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Article

On the use of an IoT integrated system for water quality monitoring and management in wastewater treatment plants

Publicated to:Water (Water-Sui). 12 (4): - 2020-01-01 12(4), DOI: 10.3390/W12041096

Authors: Martínez R; Vela N; el Aatik A; Murray E; Roche P; Navarro JM

Affiliations

Applied Technology Group to Environmental Health, Universidad Católica de Murcia (UCAM), Guadalupe, 30107, Spain - Author
Research and Development, T.E. Laboratories Ltd. (TelLab), Tullow, Carlow, R93 N529, Ireland - Author
Research Group in Advanced Telecommunications (GRITA), Universidad Católica de Murcia (UCAM), Guadalupe, 30107, Spain - Author

Abstract

The deteriorating water environment demands new approaches and technologies to achieve sustainable and smart management of urban water systems. Wireless sensor networks represent a promising technology for water quality monitoring and management. The use of wireless sensor networks facilitates the improvement of current centralized systems and traditional manual methods, leading to decentralized smart water quality monitoring systems adaptable to the dynamic and heterogeneous water distribution infrastructure of cities. However, there is a need for a low-cost wireless sensor node solution on the market that enables a cost-effective deployment of this new generation of systems. This paper presents the integration to a wireless sensor network and a preliminary validation in a wastewater treatment plant scenario of a low-cost water quality monitoring device in the close-to-market stage. This device consists of a nitrate and nitrite analyzer based on a novel ion chromatography detection method. The analytical device is integrated using an Internet of Things software platform and tested under real conditions. By doing so, a decentralized smart water quality monitoring system that is conceived and developed for water quality monitoring and management is accomplished. In the presented scenario, such a system allows online near-real-time communication with several devices deployed in multiple water treatment plants and provides preventive and data analytics mechanisms to support decision making. The results obtained comparing laboratory and device measured data demonstrate the reliability of the system and the analytical method implemented in the device. © 2020 by the authors.

Keywords

Analytic equipmentAnalytical methodCentralized systemsCost effectivenessCostsData analyticsDecision makingDetection methodDistribution systemInfrastructureIntegrated approachInternetInternet of thingsIon chromatographyModel validationMonitoringMonitoring systemNitrateNitriteSensorSensor nodesSewage pumping plantsSmart citySoftware platformsSoftware testingUrban water systemsWastewater treatmentWastewater treatment plantsWater distributionsWater qualityWater quality monitoringWater quality monitoring systemsWater supply systemsWater treatmentWater treatment plantWater treatment plantsWireless sensor networksWireless sensor node

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal Water (Water-Sui) due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency Scopus (SJR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2020, it was in position , thus managing to position itself as a Q1 (Primer Cuartil), in the category Geography, Planning and Development.

From a relative perspective, and based on the normalized impact indicator calculated from World Citations from Scopus Elsevier, it yields a value for the Field-Weighted Citation Impact from the Scopus agency: 7.08, which indicates that, compared to works in the same discipline and in the same year of publication, it ranks as a work cited above average. (source consulted: ESI Nov 14, 2024)

This information is reinforced by other indicators of the same type, which, although dynamic over time and dependent on the set of average global citations at the time of their calculation, consistently position the work at some point among the top 50% most cited in its field:

  • Field Citation Ratio (FCR) from Dimensions: 19.32 (source consulted: Dimensions Jun 2025)

Specifically, and according to different indexing agencies, this work has accumulated citations as of 2025-06-15, the following number of citations:

  • Scopus: 109
  • OpenCitations: 84

Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2025-06-15:

  • The use, from an academic perspective evidenced by the Altmetric agency indicator referring to aggregations made by the personal bibliographic manager Mendeley, gives us a total of: 401.
  • The use of this contribution in bookmarks, code forks, additions to favorite lists for recurrent reading, as well as general views, indicates that someone is using the publication as a basis for their current work. This may be a notable indicator of future more formal and academic citations. This claim is supported by the result of the "Capture" indicator, which yields a total of: 395 (PlumX).

With a more dissemination-oriented intent and targeting more general audiences, we can observe other more global scores such as:

  • The Total Score from Altmetric: 8.1.
  • The number of mentions on the social network X (formerly Twitter): 10 (Altmetric).

It is essential to present evidence supporting full alignment with institutional principles and guidelines on Open Science and the Conservation and Dissemination of Intellectual Heritage. A clear example of this is:

  • The work has been submitted to a journal whose editorial policy allows open Open Access publication.

Leadership analysis of institutional authors

This work has been carried out with international collaboration, specifically with researchers from: United Kingdom.