SUE “Vodokanal of St. Petersburg” employs unusual “workers” – crayfish (the Neva and Australian ones) and snails. These animals are biological indicators.

The biomonitoring systems used by Vodokanal were developed by scientists of St. Petersburg Research Center for Ecological Safety under the Russian Academy of Sciences.

River crayfish monitor the condition of water in the Neva River and the quality of effluent prior to its discharge to the water body.  

Crayfish have being “working” in Vodokanal since December 2005. Their workplaces are at all water intake facilities of the city.  

Moreover, crayfish monitor the quality of effluent at the South-West Wastewater Treatment Plant. Their workplace is located prior to the discharge of effluent to the Gulf of Finland. In winter, the Neva crayfish are on duty, and in summer – the Australian (thermophilic) crayfish. 

Snails monitor the composition of flue gases from the sludge incineration plant of the South-West Wastewater Treatment Plant.  

These animals (bio-indicators) do not substitute the instrumental and laboratory control methods, they just supplement them