WaterPollutionSensor: Deployment of a sensor network for continuous monitoring of pesticides in drinking water

The objective of the project is the development and field testing of an autonomous device for continuous measurement of the concentration of chemical pollutants in drinking water. This device will implement new technologies that break with those traditionally used in pollutant detection, i.e. pulsed amperometry, time-resolved fluorescence measurement and nuclear magnetic resonance measurement. Its main constraint will be to be cheap and easy to maintain.

In this project, a proof of concept on three specific pollutants will be conducted: glyphosate, atrazine and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. They still correspond to the pollutants most present in the Upper Rhine region and are known to have a negative impact on the health of exposed populations. Beyond proof of concept, the measurement device will be designed generically so that it can then be easily adapted to other pollutants.

The development of this prototype is divided into three phases: proof of concept of the measuring systems, integration of the different parts of the sensor for the realization of a prototype and integration of this prototype into an existing platform of the project partner Bürkert. This will allow the prototype to be validated directly with users, i.e. in drinking water production and distribution sites.