Several communities across the United State are using a novel, yet effective approach to monitoring the safety of their water supplies. Communities in New York, Washington, and California are using bluegill fish to detect potential toxins and contaminants in the water.

Bluegills, also called Sunfish, are a common fish found in lakes and ponds across the United States. The fish react to toxins in the water by “coughing” or moving their gills to expel the harmful contaminants.

The water monitoring system prototype was originally created by the United States Army at the US Army Center for Environmental Health and Research. The prototype was further developed by a civilian company in Southern California called The Intelligent Automation Corporation. The system, called the IAC 1090 -- intelligent Aquatic BioMonitoring System, is web enabled and designed to be remotely monitored and controlled.

The system monitors fish behavior by using a pair of non-contact electrodes that are mounted above and below each of the eight bluegill fish submersed in water from a nearby water supply. As the fish move in the tank and ventilate their gills, the muscle contractions send electrical signals through the water. These signals are monitored by the computer and when abnormal signals are detected an alarm is sounded, enabling further testing of the water to determine the toxins present. To keep the fish healthy and unstressed, each fish is replaced after spending 3 weeks monitoring the water supply.

The fish have proved that the system does work; they have detected oil spills and also sediment kicked up during a routine cleaning of a city reservoir. The fish, according to researchers, can detect over 30 different kinds of toxins and contaminants including oil, cyanide, mercury, pesticides, and diesel fuel.

Although, according to one scientist, the US has just recently become interested in this technology, it could one day be used to protect water supplies from the effects of bioterrorism across the country. The system, which uses both technology and nature, provides another important layer of protection in these uncertain times.