REACT

Brskovo, located in northern Montenegro, is a post-mining legacy pollution site where acid mine drainage mobilizes heavy metals. Conventional laboratory methods, although accurate, are costly and slow, making them unsuitable for continuous or real-time monitoring. Sudden spikes in contamination may remain unnoticed between periodic sampling events, leaving regulators and local communities without timely information. 

• Former Pb–Zn mine with a long history of extraction. 

• Recognized hotspot for heavy-metal contamination in surface waters. 

• Acidic pH values (down to 3) and high conductivity flowing into the surrounding environment. 

• Situated in the Tara River basin, within the Danube catchment. 

The Remote Environmental Assessment and Continuous Metal Tracking (REACT) project pilots the iMERMAID heavy-metal sensor for detecting Zn, Cd, Pb, and Cu in mining-impacted waters. The main goal is to validate sensor performance against accredited ICP-MS laboratory analyses, assess durability under extreme pH, turbidity, and temperature conditions, and develop a protocol for field applicability, enabling measurements outside the laboratory. The project supports rapid decision-making, regulatory compliance, and environmental protection in mining-affected areas. 

Expected results:

1. Validated in situ performance of the electrochemical sensor system developed within the iMERMAID European Project or simply heavy metal sensor. 
2. Identification of operational limits and performance limits under environmental conditions. 
3. Protocol for remote heavy-metal monitoring. 
4. Open-access datasets supporting EU Water Framework Directive implementation. 
5. Increased community awareness and readiness for contamination incidents.