Overview
Constituent monitoring tracks water quality data at designated sampling points on a site. It manages monitoring locations (where you sample), monitoring events (when you sample), and monitoring records (what you measured).
Monitoring locations
A monitoring location is a specific point where samples are collected. Each monitoring location has a name, a type, and coordinates. The type options are set in the Site Profile's Constituent Monitoring settings. Monitoring locations with coordinates appear as markers on the site's map.
Monitoring events
A monitoring event groups multiple sampling records from the same sampling occasion. Events are automatically managed: they're created when you add your first record and deleted if the last record is removed.
⚠️ Deleting the last record in an event also deletes the event.
Monitoring records
Each monitoring record captures a single measurement:
Identifier: sample identifier.
Constituent: what was measured (for example, pH, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, heavy metals). Constituents are configured in your admin settings.
Value: the numeric result of the test. Supports decimal values for high-precision lab results.
Type: Field (on-site measurement) or Lab (laboratory analysis).
Method: the testing method used, chosen from the analysis methods set for the constituent. The field is hidden when the constituent has none.
How monitoring data is used
Report templates can include a Monitoring Locations Field Group or a Monitoring Records Field Group, which can prepopulate from the site's current monitoring locations.
Constituent data supports permit compliance tracking.
FAQ
Q: What constituents can I track?
A: Constituents are configured in your admin settings. Common examples include pH, turbidity, temperature, dissolved oxygen, total suspended solids, and various metals and chemicals.
Q: Can monitoring locations appear on the map?
A: Yes. Monitoring locations with coordinates display as markers on the parent site's map.
Q: What's the difference between Field and Lab analysis?
A: Field means the measurement was taken on-site (for example, with a portable pH meter). Lab means the sample was sent to a laboratory for analysis.