2010 Stormwater Conference GEO-SPATI ALLY WEB-I NTERFACED TELEMETRI C MONI TORI NG SYSTEM TO TRACK CONTAMI NANT TRANSPORT Aisling D. O’Sullivan, Daniel Wicke and Tom A. Cochrane, Hydrological and Ecological Engineering Group, Department of Civil and Natural Resources Engineering, University of Canterbury, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand ABSTRACT Analyzing contaminant loading from individual storm runoff events is expensive and often insufficient for realistic catchment-modelling predictions. We developed a near real-time telemetric monitoring system that measures base and storm flow and contaminant transport on a campus waterway. The monitoring system was implemented using a mesh network of radio transmitters linked to environmental sensors. This cost- effective system is equipped with in-stream sensors for monitoring discharge, turbidity, temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH and conductivity. A coupled weather station provides complementary data including rainfall intensity, duration, droplet size, temperature, and other climatic parameters. Data are relayed through the wireless network and logged onto an online computer, which is interfaced to Google maps on a dedicated web portal. An automatic sampler can also be added to the system to provide programmed sampling to track event driven contamination. Continuous water quality and discharge monitoring is helping to refine our modelling predictions of contaminant loading to urban waterways and is being extended to trigger an alert system when significant contaminant transport occurs. Supplementary metal analysis of baseflow water and in-stream sediments is revealing insight into contaminant transport and fate in a unique hydro-ecosystem that is actually dependent on contaminated water for flow. KEYWORDS Water quality, telemetry, contaminant transport, stormwater, modelling, geo-spatial PRESENTER PROFI LE Aisling D. O’Sullivan, Ph.D., is a senior lecturer in the Department of Civil and Natural Resources Engineering at the University of Canterbury since 2004. Her research interests are in water quality monitoring and modelling, ecological engineered treatment systems and waste reuse. 1 I NTRODUCTI ON The Okeover Stream in Christchurch, New Zealand was originally a spring-fed hydro- ecosystem but now its ephemeral section relies solely on untreated stormwater for flow. The perennial reach primarily receives aquifer discharge used to regulate climatic conditions in neighbouring buildings but it was recently revealed that this source is contaminated from deteriorating copper piping discharging air-conditioning water (O’Sullivan et al., in review). The stream’s disconnection with groundwater results from nearby urbanisation. Despite the aesthetically pleasing condition, contaminated inputs are believed to impair the ecological integrity of this ecosystem (Blakely & Harding, 2005).