1.   Purpose and objectives

     Environmental follow-up of water quality data (industrial effluent loadings, concentrations in lakes and rivers). Non-parametric trend detection study of the exceedence of water quality criteria.

2.   Description

     The software written in FORTRAN performs the following tasks:

     - local or remote acquisition of data of interest (concentrations,
       flow, loadings);
       
     - graphical representation of original data;

     - study of sampling frequencies, elimination of periods with no data 
       (months and/or years), search for seasonalities and for 
       concentration-discharge rating curve;

     - choice of a working interval, of a method for filling-in missing  
       data; search for a possible persistence from inertia graphs (mass
       curves and CUSUM functions) suggesting monotonic or stepwise trends, 
       as well as the time-point of change. Presentation of the most 
       appropriate non-parametric trend test, given the recognised
       structure of the data;

     - running of the test and diagnostics;

     - synthesis of the data characteristics and of the chosen options, then 
       parametric interpretation of the results:

     - slope of the trend, date of change, initial and final levels;

     - statistical study of the exceedence of quality criteria (Intensity- 
       duration-frequency curves).

     The graphics interfaces to the monitor and to the printer are provided with the package.

3.   Input

     Remote access by modem to the NAQUADAT data bank; entry with the creation of an ASCII file.

4.   Output

     CGA or EGA monitor, Epson printers, creation of result files.

5.   Operational requirements and restrictions

     PC compatible microcomputer with hard disk.

6.   Form of presentation

     User’s manual, detailed methodology with technical abstracts of the tests (in French only) 122 p. Programs on 5.25 or 3.5 inch diskettes.

7.   Operational experience

     In use at Conservation and Protection, Environment-Canada, Quebec  region.

8.   Originator and technical support

     Professor Daniel Cluis, INRS-Eau, Sainte Foy, Quebec, Canada.

9.   Availability

     From the HOMS National Reference Centre for Canada.

10.  Conditions on use

     Run-time programs freely available.