ROADS-STORMWATER

Water Quality / NPDES

Water Quality

The Water Quality Section currently monitors (or collects surface water samples) on a quarterly basis (four times a year) at approximately 70 locations.  These locations include lakes, rivers, creeks and streams.  The information (water quality data) from these samples can be seen (as well as explained) on the Seminole Watershed Atlas, which can be found at www.seminole.wateratlas.org.  Starting in the fall of 2001, in addition to the water chemistry sampling program, the Water Quality staff will begin conducting biological monitoring/habitat assessments annually at five stream and river locations.  This type of monitoring is called SCI (Stream Conditions Index) or Rapid Bioassessment. 

This monitoring will include assessing impacts on in-stream habitats, as well as the surrounding habitats, types of habitats found, and identifying macroinvertebrates (insects and insect larvae) in the stream/river.  This type of assessment will give an overall picture of the health of the stream/river. FDEP, who developed this type of  assessment, has been training County staff on this assessment methodology.  This information, once collected, will also be available on the Seminole Watershed Atlas.