DCU and UCC are collaborating on a continuous water-monitoring sensor that has many potential applications, writes ÁINE BIRD.
HOW DO YOU know the water you are drinking is clean? A group of researchers from Dublin City University hope to give you this information in minutes - rather than the days currently required to test water purity.
Water quality can change abruptly in wells and in the surface water sources that feed group schemes. For this reason rapid test results are important in order to protect consumers' health.
Currently water samples have to be collected and then sent to labs for analysis which can mean vital time is lost when a problem arises.
However, a research group from Dublin City University has developed and recently demonstrated a new water sensor technique which can provide instant results.
"We have been developing new sensor technologies which include networked sensors. These are like sensors with greater intelligence that can talk to each other," explains Dr Fiona Regan, senior lecturer in analytical science in DCU.
"The National Centre for Sensor Research there has been developing sensor technologies for many years. The Marine Institute was interested in developing new techniques for water-testing and we were lucky enough to be included in researching this."
The work involves collaboration between industry, State agencies and academics. The consortium has worked well, Dr Regan suggests. The agencies indicate which technologies are required, the academics can then research these technologies, hopefully leading to the eventual development of the product by the industry partners.
The Tyndall National Institute at University College Cork is working with the DCU team on the project.
The industry involvement is through two companies, the National Microelectronics Applications Centre Ltd, a prototype development company in Limerick, and Marine Informatics, specialists in water quality monitoring in Killaloe, Co Clare.
The two agencies involved, who will potentially be end-users of the new technology, are the Marine Institute and the South West Regional Authority. Funding comes from the Marine Institute and also the Environmental Protection Agency.
A demonstration of the new technology was held last Thursday in the River Lee in Co Cork.
"Ultimately we would hope that the sensors will be available commercially. The demonstration will show the users what the advantages are," says Regan.
"We have a system in place in Inniscarra Pump House, which is 5km north of Ballincollig. We have one system in the river and another in the pump house."
The team hopes that when potential users see the system in place they will realise how easy it is to use. "We'll be able to show people the system, say 'these are the sensors' and hopefully then they'll see they are not as unattainable as they might think."
One of the huge advantages is that the sensor system gives immediate results. "The sensors provide what we call real-time data. This means that people will be able to see data from that day." The sensors will provide readings for various parameters including turbidity [cloudiness], pH [acidity] and temperature.
"Currently legislation sets the time-frame for water-sampling, depending on the parameters under investigation. Samples may be taken monthly or twice yearly, for example," she explains.
"These samples are then sent to labs to be measured. With some of our sensors samples can be taken every 30 minutes."
The demonstration last week in the Lee assessed a freshwater environment. "Potentially we will be able to investigate any water quality. We're not restricted to freshwater. In the future we could look at water quality in estuaries or other water bodies," she adds.
Potential applications range from protecting drinking and bathing water to helping farmers comply with new water regulations.
Considering environmental protection strategies, including the Water Framework Directive, this system could prove very useful in the future, she says.