More than 220 athletes take part in the 2023 National Marathon Swimming Championship in Chun'an. [Photo/hangzhou2022.cn]

The 2023 National Marathon Swimming Championship was held at the Jieshou Sports Center Swimming Course in Chun'an county from May 12 to 14, with more than 220 athletes from all over the country gathering in the picturesque township.

During the open water event, participants were required to complete a 10-kilometer marathon swim, which typically takes more than two hours. Therefore, the competition had extremely high water quality requirements.

Water Guardian, an application known as the "secret weapon" of Chun'an, ensured the water quality at the venue. Its comprehensive water protection and intelligent management system utilized data simulation and analysis for advanced prediction, coupled with real-time monitoring over the entire watershed, protecting local mountains and waters.

"Since its launch in June 2021, after continuous upgrades and iterations, we have set up 26 automatic water-monitoring stations within the county. This ensures that the system can detect the water quality of over 94 percent of water bodies in the region, allowing us to make timely changes," explained a staff member from the Chun'an branch of Hangzhou's ecosystem bureau.

"This is real-time monitoring, and when combined with weather conditions and hydrology, the system can simulate and predict water quality and algal growth for the next three to seven days based on big data analysis."

The Water Guardian will also be deployed for the Asian Games this year. Air quality, water quality, noise, and other factors at each venue can be displayed in real-time on screens, guaranteeing a conducive environment for the athletes.

The Water Guardian real-time water quality monitoring system. [Photo/hangzhou2022.cn]