A Czech beer brewery has enlisted some curious creatures to help maintain the purity of their water supply.

The Protivin brewery in South Bohemia has employed a group of crayfish and fitted them with infrared bio sensors, allowing the crustaceans to alert brewers to any changes in the purity of its water supply.

The animals are fitted with infrared bio-sensors that monitor their heartbeat and movement. Data is analysed by a computer and any changes in the animals’ body or behaviour flags a change in the purity levels of the water in its tank.

“When three or more crayfish are moving or change their pulse activity, we know that the water parameters have changed. We can react quickly because we have the result within three minutes,” head brewer Michal Voldrich told Reuters.