My First 3-Day Fieldwork Experience Using The Horiba U-52 Water Quality Multi-Parameter

I've been working as one of the researchers of the Department of Science and Technology of Mindanao State University - Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) team for 2 years already. On my first year, the Phil-LiDAR 1, I haven't gone to any field works. I was sitting on my swivel chair facing the big monitor screen in the middle of the extremely cold room temperature for the entire 1 year and 3 months.

On my second year, the Geo-SAFER Western Mindanao, I was assigned to be one of the researchers of the Innovation Team under the Sedimentation and Water Quality apart from being one of the Research Assistants in the Data Processing Team. Originally, the project composed of three (3) teams, Data Processing Team, Field Survey Team and Flood Modelling Team and as mentioned, in this year, Innovation Team was added.

For the Innovation team, we are required to undergo training and to do field work to maximize the time. Our office also welcomes students who have projects involving Sedimentation, Water Quality, Drainage System and Flood Hazard mapping to collaborate with us. With that, three groups of graduating Mining Engineering Students came to our office to collaborate with us since their thesis is about water quality in the different river basin.

I was tasked to supervise three students together with my colleagues under the Flood Modelling Team, Jennifer, and Field Survey Team, Kuya Edwill. Before the set date of the 3-day fieldwork, we had a meeting to discuss the meeting place and the assembly time, to locate the ten marked points in the Google Earth and load it into the GPS, and lastly, to prepare the instruments needed for the 3-day fieldwork.

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OBJECTIVES:

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1. To record three flow measurements of the 10 marked points with an interval of 1 minute and duration of 5 minutes using a flow meter.
2. To gather three consecutive parameter measurements per marked points using the Horiba U-52 Multiparameter Water Quality Meter in the Tubod River, Iligan City.
3. To gather 1-Liter of water sample per marked points for Tubod River, Iligan City water quality assessment.

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MATERIALS USED:

1. Horiba U-52 Multiparameter Water Quality Meter
2. Flow Meter
3. Stopwatch
4. Water bottle with a nozzle
5. Steel rod
6. Rubber
7. 6.6 Liters of Distilled Drinking Water
8. 10 empty 1 Liter water bottle

HORIBA U-52 Multiparameter Water Quality Meter

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The Horiba U-52 Water Quality Multi-parameter for the Innovation Team

The Horiba U-52 Multiparameter Water Meter is equipped to measure and log 11 parameters in a single measurement. The Horiba U-52 is also capable of gathering data either in single measurements or continuous measurements. In a single measurement, the sensor probe will be submerged in the water and will be pulled out once the data displayed in the control unit stabilize. On the other hand, the continuous measurements, you will set the interval per measurement and it will automatically store data every interval you set upon.

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Three Parts

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Control Unit

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The Control Unit has a 320 x 240 liquid crystal display (LCD) with a black and white backlight that display the 11 parameters with a battery life of 70 hours of activity without backlight. It is designed for rough treatment in the field with its shock resistant cover. This CU doesn't have an external data storage but it is capable of storing 10,000 data. Now the transferring of the stored data is through USB communication, given that the computer has an installed software for the multiparameter. Upon purchasing, an installer for the multiparameter software is inclusive in the package.

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Sensor Probe

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The probe houses multiple sensors for the measurement of 11 parameters simultaneously. Although the control unit shows 11 parameters, the Horiba U-52 is capable only of reading 9 parameters. The following are the parameters that can be read by Horiba U-52:

1. pH
2. Dissolved Oxygen
3. Conductivity
4. Salinity
5. Total Dissolved Solid (TDS)
6. Seawater Specific Gravity
7. Temperature
8. Turbidity (LED)
9. Oxidation Reduction Potential

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Cable Wire

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The cable wire is used to connect the probe and the control unit. It is easy to connect and disconnect the cable with its quick-connect fitting. The standard length of the cable wire is 2 meters, but, you can choose 10 meters and 30 meters.

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BEFORE USING THE HORIBA U-52

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Before using the Multiparameter for the first time, a manual calibration must be performed. In that case, a medium-sized bucket was filled with a tap water and then the sensor probe was submerged for 20 minutes. Adding other elements like soil, salt, sugar, coffee can also be done. Moreover, every two months, the Horiba U-52 must be cleaned thoroughly with the pH4 solution and then brushing the sensor probe using the brush provided by the manufacturer.

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AFTER USING THE HORIBA U-52

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After using the Horiba U-52, a bottle with a nozzle is filled with a distilled water to clean the probe. It was specified by the trainer of Horiba U-52 that it's either distilled water or a tap water must be used in cleaning the Horiba U-52, however, it's best to use the distilled water.

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THE FIELDWORK

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Both parties agreed to meet at 7:30 AM so that the gathering of data will start at exactly 8:00 AM. For the water quality measurements, it is ideal to measure from downstream to upstream, however, we forgot that fact and started hiking on the megadike 600 meters away from the Tubod Bridge. For the flow meter measurements, it was still acceptable but for the water quality measurements, we need to go back to the downstream and delete the first gathered data from the upstream.

Kuya Edwill assisted Jan for the flow meter measurements and Abby was in-charge to record the data gathered. We brought two Horiba Multi-parameter. One was for the students which was done by Dennis alone, and then the other one was for the office, so Jen and I decided to swap duties every marked point. It was a rotation of duty such that one will go to the river to submerge the sensor probe, the other end will hold the control unit and see to it that the measurement stabilizes and the last one is to clean sensor probe after the three readings. For the gathering of water samples, the students decided to hire a local to fill the 1 Liter Bottle.

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TRANSFERING THE DATA

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As mentioned, the data can be transferred through USB communication. A software is included in the package and after installing it to the computer, the computer is now ready to receive the readings from the Horiba U-52. The gathered data can be shown both in tabular and graphical representation, with that, when you export the data to the computer you can view it in comma-separated values (CSV) or in excel file.

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CONCLUSION

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Fieldwork and office work are the same as the yin-yang and black-white. To be assigned in the fieldwork is one of the things that I want the most since I love to move around while thinking and analyzing rather than just to sit and think and work. Luckily, I was able to do it recently. The scorching heat of the sun with a minimal wind breeze and also walking to the slippery and muddy path made my first fieldwork experience a challenging one. Even though it was just half a day for three consecutive days, it feels like I was on a graveyard shift. Tiring yet very challenging and whenever we're done, it was really fulfilling.

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I'm looking forward to more fieldwork. Hopefully.

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💋kneelyrac💋

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