PYTR Class

Learning Objectives

1. Outline the measure of water footprint
2. Analyse the roles citizen science involving water system investigations

---

Part 1: Water Footprint

Water Footprint: A Measure of Water Use and Sustainability

• A water footprint measures water use by individuals, nations, businesses, or industries such as agriculture and manufacturing.
• It helps assess sustainability and informs decision-making on water security.
• Water footprints relate water use to human consumption, considering the total freshwater used to produce goods and services.
• Originally, water use was measured from the production side, but now includes virtual water trade, where products are consumed in different countries from where they are produced.
• Introduced in 2002, water footprints track both the quantity and location of water consumption.

Global Water Footprint Statistics

• Average global water footprint per person = 1,385 m³ per year.
  • India has the largest total footprint = 987 Gm³ per year
  • The USA has the highest per capita footprint = 2,842 m³ per person per year

Challenges and Misinterpretations of Water Footprint

• Water footprints can sometimes be misleading:
• High footprints may suggest overconsumption and environmental risks, but low footprints in dry areas can also be problematic.
  • A high footprint in a water-abundant area may not be an issue.
  • A lower footprint in an arid region can still indicate water scarcity concerns.
• Water footprints also consider water quality, including pollution levels, which impact long-term sustainability.
• An area must have both an ample supply of water and good water quality to sustain consumption and production.

Part 2: The Roles of Citizen Science in Water Systems

Citizen Science and Water Quality Monitoring

• Citizen science, also known as community science or crowdsourced science, involves members of the public conducting research to support scientific projects.
• Participants use standardised methods, ensuring open-access and high-quality data.
• A key advantage is the ability to collect data on a much larger scale than professional researchers alone.
• Citizen science is increasingly used in water resource monitoring and management.
• The availability of affordable water quality monitoring equipment makes field studies more accessible, reducing reliance on laboratory testing.

---

Example: Citizen Science in Killarney, Ireland

• A study with 26 citizen scientists from St. Brendan’s College, Killarney, examined water quality in:
  • River Deenagh (good ecological status)
  • Folly Stream (declining water quality).
• Their data was compared with laboratory results to assess accuracy.

Relevance to Global Water Quality Monitoring

• UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Indicator 6.3.2 tracks the proportion of water bodies with good ambient water quality.
• The United Nations recognises citizen science as a valuable tool for monitoring and improving global water quality.

Findings from the Killarney Study

• Citizen scientists accurately measured:
  • Orthophosphates (dissolved phosphorus)
  • Nitrates
• Less agreement with lab results data in:
  • Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)
  • pH levels
• Results were more reliable in cleaner water bodies (River Deenagh) and less reliable in polluted water bodies (Folly Stream).
• Digital measurement tools provided more accurate data than colour-based test kits, which were more subjective.

Effectiveness of Citizen Science

• Numerous studies confirm that citizen scientists can collect data comparable in quality to professional scientists, given proper training, resources, and well-designed methodologies.