ABOUT THE PROJECT

A Challenging Task

Florida surface waters are especially prone to contamination due to the geographic region’s hydro-geologic features that include thin soil layer, porous limestone, high water table, and dense annual rainfall. For this reason the city of Orlando's Street and Stormwater division routinely monitors the quality of Orlando's lake waters. This citywide monitoring network addresses questions about the water quality of the 110 lakes within city limits.

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The overall goal is to provide scientifically defensible information on chemical, physical and biological characteristics of the city's waters. This information provides the basis for advising the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), partner agencies, and the Governor and Legislature on the status of Florida’s water quality.

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The current procedure includes a two operator team which uses an air boat to gather samples from the middle of the water bodies. The purpose of this project is to eliminate the need to haul an airboat, which damages the lake's ecosystem, by creating an RC boat equipped with an arm which can gather a uncontaminated sample of the lake water.

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