There is a lot of life in the Scheldt, but the river has gone through more difficult times. That is why researchers constantly monitor the quality of the water.
A healthy river is a fascinating and complex ecosystem with all kinds of plants, fish, mammals, invertebrates, algae and more. There is always something new to discover, learn and admire. But aquatic life can be very fragile, pollution being one of the main causes. An easy way to check how healthy the river is, is measuring the temperature and the amount of oxygen and salt in the water.
To measure is to know
There are sensors at various locations in the Scheldt to continuously monitor the quality of the water. Even though nature in the river has been improving in recent years, we’d better remain vigilant. Not so long ago, the Scheldt suffered a severe blow.
The sensors in the Scheldt transmit their results to scientists, water managers and our website in real time. For the Sparc areas, you can consult these parameters in real time on our website: just click on the right location on the map. We collect data from Ghent to Prosperpolder, near the Dutch border, and update our information every two hours. You will also find information about what all those values mean, which species are sensitive to which changes… Take it from us: you will be amazed at what goes on under the water’s surface.
