Background
The Auckland Council and local catchment management groups have partnered with AquaWatch Solutions to address ongoing water quality issues in a variety of catchments.
The target catchments encompass diverse land uses, including agriculture, forestry, and urban development, which collectively contribute to challenges such as sedimentation, nutrient loading, and habitat degradation.
To effectively monitor and improve water quality, these projects integrated continuous water quality monitoring technologies, geospatial analysis, and AI data analysis tools.
Project Overview
The initiative involves using our GiS software/process to create an effective monitoring network after discussion with the councils, and catchment groups to identify desired outcomes.
Once the network was generated, the groups themselves were able to install AquaWatch continuous water quality sensors at those key locations, complemented by discrete sampling sites, some of which are driven by event based triggers.
These efforts allowed local citizen scientists to install and maintain affordable methods of capturing reliable real-time data. The insights gathered create a network of insights that feed into the regional council's broader catchment restoration and water quality enhancement strategies with minimal internal resource required. The collaborative approach ensured that the system served the needs of multiple stakeholders, including swimmers, local landowners, environmental groups, and policymakers.
Maintenance of the AquaWatch sensors and sampling sites was entrusted to local catchment groups. Volunteers received training on basic sensor upkeep, data collection protocols, and sample handling. This approach not only reduced operational costs but also empowered communities to take an active role in managing their water resources, to keep their waterways safe and healthy.
Site Selection
AquaWatch worked closely with the regional council and local catchment groups to select monitoring locations. The selection process prioritised sites that addressed the following objectives:
Capturing data from critical points of impact, such as agricultural runoff zones and urban stormwater outflows.
Providing upstream and downstream comparisons to assess intervention impacts.
Monitoring ecologically significant areas, including wetlands and fish habitats.
Ensuring accessibility and ease of maintenance for local catchment groups.
Implementation
Once the monitoring locations were finalised, AquaWatch sensors were installed at strategic sites across the target catchments. These sensors continuously measured parameters such as turbidity, dissolved oxygen, pH, temperature, and electrical conductivity. In addition, discrete sampling locations were established to complement the continuous monitoring data.
Data Integration and Analysis
The AquaWatch system utilised its AI-powered water quality analysis tool to process real-time continuous data. Key features included:
Automated Analysis: The tool identified trends and anomalies in water quality, providing actionable insights without requiring manual data interpretation.
Issue Identification: Potential issues, such as algal blooms or high sediment loads, were flagged automatically.
Restoration Recommendations: Based on the analysis, the system suggested targeted interventions, including riparian planting, erosion control measures, and nutrient management strategies.
Geospatial Mapping: Data from the sensors and discrete samples were integrated into a GIS platform to visualize spatial trends and identify hotspots for focused action.
Outcomes and Impacts
The integration of AquaWatch technologies has delivered several tangible benefits:
Enhanced Monitoring: Continuous data streams provided unprecedented detail on temporal variations in water quality, helping to pinpoint critical periods for intervention.
Informed Decision-Making: The regional council use the insights to prioritise restoration projects, such as expanding riparian buffers and increased management of key blue-green networks.
Community Engagement: Local groups reported a deeper understanding of catchment health and increased motivation to participate in restoration activities.
Efficiency Gains: Automated data analysis reduced the workload on council staff and catchment groups and accelerated the implementation of evidence-based solutions.
Conclusion
The AquaWatch catchment management solution demonstrates the power of integrating advanced monitoring technologies with community led management to address complex water quality challenges.
AquaWatch’s continuous sensors, combined with automated analysis and geospatial tools, provided actionable insights that informed targeted restoration/management efforts.
By fostering collaboration between regional authorities and local stakeholders, this approach has set a new benchmark for sustainable catchment management that is simple to implement, understand, and replicate
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