The installation of the Fautaua monitoring system is complete – French Polynesia
To improve the water quality of the Fautaua River located in French Polynesia, the Environment Services (DIREN) has completed the installation of the monitoring system of the river.
The Fautaua River’s study conducted in 2018 showed that this stream was the only one considered having “average” ecological health compared to all those in the Papeete urban area that are degraded. Although the Fautaua River is impacted by the various activities in the valley, its health status can still be improved. Subsequently, the river master plan established between 2019 and 2020 highlighted a lack of data regarding water quality.
In partnership with PROTEGE, the Environment Department has therefore installed a network to monitor the water quality of the river. This system is based on 3 stations located upstream (natural zone), in the middle industrial and residential zone, and at the river mouth.
Each station is fitted with a probe that continuously monitors the evolution of 8 physico-chemical parameters (including pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen level, conductivity, presence of nitrates or suspended solids) and thus detects incidents causing pollution.
Real-time data is sent via the GSM network to the DIREN for processing and analysis. The digital interface (data portal) allows easy editing of curves tracing the evolution of the selected parameters as well as superimposing them to highlight their possible correlations, and to export the data in spreadsheet form.
The device delivery has been approved in March 2022, to the great satisfaction of the users, according to Tuterai VIRAU, head of rivers and aquatic environments projects within the "Protection of Environments" and natural resources unit at the DIREN and initiator of this project.
Copyright photo: DIREN PF
