University supports new water quality monitoring project

Our experts are working with South Hams District Council and tech firm Teledyne Valeport on the initiative
The River Yealm in South Devon
The ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ is working with partners in Devon to help tackle water pollution through a new monitoring project.
The project aims to make water quality data more accessible – so communities, experts and agencies can better understand what’s happening in our rivers and estuaries and take action together.
It is being led by South Hams District Council, which is responsible for the water quality regulations at designated bathing waters but is committed to working with others to improve water quality across the board.
The partners gathered on August 14 to mark the handover of cutting-edge monitoring kit and, once installed, sensors will run continuously and work together to detect changes in the water that may indicate pollution.
For the first time, real-time data will then be shared publicly via an online dashboard scheduled to launch in late 2025.
Supported by government funding, and being delivered in partnership with Innovate UK, the ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ and Teledyne Valeport, the project also has support from the Environment Agency and local harbourmasters.
Experts from the University are supporting the deployment of the sensors and will be working with the project partners to analyse the data generated once it becomes available.

There are many things that impact water quality in our rivers and seas, and gathering observations and data is critical if we are to make positive changes for the future. This project will be a significant step towards that in the South Hams, helping us to prevent future environmental degradation of our waterways by improving awareness and understanding within our local communities.

Simon UssherProfessor Simon Ussher
Professor of Marine and Analytical Chemistry

In addition to the project partners, the council has teamed up with like-minded local groups who’ve long been pushing for better river health.
From the Yealm to the Avon, Dart, Erme and Salcombe-Kingsbridge Estuary, community-led river and estuary groups have helped shape the project from the start – including advising on the best locations for sensors and helping spread the word locally.

This is a brilliant example of what can happen when communities, researchers and businesses join forces to tackle real problems.

Local groups have been key to shaping this project – and now we’re giving them, and everyone else, access to real-time water quality data so we can all play a part in protecting our rivers and coastline.
Cllr John McKay
Executive Member for Climate Change and Biodiversity, South Hams District Council

At a time when concerns about water quality have understandably come to the forefront, we’re pleased to be working alongside South Hams District Council on this project. Our sensors have the ability to provide the kind of real-time insights into water quality that we hope will enable decisions around tackling water pollution that benefit both the environment and the local communities. This project is utilising our latest sensors, all designed and manufactured at our Totnes facility. It’s incredibly rewarding to see our instruments that are used worldwide being applied to such an important local initiative.

Amy Thompson
Innovation & Product Manager, Teledyne Valeport
Teledyne Valeport monitoring equipment - South Hams water quality project
 

Environmental chemists play a vital role in tackling global environmental challenges:

Environment geochemistry fieldwork