Long-term field trial demonstrates reliable water monitoring in challenging environments

A long-term field trial conducted by HydroTerra has demonstrated the robustness of the Aquaread Leveline CTD logger in one of Western Australia’s most challenging aquatic environments. Deployed in Lake Clifton, a hypersaline coastal lake within Yalgorup National Park, the instrument operated continuously for 569 days, from June 2024 to January 2026.

The trial aimed to assess the long-term durability of the logger and the quality of its measurements in highly saline and corrosive conditions. Configured to record pressure, temperature, electrical conductivity (EC) and salinity every six hours, the Leveline CTD collected approximately 2,276 readings for each parameter throughout the deployment.

Results showed excellent reliability, with more than 99% valid data capture and no evidence of sensor drift, increasing noise or data loss. Measurement continuity was maintained throughout the monitoring period, with only deployment and retrieval events generating zero values.

Environmental data revealed clear seasonal trends. Conductivity ranged from 95,800 to 193,000 µS/cm, reflecting the strong influence of evaporation on salt concentration. Temperature varied between 9.5°C and 29.9°C, while pressure measurements tracked expected seasonal water-level fluctuations. Strong correlations between temperature, conductivity and water level were observed throughout the entire deployment.

A key objective of the trial was to evaluate material resistance to corrosion. Upon retrieval, visible corrosion was noted on the exposed conductivity rings. However, inspection confirmed that the titanium housing and internal components remained unaffected. Importantly, the surface corrosion had no measurable impact on data quality or sensor performance.

Although the study did not include a reference sensor or post-deployment laboratory recalibration, the results provide strong evidence of the instrument’s suitability for long-term saline and hypersaline water monitoring applications.

Overall, the trial confirmed that the Aquaread Leveline CTD can deliver stable, high-quality environmental data under demanding field conditions while maintaining operational integrity over extended deployment periods. For organisations monitoring saline surface waters, the findings highlight the logger as a reliable and resilient solution for long-term environmental observation.