OSIL Monitors Environmental Concerns in Kenya’s Lake Victoria

OSIL recently completed the installation of two data buoys along Lake Victoria in Kenya to help manage the local environment monitoring various environmental concerns including hyacinth menace and contamination of the lake water.

In addition to monitoring atmospheric components of the lake, such as moisture, oxygen levels and temperature, the sensors on the data buoys will also measure wind direction and levels of potentially harmful chemicals in the lake. By better understanding the environment, one benefit is that fishermen will be provided with real-time information on wind patterns helping them to avoid being trapped by regions of floating hyacinth which is blown across the lake.

The 5m tall data buoys measuring 2.6m in diameter were designed and built to be robust and protected from the local wildlife to ensure the security of the data collected. This real-time data will be relayed to base stations at 15 to 30 minute intervals where the data will then be analysed and studied trending changes to the lakes environment.

Richard Williams, Managing Director of OSIL, said: “We are delighted to help support the Kenyan authorities. These innovative buoys are designed by our specialist team in the UK to capture invaluable data which will help preserve Lake Victoria for future generations”.

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Press Release , December 24, 2012