Understanding river health is critical for biodiversity, safe drinking water, and human well-being. Oxygen dissolved in water (DO) sustains fish, aquatic plants, and insects, foundations of ecosystem health. Even small changes in DO or water temperature can dramatically affect these communities and, by extension, people and economies relying on these rivers.
Fish, insects, and most aquatic organisms need oxygen to survive. DO is a direct indicator of water quality; low levels can quickly stress or kill sensitive species like trout. DO is measured in milligrams per
litre (mg/L) or as a percentage.
Healthy rivers typically have DO levels around 12mg/L (trout thrive), but levels below 7mg/L cause stress, and below 4mg/L can be fatal.
DO varies with temperature: as water warms, it holds less oxygen.
The percentage (%) value shows “how close to full” the water’s oxygen content is at that temperature. Drops well below 100% often signal pollution events or algal blooms.
Water temperature not only affects DO, but directly influences aquatic life. Warmer water means less oxygen and higher risk for fish and invertebrates, especially during summer or pollution events. Monitoring temperature alongside DO gives a complete picture of short-term stress and long-term river health.
There are many factors in river pollution: pH, turbidity, nutrients (phosphates, nitrates), chemical spills, sewage, microplastics, invasive species, and more. Yet almost all major disruptions eventually show up as a drop in oxygen or a spike in temperature.
By concentrating on these two core measurements, AquaSensor delivers the most direct, immediate, and actionable insights at the lowest possible cost. This allows entire rivers to be monitored in real-time, rather than just isolated points, supporting rapid response and accountability.
We source best-in-class DO/temperature probes and connect them to rugged, weatherproof sensor units. Each sensor is designed for continuous operation in challenging river environments.
Data is transferred from the sensor to an above-water control unit via a waterproof cable, then transmitted, securely and automatically, over 4G and satellite networks to our cloud platform.
Our system uses off-the-shelf IoT boards, robust batteries with solar recharging, and advanced cyber security, so data is accurate, uninterrupted, and tamper-proof.
The cloud dashboard delivers real-time alerts, historical trends, and legally defensible records, supporting efficient compliance, research, and restoration.
