ARQUIMEA is working on the development of an innovative solution for monitoring surface water quality

• It undertakes this project together with the UCM, responsible for the design and development of the luminescent sensors, and Gradiant (Galician R&D Center in Advanced Telecommunications), responsible for the design of the communications and data acquisition system.
• The system will be validated at the Hydrographic Confederation of the Duero River (CHD – Confederación Hidrográfica del Duero).
• It provides an innovative solution for monitoring surface water quality that does not exist on the market.

ARQUIMEA, a technology company operating in highly demanding sectors worldwide, was awarded in 2021 a CDTI pre-commercial public procurement, co-financed with CDTI own funds and ERDF 14-20 funds, for the development of a surface water quality monitoring system, with the goal of modernising the current SAICA network (Automatic Water Quality Information System), employing innovative technology to obtain measurements with a reliability equivalent to that provided by the SAICA network, but with lower implementation and maintenance costs.

The contract commenced in June 2021 and is scheduled for completion in March 2023, promoted by the Centre for the Development of Industrial Technology, Public Business Entity (CDTI-EPE), and co-financed by the European Union’s ERDF funds. ARQUIMEA undertakes this project together with the UCM (Complutense University of Madrid), responsible for the design and testing of the photoluminescent sensors, and Gradiant (Galician R&D Center in Advanced Telecommunications), responsible for the design of the communications and data acquisition system. The system is validated in locations designated by the Hydrographic Confederation of the Duero River (CHD), the public authority that uses the technology and validates the prototypes.

ARQUIMEA boasts extensive experience in environmental measurement and monitoring, and therefore is responsible for the design of electronic equipment, such as luminescence detection electronics, and the design of mechanical equipment, such as protection and sensor housings, as well as the construction and works of the different prototypes for the different locations. In addition, the technology company will be responsible for the design of the autonomous power supply system required under the contract and for the integration of the entire system and the maintenance of the metering systems until March 2023.

The prototype is validated at the Hydrographic Confederation of the Duero River, at locations selected for their different environmental and hydrographic characteristics. Taking into account the characteristics of each location, the prototypes will be designed as in-line (the sample is taken from the water and brought to the location of the measurement equipment) or submerged (the sensor equipment is located in the river or riverbed).

The technology company will provide an innovative solution for monitoring surface water quality, based on luminescent sensors, as there is currently nothing similar on the market.