How We Detect Polluted Water
Our system measures turbidity and electrical conductivity to identify signs of water pollution. Turbidity measures water cloudiness caused by suspended particles, while electrical conductivity helps estimate total dissolved solids (TDS). Using our selected thresholds, the system flags water as potentially polluted when estimated TDS exceeds 500 ppm or turbidity exceeds 10 NTU.
Where the Water Goes
If the water exceeds either pollution threshold, our system directs it to the Rochester Water Reclamation Plant for treatment. Otherwise, it follows its usual drainage route toward the Zumbro River, just as it would without our system.
Our Future Goals
Our next goal is to explore fluorescence-based methods for detecting PFAS in water. We want to build and test a prototype, evaluate its accuracy, and investigate how it could work alongside our existing sensors to expand our system’s ability to identify pollution in runoff.