Environmental Concerns in Our Waterways and the Monitoring Systems Solving the Problems

AuthorNatalie Landrito

KeywordsMACE FloPro XCi, FTS Airflow Bubbler system, FTS Bubbler Sensor, Maxx Auto Sampler

Introduction Water quality monitoring and tracking changes in our water and wastewater is an essential part of our livelihood. The present and future state of people’s health, animals and our overall environment depend on it because we all need consistently reliable, clean water supplies.

How to easily track water quality and monitor changes

PFAS Contamination in NSW Greg Semple, farmer and owner of Murray Cod Hatcheries in Wagga Wagga, NSW, spoke to the Daily Advertiser in January 20191 about pre-fluoralkyl and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS - synthetic chemicals) contamination in his ponds, blaming this for multiple deformities in his fish and millions of dollars in losses amongst farmers in the region.

Mr. Semple had expressed sadness about seeing thousands of his fish grow with deformed skulls and twisted spines as he went from producing 1.2 million healthy fingerlings in 1996, to a daunting struggle to produce any healthy fish from 2005 onwards, blaming PFAS contamination from the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base nearby.

The Department of Defence conducted investigations that concluded that the PFAS chemicals were leaving the RAAF Base and draining into wetlands near Mr. Semple’s hatchery via a stormwater network.2 Experts on chemicals from The University of Melbourne have said that this is the worst case of damage caused by PFAS contamination they had seen. As a result of health concerns and financial implications where Mr. Semple estimated he was at a loss of $120 million due to the contamination, he made the painful decision to close his business.

Health Implications in Communities PFAS contamination in surface water, groundwater and soil in Australia has been a known issue since the 1970s, and has been linked back to 28 Department of Defence sites across the country.3 A national review of the impact on the environment surrounding these bases ensued and in October 2017 an independent expert health panel determined that although their research saw no conclusive evidence of an overall cancer risk linked to the exposure of PFAS, there was a “possible link” to an increased risk of testicular and kidney cancer. Reports that followed supported additional evidence of PFAS exposure and links to side effects relative to increased levels of cholesterol, reduced kidney function and lower birth weight in babies. At the conclusion of the national review, a recommendation by the federal government was made that financial compensation be awarded to affected residents.

PHOTO: Firefighting foam containing PFAS chemicals was used by

Airservices Australia until 2010. (CRC CARE)

Increased climate change and unpredictable water temperatures also have health implications in communities. Just as recently, up to a million native fish species including Murray cod and perch have died along Darling River in NSW due to blue green algae. A cold front causing accelerated water temperature changes killed significant amounts of algae in the river. As the algae decomposed, they drew oxygen from the water, which in turn suffocated the fish along a 40km range.

Prior to this instance, also in recent months (December 15, 2018), tens of thousands of fish had been killed along the Darling River due to a combination of extreme rainfall and a substantial temperature drop related to cold fronts that mixed water layers causing reduced levels of dissolved oxygen.

PHOTO: NSW Department of Primary Industries are trucking

distressed Murray Cod hundreds of kilometers downstream to try and

prevent another mass fish kill at Menindee. (NSW DPI)

How Do We Defend Our Waterways?Proper water management is key. Increased climate change, unpredictable water temperatures or ecological issues derived from industrial discharge can wreak havoc on unmonitored channels.

Automatic water samplers such as the Maxx Auto Sampler available through Thermo Fisher Scientific, are ideal for stormwater, wastewater, rivers and streams, industrial emissions, and environmental sampling. These modern auto samplers can be customised to suit a wide range of applications, and offer accurate sample volume measurement with minimal effort for calibration as well as LAN/W-LAN/Web communication capabilities and options for logging up to 3,000 entries. Reliable sampling followed by measurement mean the possibility of contamination or toxicity in waterways can be circumvented or rectified before the damages become too devastating to control.

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of New South Wales, explains that where catchments were once “moist before a storm event - allowing excess rainfall to run-off into rivers - they are now drier and soak up more of the rain, so less water makes it as flow.”4

As an increasing amount of rainfall stations and monitoring sites apply water level and data monitoring technologies, the significance of reduced water into rivers translating to less water for communities and agricultural sustainability becomes alarmingly more apparent. With drier soil, the amount of water needed for irrigation also becomes more strained and demanding. Professor Sharma emphasises the need to be proactive and ready to re-engineer our water systems “so we can better adapt and cope”.

Advanced System Solutions Bubbler systems are increasinglybeing used to measure water levels.They work by detecting the pressure needed to force air bubbles out at a constant rate through submerged tubing (such as an orifice line) thereby eliminating traditional manifold congestion. Implemented in lakes, oceans, streams, reservoirs and estuaries, they underpin the continuous monitoring of water levels and allow researchers to respond quickly to environmental changes.

The FTS Bubbler system, available through Thermo Fisher Scientific, features rapid response technology for instant reaction to water stage changes resulting in more reliable data. A built-in data logger facilitates increased flexibility as the bubbler monitors, records and analyses changes in bodies of water.

In wastewater plants, if the FTS Bubbler senses water level increases, it will instantly adjust tank pressure to accommodate continual flow through the line. As an environmental weather monitoring solution, the FTS Bubbler is rugged and compact, and reliable even in extreme conditions. Its construction removes any cause for concern related to debris blocking the sensor, and the system as a whole exceeds USGS OSW specifications with a stage accuracy of 0.01 ft or 0.2% of the effective stage (whichever is greater).

This technology is used by environmental agencies, scientists, land and plant managers and the like as an accurate way of observing hydrological changes. This makes it a vital element in flood warnings, response and mitigation.

Flow and water quality monitoring can now also be conducted in one easy to use, configurable package. The FloPro XCi allows users to monitor wastewater, stormwater and industrial flows in full pipes, partially full pipes and open channels. Conductivity, pH and rainfall can also be monitored, or a downward looking ultrasonic depth sensor can be utilised to measure pond levels. This unit also facilitates remote access with alerts and alarm configuration.

By deploying reliable sensors for real-time monitoring, accurate results can be viewed instantly, without any risk of parameter changes during the transportation of the sample, or because of delayed sample analysis after its collection by the researcher. The automatic transmission of data not only allows researchers to swiftly redefine sampling locations if needed but is also extremely cost-effective over time. With zero moving parts and minimal obstruction to the flow, results can be produced under a wide range of hydraulic operating conditions for consistently repeatable data.

Measuring Water Stage LevelsIt’s important to measure water levels in many areas of the water and wastewater industry. In wastewater treatment plants, water level measurement is essential to ensure safe and efficient wastewater treatment, and can also be used to monitor the levels of wastewater streams from consumers to wastewater treatment plants. When pumping fresh water, monitoring water abstraction is important in wells. In the treatment of drinking water, levels are measured in storage tanks as part of drinking water treatment applications.

Hydrologists are relied upon to accurately measure changes in water stage levels to prevent unforeseen flood events, or the inverse, drought. In Australia, heavy rainfall is the most common culprit of flooding. A second factor is high tides in coastal areas. Although the effects of climate change are stimulating immense rain, on the other hand, Australia is experiencing even the largest of its rivers drying out with our fresh water supplies depleting. Professor Ashish Sharma, of the University

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Find out more at thermofisher.com.au thermofisher.co.nz

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ConclusionBy accurately monitoring and analysing water levels in rivers, streams and estuaries in real-time, we can proactively prepare for environmental concerns such as flooding or other climate change related impacts causing natural disasters. It’s also important to invest in equipment that can record these changes with more developed digital technology that not only makes information collection and storage easier, but also offers an advanced alerting system to safeguard communities. Analog or dated water monitoring processes or equipment with limited capability sensors and data collection mechanisms are a roadblock to successfully carrying out this responsibility. Often, these traditional systems also require researchers to manually collect data at the water source, allowing for human errors to occur. The amount of data able to be collected is also considerably limited when compared to digital systems with web-based software that allow users to view, organise and control their stations from a computer or mobile device.

Automated monitoring and tracking systems have become pivotal in safeguarding the future health of humanity, preserving the water supplies in our communities and ecosystems, as well as supporting the ongoing challenge of protecting biodiversity.

References 1. Horn, Emma. “Murray Cod Hatcheries PFAS fish deformities a

result of contamination”, Daily Advertiser, January 28th, 2019. Link: https://www.dailyadvertiser.com.au/story/5872687/hatcheries-owner-plagued-by-pfas-contamination/

2. Department of Defense, "Comprehensive Investigation of Per- and PolyFluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) at RAAF Base Wagga", detailed site investigation, June 5, 2018, link to report here: http://www.defence.gov.au/Environment/PFAS/docs/wagga/Reports/DetailedSiteInvestigationReportExecutiveSummary.pdf

3. Nguyen, Kevin. “PFAS crisis opens residents to compensation payouts after federal inquiry report tabled”, ABC News Australia, December 8th, 2018. Link: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-12-03/pfas-contamination-residents-compensated-federal-inquiry/10576552

4. Da Silva, Wilson. “The Long Dry: Global water supplies are shrinking”, UNSW Sydney Newsroom, December 13th, 2018

Additional References• For information on the Maxx Automatic water sampler, MACE FloPro XCi stormwater

monitoring solution, or FTS Bubbler water stage level measurement system, contact Thermo Fisher Scientific at AUinfo@thermofisher.com in Australia, or NZinfo@thermofisher.com in New Zealand.

• Australian and New Zealand guidelines for fresh and marine water quality: 2018 Version available at http://www.waterquality.gov.au/anz-guidelines

• Australian and New Zealand water quality standards (AS/NZS 5667 series), available at: https://infostore.saiglobal.com/en-au/Search/All/?searchTerm=AS/NZS%205667

• Hannam, Peter. “’Nature bites back’: Algal blooms trigger mass fish deaths in western NSW”, The Sydney Morning Herald, January 7th, 2019.

For more information emailAUinfo@thermofisher.com or NZinfo@thermofisher.com