In-situ Total Nutrient Analyser System for Natural Waters
Real-time water quality management plays a key role in the transition to a more ecologically sustainable society. With ever-changing climate and human-influenced conditions affecting our lakes, rivers, streams and coastal waters, water quality needs to be consistently monitored, and any quality issues should be flagged at the earliest possible stages.
Traditionally, water quality monitoring relies on manual systems of data collection, otherwise known as grab sampling. Collected in an open container or bottle, samples are sent to a laboratory for analysis. Although the process is well established, it is time consuming: analysis results are released after several days and only represent snapshots of the various measured variables, rendering it difficult to compare or assess their values over time. Furthermore, the complexity, short deployment endurance and high cost of current in situ monitoring systems make them impractical, especially when it comes to small-scale operations. T.E. Laboratories, which specialises in water and environmental analysis and research, demonstrated an alternative to manual and in situ systems of data collection and sampling. “A new breed of autonomous, real-time analyser, Aquamonitrix®, was introduced to the market in 2021 that can measure nitrite and nitrate in situ with high accuracy and specificity in natural and industrial waters,” explains Sandra Lacey, research officer at T.E. Laboratories.