Automated On-Site Water Sampling and Quality

Testing
Jairus Caleb H. Castro1, Kenneth Paulo C. Buing2, Brylle T. Gacusan3, Jolo Ali M. Regalado4
IEEE-MIT Student Branch, Mapa Institute of Technology
Intramuros, Manila, Philippines
1

jchcastro@mymail.mapua.edu.ph

kpcbuning@mymail.mapua.edu.ph

btgacusan@mymail.mapua.edu.ph

jamregalado@mymail.mapua.edu.ph

Abstract On-site water sampling and quality testing supports

the need of a research to obtain the results of the testing readily.
However, the old method of water sampling and testing, the
laboratory testing, can give a risk of false results. Even though
the laboratory testing is used in most cases, this method is tedious
and it takes days for the result to come up. For that reason, the
researchers came up with the idea of a device that is capable of
performing the sampling process and water quality testing onsite. This study aims to build an automated on-site water
sampling and quality testing system using GSM module for
distant transmission of results. The automated on-site water
sampling and quality testing was developed for and tested on
Laguna Lake, ideal for still water and unpolluted bodies of water.
The proponents of this study: tested and calibrated the pH
sensor, turbidity sensor, and temperature sensor; designed a
control circuit that would initialize the sampling unit (pump) and
testing unit, as well as the circuit of GSM module; and integrated
the said sensors and circuitry to the boat. The devices were able
to measure the turbidity, pH level, and dissolved oxygen using the
oxygen-temperature solubility relationship as content of the
water to be tested, and send it remotely using the GSM module
since the sampling unit is able to trigger the sensors as soon as
the water is transferred to the container and the GSM module
automatically sends the result remotely by the time the result of
the testing is transferred to the microcontroller. The results
obtained from the device are then compared to the result of the
laboratory testing using one sample two-tailed t-test and found
out that there is a significant difference between the two. Further
experimentation supporting the previous tests reveals time as a
considerable factor affecting the test results. On the other hand,
Analysis of variance is used in the case of the comparison
between the results obtained from different sampling points and
found out that there were no significant differences between the
results.
Keywords Water Sampling, Laboratory Testing, GSM Module,
Sampling Unit, Testing Unit

I. INTRODUCTION
Water is an invaluable resource. It provides drinking
water and important inputs for many industries as well as
facilities for recreation and leisure. Both maintaining and
improving water quality, which is established using many

determinants and characteristics, is therefore of crucial

importance. The cleanliness and safety of water is of
utmost importance since millions of citizens rely on water
supplies. The Philippines is known to be rich in water
resources but these resources are exploited by industrial
effluence and domestic waste. Ensuring the cleanliness of
water supplies can be done by water sampling and testing
but these tests can only be done on laboratories. The
problem is that sampling water quality can be a tedious
task for a water quality tester since testing often requires
recurring site visit.
A risk of the sample quality
deterioration can also occur due to long travel times as
well as improper sample preservation.
The study aims to build an automated on-site water
sampling and quality testing system using GSM module. In
order to attain the main objective, the following specific
objectives are to be achieved: (1) to build a remote-controlled
boat which collects water samples and tests for the quality onsite; (2) to integrate GSM in the system for the transmission of
water testing results to a mobile phone; (3) to determine if
there is a significant variation between the obtained results by
the automated on-site water sampling and quality testing
system and the actual laboratory results using variance
technique; to support this objective, an experiment will be
conducted by testing a single sample of water in the course of
five hours in order to determine if time is a considerable factor
affecting the results; and, (4) to determine the significance of
variation of the Turbidity, Dissolved Oxygen (DO) as a
function of temperature, and pH on-site test readings starting
at a point ten meters from the shore with a 10-meter increment
per sampling point up to three points on the Laguna Lake.
II. METHODOLOGY
Below is a framework encompasses the process involved in
the development of the on-site water sampling and testing
device.

A pH Sensor
To measure the acidity or basicity of an aqueous solution, a
pH sensor was used. The Milwaukee pH 600 was used as the
pH sensor. The pH sensor had also a microchip which is
ICL7126, 3 Digit, Low Power, Single Chip A/D Converter,
a high performance with necessary active devices are
contained on a single CMOS IC. PIC18F4520 is integrated on
the pH sensor to transfer data from pH module.

Fig 1. Conceptual Framework

The main focus and outcome of the study is to be able to

create a mobile automated on-site water sampling and quality
testing using pH, turbidity and temperature sensors where the
latter is used to measure DO. To be able to arrive at that
outcome, testing and calibration of the sensors are necessary
for the success of the project. Integration of the sensors,
relays, GSM module, automated pump, DC motors and the
control circuit is needed in order to conduct water sampling
and quality testing in the Laguna Lake. For its success,
triggering the Xbee wireless module with PIC18F4520
microcontroller to control the automated pump with a set level
of a water sample is needed. The water from the lake will be
tested with parameters of pH, turbidity, and DO as a function
of temperature and the sampling system must deliver the data
to the recipient mobile phone via GSM module. If all of these
conditions are fulfilled, then the outcome is accomplished; but
if not, the cycle must be repeated starting at the section in
which problems arise.

Fig 3. pH Sensor Block Diagram

B Turbidity Sensor
To determine the measure of water clarity, specifically, how
much the material suspended in water decreases the passage of
light through the water, a turbidity sensor was used. The
turbidity sensor used in this thesis is an improvised, made out
of tube with Light-Dependent Resistor (LDR) and super bright
Light Emitting Diode (LED). The turbidity sensor is equipped
with only one pin: RA1 Analog Input 1 with series of 43k
with voltage supply of 5 Volts and parallel with the
combination of LDR and PIC16F4520.

Figure 4. Turbidity Sensor Block Diagram

C Dissolved Oxygen Sensor

To measure the amount of gaseous oxygen (O2) dissolved
in an aqueous solution, the group used the LM35 temperature
sensor for economic and less weight in the design prototype.
The features, calibrated directly in degree Celsius
(Centigrade), linear + 10 mV/C scale Factor, 0.5C ensured
accuracy (at +25C) and suitable for remote applications. The
relationship between dissolved oxygen and water temperature
is critical for aquatic life in a stream, river or lake. More
dissolved oxygen is present in water with lower temperature
compared to water with a higher temperature.
Fig 2. System Flowchart

III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

TABLE I
ON-SITE WATER SAMPLING TEST RESULTS

Trial
Fig 5. Dissolved Oxygen as a function of Temperature Sensor Block Diagram

D Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM)

GSM is an open, digital cellular technology used for
transmitting data remotely. The model used in the project was
SIM900D. The SIM900D delivers Quad-Band GSM/GPRS
850/900/1800/1900 MHz performance for voice, SMS, data
and fax in a small form factor and with low power
consumption
E Xbee Wireless Module
The Xbee is a wireless communication module that Digi
built to the 802.15.4/ZigBee standard. The model Xbee Pro
S1 was used in design for making a wireless control network
that spans from endpoint connectivity to devices. It operates
with a supply voltage ranges from 2.8 - 3.4Vdc. The Xbee
Pro S1 RF line of sight range is up to 1 mile (1.6km) RF LOS.
F System Design
The design of the system is composed of water testing
transducers to monitor different freshwater parameters like
pH, turbidity, and temperature/DO. The data gathered will be
transmitted via the GSM module. Pumps will be controlled by
the microcontroller for water sampling and the remote
controlled boat will be used in moving the system to different
locations on the water. The researcher will use one way
analysis of variance to determine if there is a significant
difference between the different water parameters obtained by
the automated on-site water sampling and quality testing and
the actual laboratory results.

Fig 6. Conceptual Diagram

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Mean
t Stat
t Critical
two-tail

Turbidity
Dissolved
(NTU)
Oxygen (mg/L)
9.1
6.759
9.0
6.868
9.2
6.857
8.9
6.759
8.7
6.813
8.8
6.835
9.3
6.879
8.9
6.824
9.0
6.846
9.0
6.802
8.99
6.8242
One-Sample Two-tailed t-Test
-12
-28.4443
2.2622

2.2622

pH
8.5
8.2
8.1
8.6
8.6
8.1
8.3
8.6
8.6
8.4
8.4
15.0
2.2622

The null hypothesis is that the sample mean per parameter

from the on-site testing has no significant variation of the
corresponding value obtained from the laboratory test. The
alternative hypothesis is that the null hypothesis is that the
sample mean per parameter from the on-site testing has a
significant variation to the corresponding value obtained from
the laboratory test.
One-sample two-tailed t-test was
conducted for each parameter for both tests to determine the
significance of variation.
IV. CONCLUSIONS
The automation of water sampling and quality testing was
achieved by the integration of the three sensors: namely the
pH sensor, temperature sensor to measure dissolved oxygen,
and turbidity sensor controlled by a programmable
microcontroller which receives instructions from the
transceivers and relays the data either to the motor module or
pumping system, sensor modules, and GSM module. The
instructions are remotely delivered by transceivers which
forward the signal to the microcontroller which processes,
whether it is a movement instruction or a command to gather
and sample water. The microcontroller controls these
processes which automatically send instructions to the
pumping system to acquire water samples. The sensors are
automatically activated after the sampling procedure. The
water sample readings are sent remotely to a receiving cellular
phone which is accomplished via the GSM module. Using a
one-sample two-tail t-test, the researchers have concluded,
based on experimental data and results that the variation
between the data obtained from sampling on-site and the
results from the laboratory tests is significant. Considering the
time factor as the cause of this variation, the group concludes
that it is a cause affecting the test results. Also, the method of
sampling, storage, and transport of the water sample must also
be considered leading to the significance of variation as

resulted from the previously mentioned experiment.

Furthermore, it is also safe to conclude from a set confidence
level, that there is no significance of variation of the turbidity
and pH tested at different points of the lake which were
represented by three points of sampling and testing location
considering the nature, conditions, and time of the day of
sampling. However, the dissolved oxygen content
measurements resulted in a significant variation from the
ANOVA since temperature did not present as a constant value
throughout the ten trials. Furthermore, since the Dissolved
Oxygen content is a function of temperature, the DO content,
as well, resulted to significant variation in values.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
First of all, we express our sincerest thanks to the Lord for
enlightening us as we put our ideas into this research proposal.
You have led us to the fulfilment of our work. You become our
guide into the completion of this research paper.
We would also like to thank our research adviser, Engr.
Joseph Bryan Ibarra, for his tireless effort, careful
examination and guidance that added significantly in the
organization of this study. The completion of this paper is not
possible without his guidance and instructions.
We would also like to thank our secondary adviser, Engr.
Glenn Magwili, for his kindness and unconditional effort
sharing his ideas and suggestions for the topic at hand.
We would also like to give our gratitude to the Graduate
Studies (GS) for letting us work inside the area and use some
books in order to serve as our reference. The library aids us in
gathering those data and information that we need in
completing the paper. Our raw knowledge on the topic will not
develop unless we had read some books related to the subject.
We would also like to acknowledge those people behind the
publishing of the books that we had used for the collection of
the documents.
It is not just the immediate references around help us in
working with our research paper, it is also done with the help
of the internet. We would like to show appreciation to the
people who had written and posted their own ideas related to
our topic that really helped us in answering some confusions
and questions on our minds.
In the end, the completion of the whole paper became
possible under the collaboration and assistance of our
members and we would like to thank each one of us for that
matter.
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