The council said it teamed up with like-minded local groups which had been pushing for better river health.
It said from the Yealm to the Avon, Dart, Erme and Salcombe-Kingsbridge Estuary, community-led river and estuary groups had helped shape the project, including advising on the best locations in which to put the sensors.
Executive member for climate change and biodiversity John McKay said it was a brilliant example of collaboration between communities, researchers and businesses to help “tackle real problems”.
He added: “Local groups have been key to shaping this project and now we are giving them, and everyone else, access to real-time water quality data so we can all play a part in protecting our rivers and coastline.”