About This Course

This course is designed to allow flexible learning for people who are engaged in the water quality sector and who wish to understand the reasons and potential for including particulate matter in a water quality monitoring programme. Particulate matter is a natural component of water bodies, but its presence and behaviour can be affected by human activities. This short course introduces the composition and behaviour of particulate matter in water bodies and how human activities can affect these. Many contaminants can be associated with particulate matter, hence including particulate matter in a water quality monitoring programme can assist with understanding origins, transport and potential impacts of contaminants in water bodies. Examples are presented where particulate matter has been included in water quality monitoring programmes to provide additional information for management purposes.