Bruges installs new sensors to monitor canal water levels and quality

New sensors at Steenbrugge Bridge will give Bruges an early warning before water from the Ghent-Bruges-Ostend Canal enters the city’s waterways.

The equipment continuously measures oxygen, temperature, acidity, turbidity and the presence of blue-green algae. Bruges already uses similar sensors in its waterways, but the new installation should allow officials to identify quality problems earlier and intervene before polluted or lower-quality water flows into the reien.

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When the water quality of the canal water is insufficient, the city can choose to close the connection and thus prevent lower-quality water from entering the reien.

Climate and Energy Alderman Pablo Annys said the city can close the connection when canal water quality is inadequate. Open Domain Alderman Franky Demon cautioned that the system cannot prevent blue-green algae during extreme heat. It can, however, support earlier monitoring and action when algae levels remain small.

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But during intense heat like this year, we will not be able to prevent blue-green algae from being present.

The city is also using sensors at key locations to track water levels, including low quays, the inlets and outlets of the reien, and the weirs between the North and South Reie. Officials can combine those measurements with weather forecasts to prepare for heavy rain, release water in a controlled way and create additional storage capacity.

The data has already supported the city’s green spaces. Bruges said its services and contractors watered 800 young trees 10 times during the summer, using stored water and signals from the waterways to guide the work.

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An important advantage is that we are not only looking at today’s situation.

The measurements are available through Waterinfo Vlaanderen, and external partners can access the central data platform. ICT Alderman Pieter Marechal said they could use the information to develop systems for automatic sluice operation. The pilot, carried out with the Flemish Environment Agency, is scheduled to continue until mid-2028, followed by an evaluation.

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Also for the greenery in our city, the sensors can be important.