In order to test the pH and TDS values of the pond, and in order to determine if the pond was being affected by runoff pollution from the nearby Route 145, the apparatus (containing the motherboard, the microcontrollers, and each of the sensors themselves) was placed approximately 1.5 feet away from the shoreline, and about 30 feet from the main road. Moreover, in order to fasten the payload securely along the shoreline, two metal rebars—both 1 meter in length—were connected to the sides of the payload and consequently secured into the ground. Then, the sensors themselves (separate from their respective microcontrollers) were extended to their respective lengths and placed into the water. To ensure that the sensors remained in the same relative location in the water, miniature buoys were attached to the sensors.