Nine To Noon How flushable sensors could help clean up Auckland's beaches
Feb 3, 2026
Dr Wei-Ching Zhuang, a water-quality and sensing researcher at the University of Auckland, discusses flushable RFID sensors she helped develop. She explains how tiny tags travel sewer flows, how detectors read their IDs, and how the system spots illegal connections and blockages. She also covers sensor design, materials and how data can help prioritise inspections.
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Rain-Driven Sewage Threatens Auckland Beaches
- Auckland faces frequent beach closures after heavy rain due to sewer overflows and misconnections.
- Flushable sensors offer a targeted way to locate faults among thousands of underground pipes.
Target Misconnections First
- University of Auckland researchers targeted illegal connections and overflows as solvable priorities.
- They focused on detecting misconnections first as a manageable step toward reducing overflows.
Make Sensors Flushable And Buoyant
- Design sensors small and light enough to flush without clogging sewer laterals.
- Ensure sensors float and move with water so detectors at manholes can track their path.