Groundwater quality monitoring overview

A study was made to develop an approach to designing a groundwater-quality network for implementation by Mexico's Comisión Nacional del Agua (CNA) under support funding from The World Bank's (1996) PROMMA program. The network-design conceptualization and guidelines were based in part upon review of CNA's past and existing monitoring programs in measurement of water levels as well as measurements and analyses of groundwater quality. The principal focus used for this network-design framework rather was derived from identification of specific monitoring-program information needs. Also, a detailed review has been made of available reports and technical materials describing the nature, extent, and management of Mexico's groundwater resources and groundwater-quality impacts. This physical-based approach complemented a socioeconomic-based methodology being developed concurrently. Specific selection criteria and recommendations were made regarding network design components, in terms of monitoring locations, scheduling, and variables (parameters). Understandably, this preliminary design methodology, when implemented, should take into consideration somewhat realistic levels of effort that are judged to be fiscally sustainable by CNA over the near term. Moreover, some guidance also is provided in the case of fiscal or capacity-building limits of monitoring-program efforts.