Project
Summary:
Ground and surface water resources are essential for human health, economic productivity and social development. They are a recyclable but finite resource,
and with careful use and treatment can be managed in a sustainable manner. Increased groundwater pumping, due to the development of agricultural and industrial
activities as well as increasing population pressures, result into the dramatic decrease of water resources, in addition to the associated deterioration
of water quality. Effective water resource management depends on high quality data from different sources, of which water quality analysis is one of the most
important. In general, water quality instrumentation has failed to keep pace with the technological advances of the 1990's. The SMEs in this project have been
working together to develop a new, multi-variable analysis tool, which would be capable of giving a water quality analysis in situ at a glance, at a substantially
lower cost compared to traditional monitoring techniques. This project will use as a starting point the experience developed by SMEs in water analysis, water
management and equipment development, complemented by the essential input of the RTD performers. This CRAFT project aims at the development of an integrated
water monitoring tool, in the form of a probe which can be inserted in boreholes, to measure and monitor up to 15 parameters simultaneously. The device will also
be able to be used for long term monitoring at selected sites. The proposed technology is non-invasive, with very low environmental impact. Especially difficult-to-access
locations such as deep well environments are an ideal application for this latest innovation. The data output from this device will be of use to a wide range of
end users, from water suppliers, pisciculture and agriculture associations' managers, local and national authorities and environmental 0rganisations,
and also for engineering groups involved in water treatment and sewage water utilization.
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Dr Stefan Gödeke