In recent years, communities across the country have rallied to improve water quality, recognising the environmental and social benefits that clean, healthy rivers bring. Many local groups are taking matters into their own hands, actively monitoring river pollution. Yet, despite these efforts, the high costs of sending samples to commercial labs for analysis of microbial pathogens like E. coli is a major barrier and often results in low-resolution datasets. This lack of comprehensive data limits our understanding of organic pollution levels across entire catchments, potentially hindering our community efforts for restoration.
Tamar River festival, Calstock, site of a new community initiative crowdfunding for water quality sampling to support a bathing water application.
To support the application process for designated bathing water status in the UK, we must show regular bathing activities in these waterways. However, widespread pollution from both sewage and agriculture makes identifying and addressing pollution sources essential. Without these steps, many people may feel reluctant to swim in the hundreds of proposed locations, creating a catch-22 situation: we need clean water for safe recreation, but we need to prove the area is actively used for bathing to achieve protected status. Many locations are in very dire straights.
By working together, finding cost-effective monitoring solutions, and pushing for more accessible data analysis options, we can help ensure our valuable community resources make the most meaningful impact on water quality, for both the environment and public enjoyment.
Proteus Instruments empowers communities to better understand the complex dynamics of organic pollution in their rivers and streams. Using our cutting-edge, in-water optical measurement systems, we help groups conduct detailed water quality surveys with unprecedented speed and precision. Our technology leverages the natural fluorescence of target organic compounds, acting as highly sensitive markers to detect human and animal waste in natural waters.
This novel method allows for rapid data collection—simply dip the instrument into the water and log the results informing where samples for laboratory analysis are taken. Thousands of data points can be gathered in less than an hour, with GPS coordinates, offering an in-depth look at organic pollution patterns across the catchment, invaluable for identifying the sources for remediation efforts. Beyond portable surveys, the Proteus system can also be installed bankside or on pontoons, providing real-time, solar-powered water quality data 24/7, sent directly to the cloud.
Current regulatory methods for assessing bathing water quality involve sampling only once per week from May to September in designated bathing areas. However, this limited frequency leaves gaps, failing to capture pollution events outside the sampling window, and results are delayed by several days due to coliform testing. By the time results are returned, conditions may have changed significantly, leaving the community without an up-to-date picture of water quality.
Example of a calibrated Proteus Coliforms output over a 14-day period with physical lab samples annotated.
For areas applying for designated bathing water status, the initial criteria must be met, as outlined in the government guidelines https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/bathing-waters-apply-to-designate-or-de-designate/designate-a-bathing-water-guidance-on-how-to-apply . Once designated, local authorities are required to display Environment Agency signs during the bathing season that notify bathers of any pollution events or warnings.
However, these efforts can be limited by resource constraints, making it difficult to maintain real-time water quality monitoring and immediate public notification. If the onus is on community groups to fill the gap in monitoring coverage moving forward, significant fundraising for lab tests, and the 2-5 day wait for receiving test results will be long-standing challenges and uncertainty.
The cost for a UK laboratory to conduct bathing water test suites for E. coli and other microbial pathogens can vary significantly depending on the lab, the range of pathogens tested, and any additional services, such as sampling and reporting. Generally, here’s what you might expect: Basic E. coli and Intestinal Enterococci Test: Each test typically costs between £40 and £100 per sample. Full Bathing Water Test Suite: A comprehensive suite may include additional parameters like Total Coliforms, pH, turbidity, and other indicators. This more extensive testing can range from £100 to £250 per sample.
Proteus multiparameter systems offer a powerful solution for real-time water quality monitoring, including commissioning of coliform concentration tracking. By establishing a reliable relationship between fluorescence, turbidity, and laboratory coliform results with paired samples, Proteus systems can provide immediate, accurate coliform readings and inform sampling events for regulatory testing.
Correlation between calibrated Proteus E. coli output and laboratory E. coli test results
These systems also support a wide range of configurable water quality parameters important for monitoring river health, all in a robust, low-maintenance setup, enabling communities to continuously monitor and protect their rivers long into the future.
We help with:
- Rapid catchment organic load surveys and reporting, to help communities get started with their water quality sampling journey and determine best use of resources.
- Training for water quality surveying and sampling for community members.
- Rentals of equipment and data-as-a-service packages.
- Funding bids for Proteus systems to ensure long-term real-time monitoring is possible into the future.