SF scientists build robotic storm samplers to track pollutants before they reach the Bay

"And this is a front-line pollution sampler. It's getting the stormwater before it enters the Bay. And so, we want to know what's coming into the Bay and getting these samplers out there in more locations will give us a better idea of where we might have issues, where a hotspot is, or maybe a previously unknown contaminant."

"It's important to get out that fast. You know, in these storms as they're happening, because the water is picking up pollutants in real time, and we need to be there to capture them."

"So, we've got our sampler. Look at the battery. Hook that up, red and black. This is a 12-volt lithium battery, and it powers our sampler for probably about six to seven days."

Environmental scientists from the San Francisco Estuary Institute use portable robotic samplers to monitor water quality in watersheds flowing into San Francisco Bay. These self-contained units, powered by 12-volt lithium batteries, anchor at key locations to measure water flow, chemicals, and pollutants. The samplers collect data during storms when water picks up contaminants in real time. This technology represents an advancement from previous hand-sampling methods, allowing scientists to cover more locations and identify pollution hotspots or previously unknown contaminants before stormwater enters the Bay.

Read at ABC7 San Francisco