Rapid Surface Water Data Collection Across 61 Sites in the State of Hawaiʻi

The Hawaiʻi Department of Health (HDOH) needed to rapidly collect consistent, high-quality surface water data from rivers and streams in fire-prone areas across the state. The geographically dispersed monitoring effort required field teams to mobilize across five islands within a compressed timeframe while maintaining standardized sampling procedures, rigorous quality control, safe field practices, and careful coordination of sample handling and laboratory delivery.

ERG rapidly mobilized multiple field crews to conduct a coordinated statewide surface water monitoring effort across Hawaiʻi. Over approximately one week, ERG teams deployed to 61 monitoring sites across Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Molokaʻi, Maui, and Hawaiʻi Island, navigating complex field logistics and varying site conditions to collect water quality information from rivers and streams in fire-prone areas.

To support consistent data collection across multiple crews and islands, ERG developed and implemented a comprehensive field standard operating procedure covering site assessment, sample collection and preservation, in situ water quality measurements, equipment calibration, quality control, sample management and shipment, and field documentation. ERG also used a customized ArcGIS Survey123 application to standardize electronic field data collection, document site conditions and sampling locations, capture photographs, and record water quality measurements.

ERG coordinated daily sampling routes, site access, field equipment, laboratory sample kits, quality control samples, and time-sensitive sample shipments while maintaining communication among field crews, project management staff, and analytical laboratories. This integrated approach enabled ERG to execute a complex, multi-island monitoring campaign on an accelerated schedule while maintaining consistent procedures and data quality across the statewide effort.