In the heart of Saskatchewan, a shallow lake named Buffalo Pound serves as a vital drinking water supply, but it’s also a dynamic ecosystem that can change rapidly, often too quickly for traditional sampling methods to capture. Enter Helen Baulch, a researcher from the University of Saskatchewan’s School of Environment and Sustainability and the Global Institute for Water Security, who has been diligently monitoring this lake for the past eight years using advanced sensor technology. Her work, recently published in ‘Data in Brief’ (which translates to ‘Brief Data’), offers a treasure trove of insights that could reshape how we understand and manage similar water bodies, with significant implications for the energy sector.
Buffalo Pound Lake, like many prairie lakes, is polymictic, meaning it mixes completely at various intervals throughout the year. This mixing can lead to rapid changes in water quality, which can have profound impacts on water treatment processes and, consequently, the energy sector. “Traditional sampling methods often miss these rapid changes,” Baulch explains. “But with sensor-based data, we can now understand these fluctuations in real-time, which is crucial for optimizing water treatment processes and reducing energy consumption.”
The monitoring buoy, equipped with a suite of sensors and a weather station, has been collecting high-frequency data on various parameters, including temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, and even the presence of cyanobacteria. These data can help predict and manage cyanobacterial blooms, which can significantly impact water treatment processes and energy use. “By understanding these changes, we can make our water treatment processes more efficient and reduce the energy footprint,” Baulch adds.
The dataset, spanning eight years of open water seasons, provides a comprehensive view of the lake’s thermal variation, chemical, and ecological changes. This long-term data can be instrumental in developing predictive models and management strategies for similar lakes, not just in Saskatchewan but around the world.
For the energy sector, this research could lead to more energy-efficient water treatment processes. By understanding the rapid changes in water quality, treatment facilities can adjust their processes in real-time, reducing energy consumption and costs. Moreover, by predicting and managing cyanobacterial blooms, facilities can avoid the energy-intensive process of treating contaminated water.
As we face a future with increasing water scarcity and climate change, understanding and managing our water resources efficiently is more critical than ever. Baulch’s research is a significant step in that direction, offering a blueprint for how sensor technology can be used to optimize water management and reduce energy use. It’s a testament to how technology and science can come together to tackle some of our most pressing environmental challenges.