Enabling Under-Served Communities to Monitor Influent Water Quality
Location
Poster Session 2 (Henderson Library)
Session Format
Poster Presentation
Your Campus
Statesboro Campus- Henderson Library, April 20th
Academic Unit
Department of Civil Engineering and Construction
Co-Presenters and Faculty Mentors or Advisors
Faculty Mentor/Advisor: Dr. L. Stetson Rowles
Abstract
Small water utilities in the United States struggle with supplying consistent water quality. In 2016, 55.1% of health-related drinking water violations came from the 27,554 community drinking water systems classified as very small (500 people or less). One constraint in these smaller communities is limited funding. Most water treatment facilities monitor changes to influent quality by taking a sample on a set schedule. For example, technicians will take a sample of water and test them for contaminants before adjusting the treatment methods. However, this laborious and costly process does not account for sudden changes in the water quality due to environmental conditions (e.g., rainfall). Internet of Things (IoT) has facilitated the creation of new sensors that are readily available for affordable water quality monitoring. Here we show how an Arduino-based sensor can be used as a real-time, low-cost monitor of water quality parameters. Specifically, we developed a module to measure conductivity and temperature and placed it in a stream on campus for an extended period. Next, data was correlated to environmental conditions. This work has the potential be adopted by water utilities as a real-time monitor of influent water quality, which can notify technicians to make necessary changes in treatment methods. This research may be of particular interest to communities with limited funding and resources to better monitor their water quality.
Program Description
Small water utilities with limited funding in the United States struggle with supplying consistent water quality. Here we show how an Arduino-based sensor can be used as a low-cost monitor of water quality parameters. This work has the potential be adopted by small water utilities to monitor water quality.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Presentation Type and Release Option
Presentation (Open Access)
Start Date
4-20-2022 1:30 PM
End Date
4-20-2022 3:00 PM
Recommended Citation
Hacker, Josiah, "Enabling Under-Served Communities to Monitor Influent Water Quality" (2022). GS4 Georgia Southern Student Scholars Symposium. 78.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/research_symposium/2022/2022/78
Enabling Under-Served Communities to Monitor Influent Water Quality
Poster Session 2 (Henderson Library)
Small water utilities in the United States struggle with supplying consistent water quality. In 2016, 55.1% of health-related drinking water violations came from the 27,554 community drinking water systems classified as very small (500 people or less). One constraint in these smaller communities is limited funding. Most water treatment facilities monitor changes to influent quality by taking a sample on a set schedule. For example, technicians will take a sample of water and test them for contaminants before adjusting the treatment methods. However, this laborious and costly process does not account for sudden changes in the water quality due to environmental conditions (e.g., rainfall). Internet of Things (IoT) has facilitated the creation of new sensors that are readily available for affordable water quality monitoring. Here we show how an Arduino-based sensor can be used as a real-time, low-cost monitor of water quality parameters. Specifically, we developed a module to measure conductivity and temperature and placed it in a stream on campus for an extended period. Next, data was correlated to environmental conditions. This work has the potential be adopted by water utilities as a real-time monitor of influent water quality, which can notify technicians to make necessary changes in treatment methods. This research may be of particular interest to communities with limited funding and resources to better monitor their water quality.
