Innovation of a Low-Cost Water Quality Monitoring System in Aquaculture Ponds

Abstract

This research focuses on the development of an embedded system designed for real-time monitoring and control of water quality parameters in aquaculture ponds. The system aims to provide an efficient and cost-effective solution for managing critical water quality factors such as temperature, turbidity, and pH levels, which are essential for maintaining a healthy aquaculture environment. The system integrates temperature, turbidity, and pH sensors with an Arduino Mega board, an LCD, and other electrical components to detect and display water quality parameters. Input data from the sensors are processed and analyzed using an Arduino program installed on a computer system, and the results are directly displayed on the LCD. The performance of the developed system was validated by comparing its readings with those obtained from traditional instruments, including a pH-cum-temperature meter and a Secchi disc for turbidity. The comparison revealed an error margin of 0.9% for pH, 1.2% for temperature, and 1.9% for turbidity when using the embedded system compared to traditional methods. The results showed no significant difference between the developed method and traditional methods. The total cost of developing the system was approximately Rs. 7000. The experimental results demonstrate that the developed embedded system is a viable and cost-effective tool for monitoring and improving water quality in aquaculture ponds, contributing to the betterment of the aquaculture environment.