ResilienTogether is creating a Smart Catchment. It is using innovative technology and practices to reduce flood risk, enhance the water environment and improve community resilience in the Pix Brook in the face of climate change.
Read more about what we have learnt and the advantages and disadvantages: Water quality measurement: Fixed-site vs portable autosamplers
Selecting the most suitable sampler for SuDS-specific monitoring is pivotal to achieving a reliable and accurate water quality monitoring programme. To identify the most appropriate sampler, the sampling location and it’s accessibility, the desired level of automation or manual control and the logistics of sampling must be considered alongside project aims.
The digest draws from the University of Exeter’s ‘SuDS-specific water quality monitoring in the Pix Brook Catchment: A review of available technologies’ report. Understanding the differences between fixed-site autosamplers and portable autosamplers is essential to selecting the most suitable kit and the field location where it will be deployed.
Fixed-site autosamplers
- Consistent data
- Unattended monitoring over extended periods of time
- Ideal for establishing trends and baselines
- More predictable sample collection allowing for better coordination with laboratory testing
Portable autosamplers
- Versatile for field applications
- Provide mobility and flexibility to sampling
- Suitable for remote locations if battery-powered
- Remotely triggered at specific times to capture useful data
Fixed-site autosamplers
- Installation requires infrastructure and a power source
- Often unsuitable for remote places or challenging terrains
Portable autosamplers
- More frequent maintenance and monitoring
- Careful planning to ensure samples are transported and analysed promptly to maintain accuracy