South Hams District Council launches new "water quality monitoring project"

South Hams District Council is ramping up efforts to help tackle water pollution with a monitoring project, launched today.  

Cutting-edge kit from local marine tech firm Teledyne Valeport will enable the public to see "real-time data on the quality of water in key areas across the district for the very first time".

The project aims to make water quality data more accessible – so communities, experts and agencies can better understand what’s happening in our rivers and estuaries and take action together.

While the council is only responsible for the water quality regulations at designated bathing waters, it's committed to working with others to improve water quality across the board.

Water sensor

Councillors and project partners gathered on 14 August to mark the handover of the new monitoring kit from Teledyne to the Council. Once installed, the sensors will run continuously and work together to detect changes in the water that may indicate pollution.

For the first time, real-time data will be shared publicly via an online dashboard launching in late 2025.

The council has teamed up with like-minded local groups who’ve long been pushing for better river health. From the Yealm to the Avon, Dart, Erme and Salcombe-Kingsbridge Estuary, community-led river and estuary groups have helped shape the project from the start – including advising on the best locations for sensors and helping spread the word locally.

Cllr John McKay, Executive Member for Climate Change and Biodiversity, at South Hams District Council, said: “This is a brilliant example of what can happen when communities, researchers and businesses join forces to tackle real problems.

"Local groups have been key to shaping this project – and now we’re giving them, and everyone else, access to real-time water quality data so we can all play a part in protecting our rivers and coastline.”

The project is government funded and being delivered in partnership with Innovate UK, the University of Plymouth and Teledyne Valeport. It also has support from the Environment Agency and local harbourmasters.

Amy Thompson, Teledyne Valeport Innovation and Product Manager, said: “At a time when concerns about water quality have understandably come to the forefront, we’re pleased to be working alongside South Hams District Council on this project.

"Our sensors have the ability to provide the kind of real-time insights into water quality that we hope will enable decisions around tackling water pollution that benefit both the environment and the local communities.

“This project is utilising our latest sensors, all designed and manufactured at our Totnes facility. It’s incredibly rewarding to see our instruments that are used worldwide being applied to such an important local initiative."

Experts from the University of Plymouth will be supporting the deployment of the sensors and then working with the project partners to analyse the data generated once it becomes available.

Simon Ussher, Professor of Marine and Analytical Chemistry at the University, said: “There are many things that impact water quality in our rivers and seas, and gathering observations and data is critical if we are to make positive changes for the future.

"This project will be a significant step towards that in the South Hams, helping us to prevent future environmental degradation of our waterways by improving awareness and understanding within our local communities.”