Charleville-Mézières, a pioneer in real-time E. coli monitoring
Charleville-Mézières has become the first town in France to measure E. coli in real time in the Meuse, ensuring optimum water quality for its residents.
On 24 September 2018, Boris RAVIGNON, President of Ardenne Métropole and Mayor of Charleville-Mézières, revealed an ambition at the launch of the Drinkable Meuse cross-border project: "My utopia? To make the Meuse drinkable again. The interesting thing about utopia is the direction you take. And the first step is to be able to swim in the Meuse".In 2019, the Communauté d'Agglomération Ardenne Métropole has therefore drawn up a sanitation roadmap to improve water quality in the Meuse.
Highlighted at the final of the Pollutec Innovation Awards 2023, the patented Proteus probe had already attracted the attention of the operational management of the Communauté d'Agglomération Ardenne Métropole, marking the start of a new era in monitoring water quality in the Meuse as it flows through its territory.
The Proteus probe, which is now in service, provides real-time analyses of water quality, making it an essential ally in this mission.
A simple objective for the town's mayor
On 15 June, Boris RAVIGNON sent out a strong signal by swimming in the Meuse alongside around fifty residents, municipal and community councillors and staff from the city and its urban area.
This symbolic act also echoed the announcement by the Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, who promised to bathe in the Seine before the 2024 Olympic Games.
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The city of Charleville-Mézières has invested more than €80 million to ensure water quality and reduce concerns about pollution in the Meuse.
Measuring E. coli with the Proteus in situ probe
Ardenne Métropole has rigorously monitored E. coli levels in the Meuse, a crucial indicator of the presence of faecal bacteria that are dangerous to human health.
Exposure to these bacteria can cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea, and present increased risks for immunocompromised people.
The Proteus probe enables real-time analysis, which is different from the system installed in Paris, which takes a few samples a day from the Seine.
The probe, installed under the Victoire bridge in Charleville-Mézières, provides precise data every second if required.
The data is accessible on a secure web server, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
To date, quality analyses have been set up every fifteen minutes, equivalent to taking 2,016 samples over three weeks or 34,944 samples annually.
This method is not only accurate, but also cost-effective, as it provides reliable analyses without having to wait for laboratory results, and avoids astronomical analysis costs to obtain the same follow-up results.
What does the future hold for Ardenne Métropole's Proteus probe?
The future of the Proteus probe in the region is promising. Ardenne Métropole may consider using this technology to map pollution along the river Meuse using a kayak.
This method will make it possible to identify the most contaminated areas and analyse seasonal variations in pollution.
The probe's versatility means it can be deployed in a variety of environments, such as wastewater treatment plants or public bathing areas, ensuring optimum water quality.
In the long term, Charleville-Mézières aims to create a permanent open-air bathing area on the Cabaret Vert site, scheduled for 2025.
This will enable residents to enjoy the Meuse in complete safety, thanks to continuous monitoring of water quality.
Conclusion
The initiative taken by Charleville-Mézières and Ardenne Métropole with the Proteus probe is an inspiring example for other French towns and cities.
This approach shows that it is possible to effectively monitor water pollution and allow citizens to swim in complete safety.
The Proteus technology could well become a model for improving urban water quality across the country.
1st Jul 2024