Dye Tracing Fluorimeter Used in Effluent Dispersal Study in Darwin Harbour

Internationally recognised expert and Charles Darwin University’s Professor of Civil Engineering, Eric Valentine is leading a research project tracking the flow of waste from sewerage outlets as part of a modelling study for a new outfall into Darwin Harbour.

Professor Valentine chose the Chelsea Technologies Group (UK) UniLux fluorimeter to conduct Rhodamine WT dye tracing studies in the area. Professor Valentine’s team discharged quantities of Rhodamine WT dye and a second tracer, radio-isotope, Technetium 99m into the seawater to determine where the tide carries waste water pumped into the harbour.

The UniLux fluorimeter along with other sensors were attached to an aluminium frame and profiled behind a small diving boat. The boat did transects through the dye plume and measured the concentrations of the dye at a variety of GPS-mapped locations over a number of hours. Real-time information was provided directly from the UniLux to a laptop on the boat.

Ruth Patterson, Research Fellow at Charles Darwin University said, "We were very grateful to Chelsea for supplying the UniLux fluorimeter at such short notice. The data will now be used to validate the hydrodynamic and water quality model and determine better waste water management in Darwin Harbour".

Justin Dunning will be demonstrating Chelsea’s range of miniature, multi-wavelength Lux fluorimeters on board RV Callista during Ocean Business.