EOMORES · Project

Satellite-Based Water Quality Monitoring That Replaces Expensive Manual Sampling

environmentMarket-readyTRL 8

eomores-h2020.eu

Imagine you manage a lake or reservoir and need to know if the water is clean — but right now that means sending people in boats to collect samples, which is slow and expensive. EOMORES built a system that uses satellite images combined with floating sensors to automatically check water quality across entire lakes and coastlines, every day. Think of it like a health tracker for water bodies — always on, always reporting. The system even forecasts problems before they happen, so water managers can act early instead of reacting too late.

By the numbers

€3,000,000

Expected annual turnover increase by 2020

Users from 6 countries committed to evaluate services

Service concepts developed (monitoring, WFD reporting, historic analysis)

Consortium partners across 7 countries

SMEs in the consortium

The business problem

What needed solving

Water managers across Europe are legally required to monitor lakes, rivers, reservoirs and coastal waters under the Water Framework Directive — but traditional monitoring relies on manual sampling from boats, expensive lab analysis, and sparse measurement points that miss the full picture. This makes compliance reporting slow, costly, and often incomplete.

The solution

What was built

The project built fully automated commercial water quality monitoring services combining Sentinel satellite imagery, in situ optical sensors with GNSS positioning, and ecological models. Concrete deliverables include an operational service delivery system (with SLAs for real users) and a final product and service portfolio covering 3 service types: real-time monitoring and forecasting, WFD reporting indicators, and historic ecological data compilation.

Audience

Who needs this

Municipal and regional water utilities managing drinking water reservoirsNational environmental agencies responsible for WFD compliance reportingEnvironmental consulting firms preparing ecological status assessmentsCoastal zone management authorities monitoring bathing water qualityAquaculture operators needing continuous water quality data

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Water Utilities

enterprise

Target: Municipal or regional water supply companies

If you are a water utility responsible for drinking water reservoirs dealing with rising monitoring costs and delayed lab results — this project developed fully automated satellite and sensor-based monitoring services that deliver daily water quality data. With 13 users from 6 countries already testing the system, the service replaces manual sampling with continuous remote observation using Sentinel 1, 2 and 3 satellites.

Environmental Consulting

SME

Target: Environmental compliance and reporting firms

If you are an environmental consultancy helping clients meet Water Framework Directive reporting requirements — EOMORES built validated Earth Observation-based water quality indicators specifically designed for WFD compliance. The 3 service concepts include historic data compilation for ecological analysis, letting you deliver faster, cheaper compliance reports to your clients.

Coastal and Inland Tourism

any

Target: Regional tourism boards and recreational water managers

If you are a regional authority managing recreational water bodies and worried about algal blooms or pollution events harming tourism — EOMORES provides operational water quality monitoring and forecasting services. The system combines satellite data with in situ optical sensors to give early warnings, protecting both public health and your region's reputation.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would this service cost compared to traditional water monitoring?

The project objective states the services are expected to result in lower operational costs for water managers. Exact pricing is not published in the project data, but the automated satellite-based approach eliminates recurring costs of manual boat sampling, lab analysis, and field personnel. Contact the coordinator for current service pricing.

Can this work at the scale of an entire national water monitoring program?

Yes. The system was designed for international, national and regional authorities. It integrates Sentinel 1, 2 and 3 satellite data which cover all of Europe, combined with in situ sensors for local calibration. 13 users from 6 countries committed to evaluate the services during the project.

Who owns the technology and how can I license it?

The coordinator is Water Insight BV, a Dutch SME that led the commercialization effort. The project targeted €3,000,000 in annual turnover by 2020. As a commercial service, licensing would be negotiated directly with the consortium partners. Water Insight BV is the primary commercial contact.

Does this meet Water Framework Directive requirements?

Yes, one of the 3 service concepts was specifically designed for WFD and other regulatory reporting. The project developed validated EO-based water quality indicators that authorities can use for official ecological status reporting as required by EU member states.

How long does it take to set up monitoring for a new water body?

Based on available project data, the system uses Sentinel satellite data which is freely available for any location in Europe, so geographic coverage is immediate. The final product and service portfolio deliverable helps end-users decide which service configuration is most suitable for their needs. Setup time depends on whether in situ sensors are also deployed.

Can this integrate with our existing monitoring infrastructure?

The system was designed to flexibly combine satellite data, in situ optical sensors with integrated GNSS positioning, and ecological modeling into higher-level products fitted to specific user needs. Based on the 3 service concepts, the platform can supplement or replace existing monitoring depending on your requirements.

Consortium

Who built it

The 9-partner consortium across 7 countries (BE, EE, FI, IT, LT, NL, UK) is well-balanced for commercialization: led by Water Insight BV, a Dutch SME with direct market presence, supported by 2 industry partners and 3 SMEs total. The 3 universities and 4 research organizations provide scientific credibility, while the industry ratio of 22% — combined with Innovation Action funding — signals this was built to sell, not just to publish. The geographic spread across Northern and Southern Europe means the system was tested across diverse water body types and regulatory environments.

WATER INSIGHT BVCoordinator · NL
TARTU ULIKOOLparticipant · EE
PLYMOUTH MARINE LABORATORY LIMITEDparticipant · UK
SUOMEN YMPARISTOKESKUSparticipant · FI
EVENFLOWparticipant · BE
THE UNIVERSITY OF STIRLINGparticipant · UK
CONSIGLIO NAZIONALE DELLE RICERCHEparticipant · IT
STICHTING DELTARESparticipant · NL
KLAIPEDOS UNIVERSITETASparticipant · LT

How to reach the team

Water Insight BV (Netherlands) — Dutch SME specializing in water quality monitoring. SciTransfer can facilitate an introduction.

Order a report on this consortium See WATER INSIGHT BV profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to know if satellite-based monitoring could cut your water quality costs? SciTransfer can connect you directly with the EOMORES team and help evaluate fit for your specific water bodies.

Order a report on this topic More in Environment & Climate