title: Multi-dimensional water quality assessment of an urban drinking water source elucidated by high resolution underwater towed vehicle mapping.
abstract: Spatial surveys of Ramsey Lake, Sudbury, Ontario water quality were conducted using an innovative underwater towed vehicle (UTV) equipped with a multi-parameter probe providing real-time water quality data. The UTV revealed underwater vent sites through high resolution monitoring of different spatial chemical characteristics using common sensors (turbidity, chloride, dissolved oxygen, and oxidation/reduction sensors) that would not be feasible with traditional water sampling methods. Multi-parameter probe vent site identification is supported by elevated alkalinity and silica concentrations at these sites. The identified groundwater vent sites appear to be controlled by bedrock fractures that transport water from different sources with different contaminants of concern. Elevated contaminants, such as, arsenic and nickel and/or nutrient concentrations are evident at the vent sites, illustrating the potential of these sources to degrade water quality.
authors.affiliation: Environmental and Life Sciences Graduate Program, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada; MIRARCO, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. Electronic address: alock@laurentian.ca.
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lock
authors.affiliation: MIRARCO, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada; School of the Environment, Departments of Chemistry, Earth Sciences and Biology, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Graeme
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Spiers
authors.affiliation: Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, Australia.
authors.forename: Blair
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hostetler
authors.affiliation: Aquapath Canada Limited, Temagami, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ray
authors.affiliation: Environmental and Resource Sciences Program, Department of Chemistry and Water Quality Centre, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wallschläger
mesh_terms: D001151:Arsenic / Q000032:analysis; D002947:Cities; D060766:Drinking Water / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005843:Geography; D060587:Groundwater / Q000032:analysis*; D060106:Lakes / Q000737:chemistry; D009532:Nickel / Q000032:analysis; D009864:Ontario; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012621:Seasons; D013696:Temperature; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis; D060753:Water Quality / Q000592:standards*
chemical_list: D060766:Drinking Water; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D009532:Nickel; D001151:Arsenic
keywords: Monitoring; Source water protection; UTV; Vent detection; Water quality