Thames 21 and Kingfisher
Paul and Caitlin with Kingfisher Thames 21 are an organisation that aims to: connect local communities with their rivers; demonstrate what is happening to them; and design bespoke solutions for them. I have blogged some of their amazing projects elsewhere see Rainscapes in Enfield Ewell storm tank outfall We are lucky that one of their research projects - using robot boats to measure water quality- includes the Hogsmill, and a boat known as KINGFISHER. The hulls are made by a company called Platypus' and the first step is to install and calibrate its monitoring systems. We met last Friday to introduce the superboat to the range of different chemical and other influences presented at different stretches including the various outfalls along the Hogsmill.This included the Ewell Storm Tank outfall where water quality can be affected by sewage overflow. sediment from the Bonesgate The floating labs offer benefits for rivers and local communities and want to