Electrical conductivity measurements indicate groundwater quality

The Takomo project has installed electrical conductivity sensors in three groundwater wells in the Kokkola Industrial Park. The electrical conductivity of groundwater indicates the water's ability to conduct electricity, which increases due to salts and other impurities in the water.

For years, joint monitoring of the Patamäki groundwater area has suspected that seawater is rising into a well located near the seashore in the vicinity of the KIP area. Now, a continuously operating sensor measuring electrical conductivity has been installed in the well as part of the project. When the electrical conductivity rises in the well, it is possible to take a water sample and examine it in a laboratory to determine the cause of the rise.

Two other electrical conductivity sensors are located in groundwater wells inside the industrial area. If necessary, the electrical conductivity sensors can be moved to other wells in the KIP area.

A combination sensor that also measures the groundwater level (pressure sensor) has been used to measure electrical conductivity. The devices are programmed to send data every four hours to the university center's database via the LoRa radio network built in the project area.

To verify the measurement results, comparative measurements have been made with different electrical conductivity mixtures and water samples from the measurement wells using a hand-held electrical conductivity meter.