Commencing in December 2021, the Derwent Estuary Program (DEP) supported by grant funding from The Ian Potter Foundation, deployed seven Eco Detection’s Ion-Q+ systems to conduct real-time water quality monitoring of dairy and agricultural runoff, sewage treatment discharge, pulp mill effluent, and fish hatchery effluent.
Key sites where the technology was installed included:
- TasWater sewage treatment plant
- Norske Skog Boyer pulp mill
- Aquaculture operations – fish hatchery
- Meadowbank Vineyard
- Westerway Farm
- Downstream of major agriculture operations
Previously, it had been difficult for the DEP to monitor and reconcile activity across the estuary on a daily basis. But since implementation of Ion-Q+ technology, measurements are taken four times a day, every day.
The high frequency of analysis from Ion-Q+ has detected any unusual spikes in analytes, including an increase in phosphate traced to an instance of over fertilisation, and a week-long spike in nitrite that previously would have been missed.
The DEP’s commitment is to showcase Eco Detection’s Ion-Q+ technology to the Tasmanian Minister of Environment, CEOs, directors and other decision-makers across a wide range of industries and organisations to encourage uptake of the product.
The Derwent Estuary Program trialled seven Eco Detection analysers in the first catchment-scale trial of its kind. Eco Detection provided us with excellent technical assistance, which enhanced our work and supported the adaptive improvement of the devices.”
URSULA TAYLOR, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, DERWENT ESTUARY PROGRAM
