"State of the art" hand-held water quality monitoring devices
have been ordered by the Otago Regional Council and will be
trialled in the field in coming months.
The devices are just one tool the regional council is looking
at as part of its new approach to dealing with farm run-ff
pollution.
Director environmental information and science John Threlfall
said at this week's environmental science committee meeting
the devices would mostly be used for on-the-spot monitoring
of nitrate and phosphorus in tile and mole drain areas such
as South Otago where there was water readily available to
test.
However in other areas, such as Central Otago, the issue was
collecting a water sample from underground and there was no
mechanism available to do that.
"What we test the water with once you've got it has the
potential to the be the same."
Another means for measuring E.coli with a 24-hour test had
also been sourced and would be trialled in the field
alongside the nutrient testing, he said.
The field testing would involve taking samples the
traditional way and sending them off to the laboratory as
well as using the new devices, then comparing the results.
If successful, the devices could provide ways for farmers to
monitor their effect on waterways.
"If they do something one day, these tools will tell them how
well they are doing."
- rebecca.fox@odt.co.nz
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