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Post by Arrianna on Apr 15, 2007 14:00:14 GMT -5
I found the article here: SanFransisco Chronicle Fish are being drafted in San Francisco's war against possible terrorist threats to its water supply.
Akin to hospital gadgets that chart a patient's heart rate and breathing, a new water-quality monitoring system automatically analyzes the behavior of eight to 12 bluegill fish in a tank at the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission's water-treatment plant in Millbrae.
If the computers sense that the fish are upset by something in the water, "the system immediately triggers water samples to be taken, and the staff are alerted by pager and e-mail," said commission spokesman Tony Winnicker. Evidently the Army developed and patented the system. They tested it with 27 toxins and it spotted every single one. I have to admit to being impressed. Thoughts?
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Post by herringchoker on Apr 15, 2007 20:14:22 GMT -5
Why not? Fish extract oxygen from the water via their gills; it seems reasonable they'd react very quickly if there was any change in the water.
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Post by Man Alive! on Apr 15, 2007 21:14:47 GMT -5
That's a surprisingly good idea. It seems so simple, it's kind of funny that we hadn't thought of it before- not that I know the exact science behind the system; it could be and probably is very complex. I wonder if we'll be seeing these "sensor fish" all over the country soon.
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Post by eiko on Apr 15, 2007 22:11:04 GMT -5
I never drink water because of the disgusting things that fish do in it. -- W. C. Fields
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Post by allezcuisine on Apr 16, 2007 15:24:17 GMT -5
Very interesting. It sounds so simple, but I am sure its not.
Thanks for sharing, Arrianna.
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Post by Arrianna on Apr 16, 2007 15:41:19 GMT -5
You're welcome AC. I never drink water because of the disgusting things that fish do in it. -- W. C. Fields lololololololol! He has the best quotes.
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Post by Man Alive! on Apr 16, 2007 16:22:19 GMT -5
He certainly does.
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