FreeUP Blog Series
What’s happening now & in the future with water
Our aim
We aim to inform and assist the public, industry and regulators with a unified system of water sensing and to put that informatin into context.
Our technology provides the data and insights and these blogs aim to assist with people’s understanding and context.
We hope that toether, insights and understanding can navigate us to a postive future of water security with minimal enviromental impact for all.
What is a scrape and how does it improve a wetland?
What is a scrape A scrape is a technique used in river and wetland management that involves creating shallow areas in a body of water to mimic natural processes and promote biodiversity. The technique is typically used in areas where the water has...
What is water hardness and why does it matter
What is water hardness Water hardness refers to the concentration of dissolved minerals, specifically calcium and magnesium, in water. These minerals can be naturally occurring or come from sources such as agricultural and industrial runoff. Hard...
Introduction to turbidity meters
Turbidity meter Turbidity meters are instruments used to measure the turbidity, or cloudiness, of a liquid. Turbidity is a measure of the amount of suspended particles in a liquid, and can be caused by a variety of factors such as sediment, algae,...
Personal action to help water quality in the UK
Gardening actions There are several actions that individuals can take in their gardens to help improve water quality on a national scale in the UK. Here are a few examples: Reduce use of chemicals: Chemicals such as fertilizers, pesticides, and...
How to create a rain garden
What is a rain garden A rain garden is a landscaped area that is specifically designed to capture and filter rainwater, helping to prevent it from running off into nearby waterways. Creating a rain garden in the UK can be a great way to improve...
How climate change is effecting water quality
Climate change Climate change is having a significant effect on water quality across the globe. As temperatures rise and weather patterns change, the availability and quality of water resources are being effected in a variety of ways driven mainly...
What is sewage
Sewage Sewage is a broad term that encompasses all types of waste and wastewater produced by households and industries, It is made up of the following types of waste water: Blackwater specifically refers to wastewater that is generated by toilets...
What is a sonde
Sensor clusters by another name A sonde is a type of instrument that is used for environmental monitoring. It typically consists of a sensor or set of sensors that are used to measure various parameters, such as temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen,...
Swarm logic and it’s uses in sensing and robotics
What is swarm logic Swarm logic is a concept that is inspired by the behavior of certain natural systems, such as ant colonies, bee hives, and flocks of birds. These systems exhibit a high level of coordination and cooperation among their members,...
The importance of river monitoring
What is river monitoring? River monitoring refers to the ongoing observation and measurement of physical, chemical, and biological parameters in rivers. The purpose of river monitoring is to gather data on the health of rivers and streams, identify...
Turbidity meters and drinking water
Turbidity meters Turbidity meters are instruments used to measure the turbidity of a liquid, which is a measure of the amount of suspended particles in the liquid. In the context of monitoring drinking water, turbidity meters are used to measure...
Reed beds to help treat sewage
Natural sewage works Reed beds are a type of nature-based solution that can be used to help with sewage treatment. They are constructed wetlands that use plants, such as reeds, to naturally filter and purify sewage and other types of waste water....
How do sewage works work?
Purpose A sewage treatment works, also known as a wastewater treatment plant, is a facility that is designed to remove pollutants from raw sewage before it is released into the environment. The core function of a sewage treatment works is to purify...
Why is sewage a pollutant?
What it provides Sewage is considered a pollutant because it contains a wide range of harmful substances that can have negative impacts on the environment when released. These substances include bacteria, viruses, chemicals, and nutrients that can...
Harmful algae blooms
Algal blooms Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are caused by the rapid growth of certain types of algae, which can release toxins that can harm aquatic life, wildlife and human health. Blue-green algae, also known as cyanobacteria (covered in our...