The purpose of this project is to develop an innovative integrated deployable device for the detection of pollution in water using innovative, state-of-the-art microfluidic technology. The consortium for this project is made up of partners from Ireland (T.E Laboratories and Dublin City University),UK (University of Southampton, Williams Industrial Services), Turkey (Kalite Sistem) and Italy (R.T. Environment).

The AQUAWARN device will be used for monitoring importantwater quality parameters in wastewater and environmental waters. Under environmental legislation such as the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) and related Directives on Dangerous Substances (76/464/EEC), Groundwater (80/68/EEC), Drinking Water (80/778/EEC) and Urban Wastewater Treatment (91/271/EEC); there is an increasing requirement to monitor the quality of wastewater and water bodies.

The AQUAWARN device will be low-cost, transportable and deployable; it will provide high quality data and field-worthy equipment. The environmental monitoring system will be linked to a process control device and auto-sampler. In addition, data and/or an alarm will be sent to a mobile phone/laptop. The device will allow environmental agencies, industrial bodies etc. to monitor and respond efficiently to spatial and temporal changes in water quality.

Aquawarn will run for 2 years for a budget of €1.1M. The consortium involved in the AQUAWARN project will achieve its objectives and exploit the results. The RTDs have strong research expertise and the SMEs have a clear commercial interest in this topic. The global market for environmental sensing and monitoring technologies was worth $13 billion of economic activity at present with a projected average annual growth of 5.4% through to 2016 (BCC Research, 2011). All four SMEs involved in the project recognise the potential benefit of owning the IP of the AQUAWARN prototype and are in the position to benefit from and exploit the prototype IP commercially.