In response to a crude oil spill in 2016 on the Kentucky River, Kentucky’s Emergency Response Team (ERT) purchased three NexSens data buoys with the intention of deploying the small platform systems in a future environmental emergency.
Challenge: Quick Deployment and Critical Data Collection
First and foremost, any monitoring solution needs to be deployed quickly. A large monitoring system would require heavy machinery and large vessels for deployment, making emergency deployment more difficult.
The monitoring goal of the buoys is twofold:
- Collect critical data that help minimize and evaluate damages in environmental emergencies.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of various mitigation strategies following an environmental emergency.
Because the buoys may be deployed in response to a chemical spill or oil spill that can negatively impact water quality, the buoys need to be instrumented with standard water quality monitoring sensors and be able to measure petroleum products.
Solution: Lightweight Data Buoys and Real-Time Data Viewing
The smaller NexSens buoys are the ideal solution for rapid deployment scenarios, as they can be easily deployed from a smaller boat. In cases where multiple buoys need to be deployed, the smaller systems can be transported simultaneously without needing heavy lifting equipment.
Each buoy is equipped with a YSI EXO3 sonde to monitor temperature, pH, specific conductance, dissolved oxygen, and turbidity. The buoys are also fitted with a Turner C3 for measuring crude oil and refined petroleum.
The buoys are also equipped with a NexSens data logger, which allows the data to be viewed in real-time on WQData LIVE.
Benefits: Easy Data Access and Informed Emergency Response
Robert Blair, branch manager for the Emergency Response Team, explains, “The ability to monitor water quality in real-time guides our actions and response to a hazardous material release. We can track the location of the contaminant of concern to determine the efficacy of mitigation activities and provide advanced warning to those who might be impacted.”
He continues, “The primary example being the ability to advise a drinking water intake to shut down and allow contaminants to pass by without drawing them into their system. This remote sensing capability also provides ERT with a larger span of control while utilizing fewer staff and resources to assess impacts.”
The flexibility of the buoys and real-time data collection allows the team to monitor water quality over a large area, tracking the migration of hazardous materials after a contamination event, which makes forecasting future events and impacts easier and helps create mitigation strategies.
An additional benefit of the buoys is that the real-time and continuous data collection limits the need for manual grab sampling, saving personnel costs and time in the field.
The Bottom Line
Fortunately, since their purchase in 2016, the buoys have not needed to be deployed in response to an emergency. Regardless, having the buoys on hand makes immediate deployment possible.
In cases of chemical or oil spills, time is of the essence in terms of mitigating damages and facilitating clean-up efforts. Being able to deploy the buoys wherever necessary quickly is a key component of responding to such emergencies.
Equipment
The X3 data logger offers the latest in real-time monitoring technology with wireless communication, a large plug-and-play sensor library, and ultra-low power consumption.
WQData LIVE is a web-based project management service that allows users 24/7 instant access to data collected from remote telemetry systems.
The Turner Designs C3 Submersible Fluorometer is designed to incorporate up to three optical sensors ranging from the ultraviolet to the infrared spectrum.
The YSI EXO3 is a purpose-built sonde for monitoring major water quality parameters, including: pH, conductivity, temperature, turbidity and dissolved oxygen.
The CB-75 data buoy is a compact, affordable, and easy to deploy platform for both water and atmospheric observations.