US to Gather Water Pollution Data in Southwest England

A groundbreaking project funded by Innovate UK is set to revolutionize water quality monitoring in three key South West regional ports in England. The consortium of British marine technology companies, led by MSeis, will deploy non-invasive uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) to collect data on pollution in the rivers and estuaries of Dartmouth, Falmouth, and Plymouth.

With water quality standards becoming a growing concern in the UK, the ‘Smart Ports, Clean Waters’ project aims to provide accessible data on pollution in the region’s water ecosystems. The consortium, which includes technical partners HydroSurv and Chelsea Technologies, will integrate specialist sensors into three battery electric HydroSurv REAV-16 USVs to collect water quality and eutrophication data.

David Hull, CEO of HydroSurv, highlighted the importance of this sustainable solution for water quality data collection, emphasizing the widespread coverage and independence of the consortium from other monitoring efforts. The USVs will be remotely controlled and overseen by shore-based personnel, ensuring safe and efficient data collection.

The 12-month test and demonstration campaign will showcase the cloud-based visualization platform developed by HydroSurv, providing detailed weekly datasets and opportunities for evaluation workshops with port partners. The project aims to enhance integration and survey tactics knowledge while serving the public interest by providing accurate and unbiased information to the community.

This innovative project represents a significant step forward in water quality monitoring, offering a sustainable and effective solution for protecting the water ecosystems of the South West region.