Monitoring Water Quality of Aquatic Ecosystems: Implications for Sustainability

Recent years have seen an increase in the anthropogenic disturbance and trophic perturbation of aquatic ecosystems (such as rivers, lakes, and wetlands). Aquatic ecosystems are increasingly acting as a sink and conduit for anthropogenic pollution. The detailed extent and impact of this remain unclear due to major deficits in our capability, capacity, and willingness to adequately monitor ambient water quality at scale. To reverse this trend, and to understand our ability to restore and return ambient water bodies to a more sustainable baseline, a societal commitment is needed to increase monitoring of freshwaters globally. Monitoring the water quality of aquatic ecosystems in response to anthropogenic activities and future climate change is crucial for sustainable management of freshwater ecosystems. Of particular note, the water sector is rapidly going digital, offering new opportunities for better modelling and surveillance. Enhanced water quality monitoring provides a unique and affordable way for the early warning of anomalies—both natural and man-made. In the 21st century, freshwater ecosystems are under intense pressure due to anthropogenic activities and climate change, especially the sewage ingress, pollution, agriculture practices, and surface runoff. All these stressors have a negative impact on aquatic ecosystems, causing the degradation of water quality. Hence, constant monitoring of aquatic ecosystems plays a significant role as a part of the rapid response system to adverse changes in freshwater environments.
The goal of this research topic is to integrate the monitoring and assessment of aquatic ecosystems for ecological and environmental indicators with management practices. The research topic would provide insights into various conventional and modern methods of monitoring water quality to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the methods. The welcome methods include the Internet of Things (IoT), virtual sensing, cyber-physical system (CPS), and optical techniques. The goal of this collection is to advance knowledge on the benefits of monitoring water quality of aquatic ecosystems and reclamation strategies in the face of anthropogenic activities and changing climate. Ideally, the health of all freshwater bodies should be monitored to some degree to ensure sustainable use, and to safeguard the ecological communities and human populations that depend on high-quality freshwater. It is our contention that effective monitoring of global freshwaters is a prerequisite for sustainable development, healthy societies and environment. Indeed, the importance of guaranteed availability of good quality water supplies as a prerequisite to stable, equitable, and sustainable societies, recognized in the UN sustainable development goals.
This Research Topic aims to promote discussion, debate, and the formation of workable solutions that will contribute to desirable water quality of aquatic ecosystems considering the current significance of these growing concerns. We welcome original contributions, mini-reviews, reviews and critical reviews including the following themes:

- Modelling of water quality in aquatic ecosystems;

-Monitoring of water quality in aquatic ecosystems;

-Assessment of water quality in aquatic ecosystems.

Keywords: Anthropogenic activities, Pollution, Sewage, Water quality, Land use cover, Aquatic ecosystems

Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.