River Water Quality & Automated Sampling SystemProject Overview
Located within the quickly developing area of northern Columbus, and southern Delaware County, the Olentangy River is a tributary of the Scioto River in Ohio. It is positioned within a short drive for over 1.5 million Ohio residents. Despite rapid housing and business development around the Columbus area, the Olentangy River has seen an improvement in water quality, as it was upgraded to an exceptional warm water habitat by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.
System Description
Recently, the Ohio State University's Wilma H. Schiermeier Olentangy River Wetland Research Park (ORWRP) contacted NexSens Environmental to install a water quality monitoring station with radio telemetry in the Olentangy River. Using a NexSens 4100-iSIC spread spectrum radio and a YSI 6600 V2-4 sonde, OSU researchers are able to monitor the water quality data from their research facility. The suite of measurement parameters include: temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, pH, ORP, turbidity, chlorophyll and water level. This station is a complement to the NexSens real-time wetland monitoring system already in place that covers the 25 acre marshy wetland.
An ISCO 6712 Portable Sampler is also mounted alongside the bridge. When connected to 4100-iSIC data logger, the sampler can be setup to trigger automatically based on high/low parameter readings. For advanced sampling, the iSIC data logger can also be setup to automatically run any sampling program stored within the automated sampler.
During the recent installation, NexSens engineers mounted a secure deployment pipe to a unistrut structure along the side of a bike path bridge. The bike path is a common route to campus for Ohio State students, so it was essential that the water quality station did not disrupt the student traffic. Additionally, the deployment pipe features a locking well cap to prevent the water quality measurement sonde from being vandalized or stolen.
Having the deployment pipe at the top of the bridge also means that wetland researchers are able to maintain the sensors without entering the river. This is especially beneficial during periods of high water and the frigid winter months. The deployment pipe is equipped with a tethered breakaway system to allow for harsh river conditions - if too much debris builds up against the pipe, it will break away, but the deployment apparatus and water quality sonde will be contained by a stainless steel cable.
Having all these structural safeguards is very helpful to wetland researchers, but perhaps the most beneficial aspect of the NexSens water quality monitoring network is the ability to monitor data from their newly constructed campus wetland research building.
Dr. William Mitsch, Wetlands Scientist and director of the ORWRP, had this to say about the real-time wetlands data: "It is the ecological analogy of seeing the score of a game as it is happening as opposed to reading about it the next day."
Thousands of people visit the ORWRP every year to observe wildlife, conduct research, and enjoy the beautiful landscape. The ORWRP is not just a research park; it is also open to the general public. It is located immediately north of the Ohio State University campus, and it is open daily to the general public from 9:00am to sundown. | NexSens 1001 | iChart software | NexSens WQData-6 | Annual data hosting package for up to 6 field sites, additional site expansion available | NexSens 4100-BASE | Spread spectrum radio base station | NexSens A41 | Omni antenna, radio frequency, 890-970 MHz | NexSens A31 | RF cable, low-loss, 10' | NexSens 4100-iSIC | iSIC data logger with spread spectrum radio telemetry | NexSens A55 | Pole/wall mounting kit | NexSens A38-P | Ground kit, pipe attachment | NexSens A22 | Solar power kit, 20-watt | NexSens A44 | High gain antenna, radio frequency, 3 dB | NexSens A36 | RF cable, micro-loss, 6' | YSI 6600V2-04 | YSI 6600 V2-4 Sonde with temperature/conductivity & shallow vented level sensor | YSI 6565 | pH/ORP sensor | YSI 6150 | ROX optical dissolved oxygen sensor with self-cleaning wiper | YSI 6136 | Turbidity sensor with self-cleaning wiper | YSI 6025 | Chlorophyll sensor with self-cleaning wiper | YSI 6191 | Vented field cable, 25 ft. | ISCO 68-6710-070 | Model 6712 Full Size Portable Sampler. Includes controller with 512kB RAM, top cover, center section, base, distributor arm, instruction manual & pocket guide. | NexSens A59 | iSIC to ISCO interface cable, 20' |
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