Musselmonitor

Latest developments:

• a new presentation program: Present ^IT (more details)
• remote control of one or more Musselmonitors via internet?
  Use the Present ^IT.net facility (more details)
• to overcome the food problem in treated tap water we are currently developing an Automated Feeding Device (AFD);
• the Waterworks of Budapest have now proven that the Mosselmonitor can be applied in (chlorinated) drinking water (zebra mussels are still alive and responding to chemicals for more than 3 months!); watch this site regularly for further details.

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Introduction

The Musselmonitor II (originally in Dutch: Mosselmonitor®) is a biological sensor for continuous on-line monitoring of surface waters, effluents, drinking water intakes, even of seawater. This system will evaluate the water quality also for compounds that are not tested through routine chemical analyses. Therefore, it is a broad spectrum sensor that operates unattended for weeks, 24 hours per day. At the occurrence of sudden pollution, the system will generate within minutes an alarm signal, which may induce automated sampling.

A remarkable feature of the Musselmonitor is, that eight living organisms (bivalves) are used as sensors. Under normal conditions the shells of mussels are open to allow respiration and feeding. Under adverse environmental conditions (pollution) the valves will close: the organisms is hiding from the hostile environment (escape behaviour). This valve movement is used as a biological effect parameter.

Bivalves used include the freshwater zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) and the marine blue mussel (Mytilus edulis), but also other mussels, clams and oysters are used successfully.

The Musselmonitor comes in two different forms (see figures below):

• an in situ version that can be employed directly in the aquatic environment (left)
• a flow-through version, for installation inside a monitoring station, laboratory, etc. (right).

The monitor is a stand alone unit; it contains all electronics required for measurement, data evaluation and communication. For data storage any PC can be used.

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For more technical details and sales or leasing: contact the producer Delta Consult at www.mosselmonitor.com.

For an illustration of the system, employed at a drinking water application: see this example.

Information about Mermayde or any question: Contact us.

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