Measuring the unseen: mobilizing citizen scientists to monitor groundwater in Nepal

"Community strengthening through citizen monitoring of water quality: A systematic review"

Citizen participation in decision-making is a fundamental democratic pillar of democracy. However, the degree of citizen involvement and recognition by governmental institutions may be conditioned by the level of competence and knowledge demonstrated. Therefore, carrying out collective projects can contribute to strengthening citizen engagement in water management issues. Nonetheless, there is limited knowledge about the various types of citizen engagement and the practices that have facilitated greater inclusion in decision-making regarding water resources. This study aims to identify and analyze practices that strengthen water community organizations through citizen monitoring-based involvement. A systematic literature review was conducted using the PRISMA method. The research was guided by the following questions: What are the differences in the level of citizen involvement and the degree of transformation facilitated by citizen monitoring of water quality (CMWQ) between the global North and South? What practices strengthen community organizations in decision-making based on CMWQ? Moreover, what challenges do community water organization structures community water organization structures face when based on CMWQ? A total of 161 publications were identified for the analysis of critical themes. After applying the eligibility criteria, 33 documents were selected for content analysis. The reviewed monitoring exercises indicate that the highest level of citizen organization achieved by participants is commonly recognized as "Water Committees". One practice that strengthens these committees is the generation of collaboration agreements among different types of allies, based on a shared objective. However, in the Global South and at the institutional level, there is still resistance to water quality data generated by citizen monitors, especially in regions with large-scale open-pit mining projects. To sustain the efforts of community figures, monitoring programs with public funding need to be established, and public policies supporting these initiatives at the institutional level must be implemented.

Citizen scientists' engagement in flood risk-related data collection: a case study in Bui River Basin, Vietnam

Time constraints, financial limitations, and inadequate tools restrict the flood data collection in undeveloped countries, especially in the Asian and African regions. Engaging citizens in data collection and contribution has the potential to overcome these challenges. This research demonstrates the applicability of citizen science for gathering flood risk-related data on residential flooding, land use information, and flood damage to paddy fields for the Bui River Basin in Vietnam. Locals living in or around flood-affected areas participated in data collection campaigns as citizen scientists using self-investigation or investigation with a data collection app, a web form, and paper forms. We developed a community-based rainfall monitoring network in the study area using low-cost rain gauges to draw locals' attention to the citizen science program. Fifty-nine participants contributed 594 completed questionnaires and measurements for four investigated subjects in the first year of implementation. Five citizen scientists were active participants and contributed more than 50 completed questionnaires or measurements, while nearly 50% of citizen scientists participated only one time. We compared the flood risk-related data obtained from citizen scientists with other independent data sources and found that the agreement between the two datasets on flooding points, land use classification, and the flood damage rate to paddy fields was acceptable (overall agreement above 73%). Rainfall monitoring activities encouraged the participants to proactively update data on flood events and land use situations during the data collection campaign. The study's outcomes demonstrate that citizen science can help to fill the gap in flood data in data-scarce areas.

Groundwater Monitoring through Citizen Science: A Review of Project Designs and Results

Citizen science is increasingly prominent in the field of freshwater monitoring. Although there is a large body of literature related to surface water monitoring, less experience exists regarding citizen-based monitoring of groundwater resources. This calls for a better understanding of the actual experiences of citizen science in the field of groundwater monitoring, including specific project designs and results. Based on a systematic review of 33 citizen-based groundwater monitoring activities, we analyze (1) the design of citizen science projects, including their general project characteristics, institutional characteristics, citizen characteristics, and forms of interactions, as well as (2) their results, including their data outputs, outcomes on citizens, and impacts on problem-solving. Results show that projects mainly have positive results on data quantity and quality and partly influence the citizens themselves and their contributions to groundwater-related problem-solving. Information on project design characteristics is scarce and mostly hints at the relevance of specific process mechanisms such as training and feedback. Based on these results, we suggest groundwater-related projects to consider involving citizen scientists in monitoring activities in order to benefit research and citizens alike. Such involvement needs, however, careful design including relevant training to unfold its full potential for both sides. Researchers are advised here to rigorously report on both design and results to further improve citizen science practice in the future.