The Water Monitors that can simplify your adherence to the Environment Act 2021

What are the AquaTROLL 700 and 800?

The AquaTROLL 700 and 800 are multiparameter sondes that have capacity for six interchangeable water quality sensors along with an additional port for an anti-fouling wiper – allowing full customisation based on the parameters you want to monitor.

These sondes allow for easy monitoring of all the parameters stipulated in the Environment Act with capacity for an extra sensor that can be used to investigate local environmental issues or when the Environment Act stipulates further parameters.

How could the Aqua TROLL 700 and Aqua TROLL 800 help water monitoring under the Environment Act 2021?

Monitoring requirements for water companies under the Environment Act 2021 are likely to expand – at the moment, there are five parameters required by the Environment Act 2021 but the Act includes provision for the monitoring of other parameters at the discretion of the government. We could, for example, see the need for nitrate monitoring in nitrate-sensitive environments. The extra port available will allow the introduction of at least one additional parameter and will reduce the need for additional bolt-on equipment in future – future proofing the system.

Reducing the need for additional equipment

The AquaTROLL 700 and 800 are easy to deploy, simple to set up and have a wide range of accompanying sensors available. Other benefits include the sondes’ ability to withstand harsh environments and antifouling features which can result in fewer maintenance visits.

Both instruments collect time time-series data and are connected to a data logger/transmitter that sends the data to our electronic data acquisition system (eDAS) via our FTP server. Data is carefully checked by our data analysts to highlight and respond to any potential issues.

Data can similarly be transferred to other data management systems if required.

What does the Environment Act 2021 require from water companies?

Under the Environment Act 2021 water companies are currently required to monitor for:

1. Dissolved oxygen
2. Temperature
3. pH
4. Turbidity
5. Ammonium and derived ammonia

In addition to the parameters mentioned above specific to the Environment Act, also available for the AquaTROLL 700 and 800 are the following:

• Pressure/level
• Chloride
• Chlorophyll A
• Crude Oil
• FDOM
• Fluorescein
• Nitrate
• ORP
• Phycocyanin
• Phycoerythrin
• Rhodamine

The Environment Act’s requirements address the need to monitor the potential harm to the environment. The monitoring data derived from these sensors will help water companies to identify where upgraded infrastructure (including nature-based solutions) is required and allow the Environment Agency to take enforcement action against unlawful storm overflow discharges and permit breaches.