Provision of Water Quality and Velocity Instruments

The Department of the Environment and Energy’s, Supervising Scientist Branch (SSB) is tasked with protecting the Alligator Rivers Region (ARR) of Northern Australia from the effects of uranium mining. At present, Ranger uranium mine is the only operational mine in the ARR and must cease operations in 2021. The mine must finish decommissioning and revegetation of the site by 2026.

The Surface Water Chemistry Monitoring (SWCM) project within the Supervision and Monitoring Group of SSB monitors surface water quality around Ranger uranium mine using multiparameter sondes connected to telemetered data logging equipment. The SWCM is currently in the process of increasing its fleet of EXO3 multiparameter sondes to meet our monitoring requirements.

Additionally the SWCM project undertakes hydrological monitoring at key sites around Ranger uranium mine. In order to maintain and improve SSB’s discharge rating curves, SSB requires the purchase of a new Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler. For this the Sontek rQPOD has been found to best suit our requirements.

SSB requires the Water Quality and Velocity instruments to be delivered to the Jabiru, NT. In addition, SSB requires an annual supply of 13 unguarded pH replacement sensor caps and maintenance.