Designing a Robust and Successful Water Quality Study – Online – April 6th, 2026

Whether you are working in environmental consulting, regulatory compliance, or resource management, the ability to design an effective monitoring plan is essential. This MicroCourse will introduce proven methods for identifying key water quality issues, selecting appropriate indicators, and defining the purpose of sampling. We’ll discuss how to identify stakeholders or clients, determine what parameters should be measured, and translate your objectives into a practical, effective sampling design.

Participants will gain a solid framework for creating a robust water quality study that produces reliable, actionable results. This training is ideal for environmental professionals, researchers, and decision-makers seeking to improve their study designs or refine their monitoring strategies.

Course length: 4 hours

Program Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, you will be able to:

1. Identify and prioritize key water quality issues for a defined water body using provided site data and stakeholder objectives.
2. Define the purpose and scope of a water quality study based on the study objectives and spatial boundaries.
3. Select appropriate water quality indicators that align with identified issues and study objectives.
4. Determine sampling requirements by specifying parameters, sampling frequency and locations.
5. Develop a practical monitoring plan that integrates study objectives, selected indicators, and sampling design into a clear, actionable study outline.