One of the recent trend which ...

One of the recent trend which is rapidly evolving in intergrative watershed management system and planning is the use of citizen science approach (Little, et al, 2016). They proposed a collaborative monitoring of underground water using a community-based ground water network. The results of these applications was that valuable information about the water conditions typically the level of underground aquifers in relation to the water extraction practices were availed for public consumption especially researchers and municipal water authority. The community volunteers especillay scientists, teachers and students having been trained were able to collect and enter measurement data to a web-based designed portal for a widespread easy access. Moreover, active community participation in monitoring water resources complements governmentwide water resource monitoring and planning and nurtures community water ownership. These promotes sustainable water conservation, extraction, wastage and contamination of available water sources.

The above approach was implemented in Rocky View County of Alberta, Canada and it has proven to be adoptable by any community and municipalities provided adequate training, advocacy and motivation are conducted both by the government, water practitioners, researchers and private water providers to the targeted water consumers.

Reference

Little et ,al , 2016;  Community-Based Groundwater Monitoring Network Using a citizen Approach , Ground water 54 no. 3:317-324