ECOWATCH

DSS for early warning on waste water discharges and other human impacts on water quality.

The need to gather continuous and long term data on water quality to define the most appropriate action plan according to the water quality state in the different areas of the river basin detected by the system. Nowadays information comes from non consolidated data.

Inspection and warning of waste water discharges. Early detection of waste water discharges and other human impacts on water quality.

ECOWATCH is capable to identify environmental damages occurred in river basins on time. The detection system is able to obtain water quality phenomena indicators using a few physical-chemical variables recorded continuously which can be associated, with a high probability of cause-effect relationship, with human pressure on the water environment, such as urban discharges or diffuse agricultural pollution. The data delivered to the end users will inform about the status of these three phenomena with water quality indicators. The software will determine: Waste water and urban discharges, Episodes of eutrophication and episodes of fish risk.

The expert DSS tool is totally developed, a prototype of the technological platform is avalaible. The system has been tested in the Guadiana and Ebro Rivers (Spain). Other phenomenon like diffuse agricultural pollution require further research.

The innovation of the system relies on the capability of the system to detect long term and inmediate pollution episodes, as for example the eutrophication and as a novelty to determine the risk of environmental conditions for fish communities.

Innovative characterization of complex impacts deducted from basic and on-line measurable physical-chemical variables.

Innovative approach in user –friendly final data delivered by the detection system using indicators.

Main advantages:

Increase the knowledge about the river basin, collecting accumulative information episodes of the river.

To detect in advance and predict possible contamination episodes according to the model patterns. Thus the actions needed to prevent or reduce the contamination could be implemented before severe effects on the water ecosystem.

It can be more representative for the water masses but not increasing the samplings.

Industrial property belongs to ADASA (COMSA EMTE group).

River basin agencies, especially to those departments in charge of planning water resources and water resources protection. Water utilities that can be interested in using the DSS in episodes detection of water quality for protecting drinking water resources.

• Regarding the fish risk assessment more research should be carried out in order to make it more visible.
• Other phenomenon like diffuse agricultural pollution require further research.
• More marketing actions
• More case studies

• International dissemination of the output
• Searching new funding programmes or/and funders

• Economic resources to finalise the tool and add new functionalities to the calculation model are estimated in approx. 200.000 €.
• Specific budget for each implementation, since there is no interoperability standard