Rivers and Natural Assets, UK

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Rivers are both complex ecosystems and valuable natural resources. Polluted river water can have a harmful effect on wildlife, and can increase the cost of treating extracted water for drinking.

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However, rivers across Europe face many challenges. Damaging nutrients from agricultural run-off or sewage overflows can have a negative impact on water quality, causing eutrophication and build-up of algae. Harmful bacteria can effect the health of wildlife and people. It is estimated that high levels of nitrates in river water can increase the cost of treatment by x40.

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The ability to remotely and continuously monitor water in rivers or reservoirs has significant benefits over current processes – which typically require manual sample collection for lab analysis.

 

UnifAI is working with a Wessex Water, a major UK water utility who are using UnifAI’s sensing and AI to provide:

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• An early warning system for harmful pollution events

• Alerts for bathers and river users

• Real-time pollution "track and trace"

• Infrastructure and asset monitoring

• Low cost sensing converged with AI to provide real-time alerts for the presence of harmful bacteria such as E.Coli and Enterococci 

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In early 2022 UnifAI Technology and Wessex Water launched a beta version of the UK's first AI-powered web application that gives recreational river users near-real-time water quality information against DEFRA bathing water quality standards.

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In July 2022 UnifAI Technology and Wessex Water were recognised with the UK Water Industry's prestigious Digitalisation Project of the Year Award.

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