Fernandez, P.N.J.; Fernandez, E.G.B.; Cadondon, J.G., and Subade, R.F., 2024. Enhancing coastal management through the design and development of an in situ water quality monitoring system. Journal of Coastal Research, 40(6), 1090–1102. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208.
The Philippines, with its extensive coastline rich in water resources, faces challenges because of the heavy reliance of residents on coastal waters for recreation and livelihood. This leads to water quality deterioration. Balancing human development with environmental protection necessitates regular, close monitoring of water resources. Traditional methods of water quality analysis are time-consuming and labor-intensive, and regular monitoring is financially burdensome. This study introduces the design and development of a customized water quality monitoring device as an alternative to traditional laboratory analysis. The device is portable, user-friendly, and capable of rapidly gathering real-time data. It features a multiparameter sensor that simultaneously measures temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), and electrical conductivity (EC). After testing and calibration, the device showed a mean error of 0.91°C for temperature, –0.025 mg/L for DO, 0.09 for pH, and 0.033 mS/cm for EC. Forty seawater samples from nine Environmental Management Bureau coastline monitoring stations were analyzed using the device. Comparison with commercially available in situ devices showed a moderate coefficient of determination for DO and pH and a high coefficient of determination for EC and temperature, indicating that some environmental and user-related factors affect readings. Insights from empirical results and consultations with local stakeholders will inform future improvements of the device. Implementing this prototype can help to inform decisions on resource management, pollution control, and public health protection. Real-time data can aid in early detection of contaminants and pollution sources, which allows swift remedial action, and adaptive management practices.
