NEARLY 20 monitors have been deployed into rivers in Hampshire to provide real-time insights into water quality.
The monitors, known as sondes, have been deployed into the Rivers Test, Itchen, and Blackwater.
They sit in the water and relay data on levels of parameters such as dissolved oxygen, ammonia, and water temperature to a central platform, building a comprehensive picture of factors affecting water quality.
Southern Water is funding the project as a voluntary initiative in collaboration with the Pan Parishes River Pollution Forum and local riverkeepers, who have chosen the locations of the sondes and are monitoring the data.
This data will be made publicly available within the next 12 months.
Seth Crosswaite, a river keeper in Test Valley, said: "The importance of this initiative cannot be overstated.
"These monitoring units will provide continuous 24-hour insight into river conditions across the catchment.
"From source to sea, this will allow us to identify and better understand the impacts of agricultural run-off, water company discharges, and other pressures affecting the river system.
"By delivering real-time data, this project represents a significant step towards safeguarding the long-term health and resilience of the River Test and its tributaries."
The project comes after months of conversations with the Pan-Parishes River Pollution Forum.
Cllr Geoff Cooper, Lib Dem for North Baddesley and member of the forum, said: "This is a very exciting day for us and for everybody who has been involved in this long journey to get these testing sites into the River Test.
"The journey started back in March 2024, with the protest outside the Southern Water Fullerton site.
"What that did was show the level of anger and concern in the community, and I think that was a D-Day moment for Southern Water; they realised that they had to look to work with us, and from that moment onwards we have built a collaborative working relationship.
"I’m very glad to say that, 18 months on from a meeting we had in January last year, we find ourselves here testing equipment, going into the water real time data coming 24/7, so now the river keepers have the tools they need to inspect and monitor the water."
Southern Water’s Environment and Water Quality Lead, Joff Edevane, said: "It’s part of a £160m investment programme we have got on the Test and Itchen, which is looking at storm overflows, improving our infrastructure, improving the quality of our effluent discharges."
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