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Why use the Water Quality App?
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Advantages:
- Test strips are easy to use
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- Speed of measurements is relatively quick (e.g., 1 minute for nitrate)
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- Measurement result is readily available
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- Low cost per measurement
- Smartphones can read measurement accurately and objectively
- Results can be sent directly to a database and/or online platform
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- Measurements can be viewed immediately and compared to the local context
Disadvantages:
- Limited accuracy of test strips (especially at low concentrations)
Getting started
To collect water quality measurements, you need the following:
- Jar with test strips (for nitrate, use Hach test strips: http://www.hach.com/nitrate-and-nitrite-test-strips/product?id=7640211606)
- Deltares legend card
- Cup
- Smartphone with Water Quality App
(other measurements, standards, or study area characteristics).Deltares has developed the Water Quality App to allow the test strips to be read quickly and efficiently. The test strips are placed on a card with a color legend (the same size as a bank card) and photographed through the app. The app uses image processing software to compare the color of the test strip against the legend. Since the strip and legend are side by side in the picture, errors due to variations in light, phone type or picture settings are expected to be minimal. The app then displays the measurement and the user has the option to send the result. If the user agrees, the measurement, along with metadata (time, location), are sent over the Internet to a server. If an Internet connection is not available, the data is prepared and is automatically sent when the phone is connected to Wi-Fi. Once on the server, measurements can be verified, visualized, edited, etc. This method can easily be applied to other parameters or types of test strips.
Getting started
To collect water quality measurements, you need the following:
- Jar with test strips (for nitrate, use Hach test strips: http://www.hach.com/nitrate-and-nitrite-test-strips/product?id=7640211606)
- Deltares legend card
- Cup
- Smartphone with Water Quality App
Check out our tips and tricks to get started!
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