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Design and implementation of a low-cost multiparameter probe to evaluate the temporal variations of water quality conditions on an estuarine lagoon system

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Abstract

The measurement of physicochemical variables to infer water quality is important since they help determine the distribution and abundance of aquatic organisms or pollution-related problems. Recently, the development of low-cost probes is a suitable alternative for continuous monitoring of these variables rather than the use of expensive instruments. In this work, a low-cost multiparameter probe (LCMP) has been developed to monitor water quality in an estuary located in Northwestern Mexico during a 3-month period. The LCMP integrates different sensors to an Arduino Nano microcontroller allowing to measure electrical conductivity, dissolved oxygen, pH, salinity, water temperature, and tide level. Data files were stored in a data logger system consisting of a secure digital (SD) card module and a real-time clock module coupled to the Arduino microcontroller. To ensure continuous operation, the system was powered by four 3.7 V, 10,000 mAh rechargeable LiPo batteries. All LCMP components were encapsulated in a polyvinyl chloride pipe. The results show that the LCMP had a good agreement with a commercial-grade multiparameter probe and was able to monitor continuously in hourly time steps. Finally, the LCMP proved to be an alternative for the establishment of coastal observatories, which has been deficient due to limited funding.

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Acknowledgments

We would also like to thank Eduardo Mendívil-Alvarez and Karol Granados for their support and help in all field activities.

Funding

We received support from the Mexican National Council for Science and Technology (CONACYT) through the funded project National Laboratory of Coastal Resilience (Grant LN-293354 and LN-299063). Additional funding was provided by PROFAPI-ITSON 2019-0118 and 2019-186.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Ciencias del Agua y Medio Ambiente, Instituto Tecnológico de Sonora, 5 de Febrero 818 sur, Ciudad Obregón, 85000, Sonora, Mexico

    L. A. Méndez-Barroso, J. A. Rivas-Márquez & A. Robles-Morúa

  2. Laboratorio Nacional de Resiliencia Costera (LANRESC), Northwest headquarters, Ciudad Obregón, Mexico

    L. A. Méndez-Barroso & I. Sosa-Tinoco

  3. Departamento de Ingeniería Electrica y Electrónica, Instituto Tecnológico de Sonora, Ciudad Obregón, Mexico

    I. Sosa-Tinoco

Authors
  1. L. A. Méndez-Barroso
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  2. J. A. Rivas-Márquez
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  3. I. Sosa-Tinoco
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  4. A. Robles-Morúa
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Correspondence to L. A. Méndez-Barroso.

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Méndez-Barroso, L.A., Rivas-Márquez, J.A., Sosa-Tinoco, I. et al. Design and implementation of a low-cost multiparameter probe to evaluate the temporal variations of water quality conditions on an estuarine lagoon system. Environ Monit Assess 192, 710 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-020-08677-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-020-08677-5

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