As environmental pressures intensify and construction regulations become more stringent, maintaining and improving water quality has become increasingly important. As part of early-stage planning for a Transmission project in Elgin, Scotland, Balfour Beatty collaborated with Sunbelt Rentals to trial WATR, a real-time monitoring device, to generate baseline water quality data in advance of construction.
THE CHALLENGE
Conventional approaches to water quality monitoring rely on manual sampling, with technicians travelling to site to collect “grab samples” that are then sent to laboratories for analysis. While this approach is highly accurate, it presents several limitations:
- Speed – delays between sample collection and laboratory analysis can extend over several days or weeks, allowing issues to go unnoticed or escalate.
- Health and safety risks – on-site sampling may require individuals to operate alone in remote or high-risk environments.
- Limited frequency – samples provide only a snapshot at a single point in time, despite water quality being subject to rapid and often unseen changes.
- Manual record-keeping – logbook entries are susceptible to human error.
- Resource intensive – frequent travel to and from sites increases manpower requirements, time and costs.
THE SOLUTION
During an innovation event at Balfour Beatty’s Shotts facility, The WATR product was demonstrated to Joanne Mackenzie, Environmental Sustainability Manager at Balfour Beatty, who concluded the technology was well aligned with the requirements of the initial monitoring phase in Elgin.
WATR is capable of monitoring over 15 water quality parameters and transmits data using multiple communication methods, including GSM, LoRa, and satellite. This ensures robust and uninterrupted data delivery, even in remote locations such as the Elgin site.
By eliminating the need for manual sampling, WATR reduces site visits, improving both safety and operational efficiency. The availability of continuous live data enables Balfour Beatty to take a more proactive approach to environmental compliance, streamline site operations, and demonstrate a strong commitment to sustainable practices.
RESULTS
The introduction of the WATR Bankside system provided Balfour Beatty with continuous, reliable data, enabling the creation of a precise baseline before work began on site.
The dataset also demonstrated how adverse weather conditions influenced water quality in Elgin throughout the monitoring period. Higher rainfall levels drove additional runoff into the system, resulting in more acidic conditions and reduced clarity as debris levels in the water increased.
– Joanne Mackenzie, Enviromental Sustainability Manager, Balfour BeattyThe WATR monitoring device transformed our approach to data collection at the Elgin site. It removed the need for site visits and manual sampling which significantly reduces the health and safety risks whilst also providing live data for real-time analysis and trend identification.
