Langport: Great Bow Bridge on River Parret. Photo: Martin BodmanSpecial monitoring stations are being installed on three Somerset rivers to give Environment Agency scientists early warning of water quality problems.
The stations will automatically monitor dissolved oxygen levels, a factor that can change following “algal blooms” or pollution and cause sudden fish deaths. A total of five sites have been identified as suitable for monitoring as part of a GBP45,000 pilot project funded by the Environment Agency.Monitoring is already under way at the Environment Agency’s Huish Episcopi pumping station on the River Yeo and at Etsome Sluice on the River Cary.
Elsewhere equipment is currently being installed on the River Yeo above Long Load pumping station, on the adjacent Witcombe Bottom Main Drain and at Monkslease Clyse on the River Parrett.
Data from each site is sent by telemetry to the Agency’s office at Bridgwater where scientists can monitor water quality round-the-clock and respond immediately to a sudden drop in oxygen levels.
In addition to warning of imminent problems, the equipment will help identify long term trends and changes in the river environment. The monitoring stations, that cost GBP9,000 each, consist of special sensors and probes inside a protective stainless steel tube. One of the stations, at Long Load, is solar powered. Extra probes can be added to collect additional environmental data including ammonia and chlorophyll.
“These monitoring sites are a major improvement and should give us a much better understanding of conditions in a river at any one time. We’ve started with the most vulnerable sites where fish have been killed in the past. If this pilot project is successful, we plan to install more stations to create a network of sites across the Somerset Levels,” said Matthew Sully from the Environment Agency.
Information from the monitoring stations will also help the Agency achieve “good ecological status” for all waterbodies, a requirement under the new European Water Framework Directive.
Oxygen levels in rivers can change rapidly causing sudden fish deaths, often with little warning. Anglers are usually among the first to report incidents to the Agency. “Until recently we were operating blind because we didn’t have the monitoring capability. The first we knew of a problem was when dead or distressed fish started appearing in a river. But now we’ll have early warning of a major incident and can respond accordingly,” said Matthew Sully.
The stations will automatically monitor dissolved oxygen levels, a factor that can change following “algal blooms” or pollution and cause sudden fish deaths. A total of five sites have been identified as suitable for monitoring as part of a GBP45,000 pilot project funded by the Environment Agency.Monitoring is already under way at the Environment Agency’s Huish Episcopi pumping station on the River Yeo and at Etsome Sluice on the River Cary.
Elsewhere equipment is currently being installed on the River Yeo above Long Load pumping station, on the adjacent Witcombe Bottom Main Drain and at Monkslease Clyse on the River Parrett.
Data from each site is sent by telemetry to the Agency’s office at Bridgwater where scientists can monitor water quality round-the-clock and respond immediately to a sudden drop in oxygen levels.
In addition to warning of imminent problems, the equipment will help identify long term trends and changes in the river environment. The monitoring stations, that cost GBP9,000 each, consist of special sensors and probes inside a protective stainless steel tube. One of the stations, at Long Load, is solar powered. Extra probes can be added to collect additional environmental data including ammonia and chlorophyll.
“These monitoring sites are a major improvement and should give us a much better understanding of conditions in a river at any one time. We’ve started with the most vulnerable sites where fish have been killed in the past. If this pilot project is successful, we plan to install more stations to create a network of sites across the Somerset Levels,” said Matthew Sully from the Environment Agency.
Information from the monitoring stations will also help the Agency achieve “good ecological status” for all waterbodies, a requirement under the new European Water Framework Directive.
Oxygen levels in rivers can change rapidly causing sudden fish deaths, often with little warning. Anglers are usually among the first to report incidents to the Agency. “Until recently we were operating blind because we didn’t have the monitoring capability. The first we knew of a problem was when dead or distressed fish started appearing in a river. But now we’ll have early warning of a major incident and can respond accordingly,” said Matthew Sully.
