detailed description of the data and how it has been derived is included, as well as examples of how the data can be used to show temporal and spatial trends.