Rarotonga, the largest and most populous of the Cook Islands, is a popular destination for beach-loving tourists who enjoy swimming, snorkeling and boating in its picturesque lagoon. However, between November 2003 and May 2004, Rarotonga was hit with a debilitating "irritant syndrome" characterized by painful burning sensations, skin rashes, throat irritation, and breathing difficulties. Thought to be caused by a harmful algal bloom (HAB), the Ministry of Marine Resources (MMR) established a water quality monitoring program in order to be better prepared for future outbreaks. Yet continued problems with poor water quality and fish poisoning continued to plague Rarotonga's fragile environment as well as its economy, which relies heavily on tourism sector.

Last year, MMR was able to purchase the YSI EMM68 automated water quality monitoring buoy with funding support provided by the Australian government agency AusAid. Thanks to this much-needed upgrade to MMR's water quality monitoring program, paradise may not be lost after all.

Deployed in the Muri lagoon, the solar-powered buoy monitors water temperature, salinity, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, blue great algae and chlorophyll, sending data to MMR staff every 15 minutes via satellite. This automated system has been a crucial step towards mitigating algae problems in the Cook Islands since it eliminates the need to send manual water samples to New Zealand for analysis - a time consuming and expensive process. Real-time, automated water quality data has also enabled MMR to issue timely and effective public health warnings when the threat of an algal bloom is detected.

Improved monitoring is a crucial first step towards developing a long term strategy to preserve the unique marine environment of the Cook Islands. Though reports of HAB's in the Pacific Islands date back to the 17th century, population growth, poor effluent discharge practices and poor coastal development planning have greatly increased both the rate and impact of toxic algae outbreaks. The long-term benefits of investing in an automated water quality monitoring system are already apparent. Local government officials have been able to use the data obtained from the buoy to promote improved farming practices. Additionally, researchers are using the improved water quality data to design different sanitation systems better suited to the unique environment of Rarotonga. 

Located about 90 miles north of Dayton, Grand Lake St. Marys covers 13,000 acres -- making it Ohio's largest man-made lake. Ample opportunities for swimming, boating, camping and fishing have made it a popular destination for tourists and residents alike. Recently, however, recreational activities came to a screeching halt when burgeoning algal populations prompted state officials to post advisories against swimming, wading and inadvertently swallowing the water.

All over the country, there has been an alarming increase in swimming and fishing advisories caused by harmful algal blooms (HABs). Caused in part by nutrient-laden runoff from surrounding residential developments and agricultural land, excessive algal growth can produce toxins can cause liver damage and severe gastrointestinal illness. So when these harmful algal blooms were detected in Ohio's Grand Lake St. Marys, state officials didn't hesitate to reach out to local experts.

Working hand in hand with Ohio-based YSI, The Ohio Department of Natural Resources and Ohio EPA installed a system of automated water quality monitoring stations to track Grand Lake's algae populations. The monitoring stations are located at the four corners of the lake, and provide department staff with real-time water quality data every 15 minutes. Not only has this automated water quality monitoring system saved department staff a lot of time and money, the comprehensive real-time data obtained by these monitoring stations has proven to be far superior to that of manual sampling methods.

While ODNR and Ohio EPA combat the algal growth with concentrated doses of aluminum sulfate, YSI automated water quality monitoring systems are providing the information that will aid water quality managers in precisely targeting these alum treatments. By studying parameters like dissolved oxygen,  pH, water temperature, conductivity and turbidity, water quality managers also hope to gain a better understanding of what conditions trigger an algal bloom to produce the toxins.

Alum treatment is one of many short-term solutions being employed to lessen algal blooms and bring tourists back to the region, but the state also has its sights set on the long term solution. County, state, and federal officials and local farmers are working hand-in-hand within the lake's watershed to reduce nutrient-laden run-off, stabilize eroding stream banks, and restore wetland ecosystems. These public-private partnerships will continue to be the key driver in ensuring that the economic, social and environmental services provided by Grand Lake St. Marys are protected and maintained far into the future.

The overpowering stench was the first thing that scientists encountered when responding to a fish kill alert at California's Redondo Beach early on March 8, 2011. More than two million sardines - that's 175 tons - suddenly perished and floated to the surface of King Harbor that morning and over the next few days, echoing previous fish die-offs that occurred in the same waters in 2003 and 2005. But unlike those previous fish kills, this time the scientists were prepared.

Redondo Beach is more than just a mecca for surfers and sunbathers, it has also become the home of an innovative water quality monitoring system called the EcoMapper. Affectionately known as "Boomer," the city's EcoMapper is no ordinary piece of monitoring equipment. It is a self-propelled autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) equipped with sensors that continuously measure temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll, and algal pigments in the water column. Quietly patrolling the depths of King Harbor, the EcoMapper keeps scientists updated with real-time water quality information every 30 minutes without anyone getting their feet wet.

Fish kills often occur when the algae population rises dramatically due to a sudden increase in available nutrients. This algal bloom can cause a rapid depletion of oxygen in the water column, effectively suffocating fish and other aquatic life. When an algal bloom triggered massive fish kills in King Harbor in 2003 and 2005, city officials and University of Southern California (USC) scientists decided that they needed to ramp up their efforts to protect the harbor and its vulnerable aquatic life. In 2006, USC researchers started taking weekly water samples and the next year, deployed the YSI EcoMapper as part of a long term study aimed at understanding and predicting algal bloom events.  The EcoMapper's ability to simultaneously map the ocean floor and collect real-time water quality data makes it an incredibly useful tool, since it enables scientists to see a detailed view of the entire physical and chemical make-up of the marina.

USC lead researcher, David Caron, and his team have been compiling and analyzing data collected by the EcoMapper, an instrument they say has allowed them to gain an unprecedented glimpse into how a fish kill event of this magnitude occurs. "This allows us to have a finger on the pulse of what's going on out there," Caron says. The light-weight, torpedo-shaped EcoMapper can easily be deployed by just one person, and can be fitted with multiple sensors that can collect up to 10 water quality parameters. Its ability to produce high-resolution maps of water quality while on the move makes it a uniquely valuable instrument for tracking the movement of "dead zones," or plumes of oxygen-depleted water, as well as toxic algal blooms -- which can result in serious public health concerns.

With Boomer's help, Caron and his research team hope to predict and possibly even prevent events like this in King Harbor.  This would not only help safeguard the health of the marina's aquatic life, it could potentially save the city of Redondo Beach hundreds of thousands of dollars in fish kill clean-up costs.  Already, the city of Redondo Beach has been able to investigate the possibility of installing an oxygenation system at the harbor, which could be used when algal biomass levels start to rise to dangerous levels.

Predicting the occurrence of harmful algal blooms would also enable city officials to issue more effective public warnings. With the EcoMapper in place, Redondo Beach residents and tourists can rest assured that they have a vigilant guardian keeping round-the-clock watch on the health of their harbor.

According to World Watch Institute, global natural gas usage skyrocketed to a record 111 trillion cubic feet in 2010, putting natural gas's share of global energy consumption at almost 25 percent. Natural gas producers are responding by boosting their production and finding ways to improve their extraction methods.

The process of extracting gas from shale rock formations--called hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking"--has come under increased scrutiny due to possible impacts on water quality. Establishing a reliable frac monitoring protocol is essential due to the massive quantities of water required during fracking, as well as the various chemicals and minerals that could potentially pose significant threats to human and environmental health.

The most effective way to ensure that water quality is being maintained and adequately protected during the entire fracking process is to utilize a real-time monitoring system. Customized YSI 6600 V2-4 multiparameter sondes have been successfully deployed by The Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC) to provide continuous, real-time data on local waterways to determine the impacts of fracking operations in the Susquehanna Watershed. As part of a 50-station remote water quality monitoring network, YSI equipment is helping on two fronts--to provide reliable, long-term data about the true impacts of fracking and to ensure that the groundwater and surface water throughout the watershed is protected.

Following the steps below can ensure that regional water quality is safeguarded during fracking operations.

• Collect Baseline Data. Before drilling a well, it is important to collect baseline water quality data from nearby groundwater and surface water systems. YSI multiparameter monitoring equipment can ensure that regional water quality is understood before drilling activities begin.

• Monitor Ground Water.  Many YSI field instruments have a small diameter and can easily fit down a 2-inch well, allowing you to continuously monitor aquifer water quality for a wide range of factors.

• Monitor Surface Water. Continuous monitoring instruments can be set up to autonomously record data at predefined intervals. Data can either be stored in the system for later download or transmitted via telemetry.

• Sample Flow Back Water. YSI sampling or process monitors can be used to monitor the on-site treatment of back flow water for a variety of parameters.

YSI experts will work with you to design a frac monitoring system that meets the requirements of your site, and the constraints of your budget. Fill out our online form today and get a free quote for a frac monitoring system that fits your unique monitoring needs.