Pollution and eutrophication monitoring

In many densely populated areas, the quality of water has been declining. Some impacts are natural, the others, including pollution, are human-induced. The water pollution can be chemical, physical, thermal, or biological. Pollutants originate from many points and diffuse sources. Eutrophication is another important environmental problem. Being a natural process, eutrophication can be accelerate by anthropogenic nutrient loadings into lakes and rivers. The transformation of a lake or a backwater into a wetland due to human activities may take only a few decades. 

The river and lake engineering as well as water quality management require significant information on water physical conditions, currents and depths, and pollution sources. Well positioned to meet these needs, Zesmill offers a variety of services and project delivery methods:

• water sampling, field temperature, transparency, conductivity, pH testing
• hydrometric measurements
• river bed and lake bed sediment sampling (using 0.5L or 2L Van Veen grab, max. sampling depth 5 m)
• satellite and aerial remote sensing of marine, estuarine, lake and river waters
• detection and monitoring of oil slicks using radar satellite imagery
• detection and monitoring of thermal pollution of water bodies (including effluents from power plants, sewage treatment facilities etc.)
• eutrophication monitoring of lakes, reservoirs, rivers, channels, and estuaries
• coastal erosion, riverbed dynamics and morphological alterations assessment
• pre-feasibility and feasibility studies on environmental engineering projects including river channelization, embankment construction, lake and river restoration (rehabilitation), reduce of diffuse pollution, removal of weeds

Our partners in Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and MeteoLAB, Poland also perform in-depth physical, chemical and biological analysis of natural waters. Testing panels encompass multiple parameters including:

• physical — color, total dissolved solids (TDS)
• chemical — alkalinity, chlorophyll alpha, free chlorine, P, Fe, Mn, Mg, ammonium content etc.
• biological and microbiological tests

Also Zesmill’s specialists sample surface waters to be analyzed in local certified laboratories. Some water quality variables are unstable. That is why it is important whether to perform analysis using field laboratory equipment or stabilize the samples by adding preservatives. The biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) test must be performed as soon as possible. If samples are kept for several hours, the BOD may change significantly, and using of any preservatives is not allowed.

Many social and economic benefits derived from clean rivers, lakes and reservoirs. These include irrigation, water supply, water transport, fishing, and recreation including aesthetic significance and water-oriented activities. Our solutions provide decision makers and engineers with valuable geographic and ecologic information.