WP 3: Implementation and monitoring of the WATERCARE water quality integrated system (WQIS) Deliverable D.4.1.2 - Implementation/realization of the WQIS in the pilot site

The Water Quality Integrated System (WQIS) network was applied and implemented for each study area and focused on urban areas in sewers, riverine and rivers. Our innovative Water Quality Integrated System is based on a thorough knowledge of the magnitude, frequency, and impacts of microbial contamination of bathing water due to high rainfall. The system was developed to protect public health, the environment and the economic activities that rely on tourism. Its proactive approach to coastal water quality management can be applied to a variety of coastal sites characterized by extreme raining events. The WQIS is based on real-time hydro-meteorological monitoring, a forecast model that simulates pollutant dispersion in bathing water, and a real-time alert tool that predicts potential ecological risks related to the bacterial contamination of bathing water after extreme raining events.