BBE Algal Monitors Used in Joint Danube Survey to study Water Framework Directive requirements
Million-Euro boat expedition to test Danube pollution: BBE's contribution was to develop in conjunction with the University of Brno in the Czech Republic and the Water research Institute in the Netherlands an in situ algal monitor for rapid assessment of Benthic attached algae - The Benthofluor.
	The Benthofluor is an adaptation of the well-established Fluoroprobe from BBE, which is an insitu algal monitor capable of indicating total chlorophyll and the % of five different algal classes. It can be used to profile water bodies, used as a lab instrument with a cuvette adaptor, and now an indicator of the attached algae on rocks with the Benthofluor adaptor. A truly multipurpose tool.

The world's biggest river expedition of its kind, costing over one million Euros, has just been completed. Three ships travelled the length (2,375 km) of the Danube River and its main tributaries, from Regensburg (Germany) to Tulcea Romania, testing pollution and water quality. Known as the 'Joint Danube Survey 2 (JDS2)', the expedition has attracted the international cooperation of all Danube countries from Germany to Ukraine. Its main goal is to produce comparable and reliable information on water quality for the entire Danube and many of its main tributaries. Many parameters have been tested, from toxic pesticides and heavy metals to fish and plankton. Pollution is a major problem in the Danube River Basin. Nutrient, organic and hazardous pollution are all factors that could result in the Danube failing to meet the EU's law -- the Water Framework Directive.
The first JDS1 in 2001 had a mix of results. On the positive side, it found high levels of biodiversity and rare species. At the same time, results showed concern over organic and microbiological pollution, heavy metals, oil from ships, pesticides and chemicals.

The results from the JDS2, will improve the ability of Danube country leaders to decide on what measures still need be taken to meet the EU law by 2015. They will also help Danube countries to implement the 'Danube River Protection Convention'.

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