"State of the art" hand-held water quality monitoring devices have been ordered by the Otago Regional Council and will be trialled in the field in coming months.
The devices are just one tool the regional council is looking at as part of its new approach to dealing with farm run-ff pollution.
Director environmental information and science John Threlfall said at this week's environmental science committee meeting the devices would mostly be used for on-the-spot monitoring of nitrate and phosphorus in tile and mole drain areas such as South Otago where there was water readily available to test.
However in other areas, such as Central Otago, the issue was collecting a water sample from underground and there was no mechanism available to do that.
"What we test the water with once you've got it has the potential to the be the same."
Another means for measuring E.coli with a 24-hour test had also been sourced and would be trialled in the field alongside the nutrient testing, he said.
The field testing would involve taking samples the traditional way and sending them off to the laboratory as well as using the new devices, then comparing the results.
If successful, the devices could provide ways for farmers to monitor their effect on waterways.
"If they do something one day, these tools will tell them how well they are doing."
