Qingzhen expands water quality monitoring network

Southwest China's Qingzhen city is undergoing a major expansion of its network of automated water quality monitoring stations, in a move aimed at improving the water quality in its rivers, according to local officials.

Officials said Qingzhen has just completed building 11 new stations and overhauling and refurbishing two others, investing a total of 15.48 million yuan ($2.20 million) in the program. 

To date, six of the new stations have started trial operations and construction work on the remaining stations has been completed.

The water quality monitoring stations are backed up by a big data management information system, which uses modern technologies such as big data, cloud computing and remote sensors.

The system monitors water quality in real time, as well as water levels and the surrounding environment of the river. 

Officials said the stations have probes which can go deep into the river and draw water, making analysis of water quality. The flowmeters and the rain gauges installed on the stations can monitor water volumes and rainfall.

All data and analysis results can be transmitted over a wireless network to the big data management center for rivers in Guiyang.

Officials said after the new network of monitoring stations swings into operation, water quality as well as related environmental problems can be detected in time.

They added that as a result, the water quality monitoring stations can provide scientific evidence for the healthy development of rivers.