SwimSense was created to support water awareness for wild swimmers — helping people better understand changing water conditions at the moment they swim.
This page explains exactly what SwimSense can, and can’t, tell you, so it can be used confidently and responsibly.
What SwimSense Can Tell You
SwimSense provides real-time indicators of water chemistry at the point where you test.
Used regularly, it can help you:
- Notice changes between different swim spots
- Compare upstream and downstream entry points
- Observe how rainfall, flow, or weather affect the water
- Spot when conditions look different from what’s normal for that location
- Make more informed, personal decisions about when and where to swim
This is particularly useful in rivers, lakes, and coastal waters where conditions can change quickly — sometimes within hours, or even metres.
SwimSense is designed to be:
- Immediate (results in minutes)
- Accessible
- Portable
- Easy to use at the water’s edge
What SwimSense Can’t Tell You
SwimSense does not:
- Detect sewage directly
- Test for bacteria such as E. coli or intestinal enterococci
- Replace laboratory analysis
- Replace official monitoring, regulation, or water quality reports
- Guarantee that water is “safe” to swim in
No single test — including laboratory testing — can provide a complete picture on its own.
SwimSense should always be used alongside:
- Official guidance
- Local knowledge
- Environmental conditions such as rainfall, tides, and flow
Understanding Indicators Like Ammonia
Some parameters measured by SwimSense, such as ammonia, are known as indicator parameters.
Ammonia can be naturally present in small amounts, but elevated levels may suggest recent organic pollution.
This can be linked to:
- Agricultural runoff
- Animal waste
- Sewage or wastewater discharge
- Decaying organic matter
- Reduced dilution during low flow or dry periods
Higher readings do not automatically mean unsafe conditions, but they can indicate that something upstream has recently changed — particularly after heavy rainfall or overflow events.
That change is worth noticing.
Why Real-Time Awareness Matters
Many official water quality results are laboratory-based and published days after samples are taken.
Wild swimmers often make decisions in the moment.
SwimSense exists to bridge that gap — offering immediate awareness rather than delayed certainty.
It’s not about fear.
It’s about understanding what’s happening now.
Using SwimSense Responsibly
We encourage swimmers to:
- Test regularly, not just once
- Compare different entry points
- Note rainfall, flow, and recent weather
- Avoid drawing conclusions from a single result
- Look for patterns over time rather than isolated readings
SwimSense supports awareness, not alarm.
Our Position
We believe water awareness belongs with the people who use the water.
SwimSense exists to support informed swimming, calm decision-making, and respect for wild places — alongside the work of scientists, regulators, and environmental organisations.
Understanding our water helps us care for it better.
