The Environmental Management Laboratory of Mykolas Romeris University (MRU), together with partners has launched the “LAKES GO DIGITAL” project, aimed at improving lake water quality monitoring in both Lithuania and Latvia. The project in Lithuania is led by Prof. Dr. Paulo Pereira, Head of the MRU Environmental Management Laboratory, and his team.

At the project kick-off meeting held in late June in Daugavpils, Latvia, partners from Lithuania and Latvia discussed upcoming activities, the ecological assessment plan, and future tasks. The “LAKES GO DIGITAL” project seeks to develop a smart digital buoy equipped with an early warning system to monitor key water quality parameters in real time, including phytoplankton blooms, harmful bacteria concentrations, and microplastic levels. This technology will allow data to be collected even in locations where traditional monitoring is challenging or impossible.

Many lakes in Lithuania and Latvia lack sufficient data for effective management. This project will help bridge that gap by combining scientific research, innovative technologies, and community engagement. It will include the development and testing of smart buoys, preparation of user manuals and guidelines, educational seminars for stakeholders, application of citizen science methods, and ecosystem service mapping in two lakes in Lithuania and four in Latvia.

The initiative will contribute to sustainable water resource management, strengthen cross-border cooperation with partners in Latvia, and raise public environmental awareness while enhancing the recreational value of lakes.

More about the project here.

Interreg VI-A Latvia–Lithuania Programme 2021–2027, project Real time observations of water quality conditions in urban lakes using smart buoys (LAKES GO DIGITAL) (LL-00256)