A fluorometer for monitoring the quality of water, characterized by comprising: an array of excitation sources, each excitation source configured to provide respective excitation source optical signaling at a respective illuminating wavelength; an array of multiple emission detectors configured to detect multiple emission wavelengths emitted from water containing information about multiple coexisting fluorescent species present in the water that emit optical radiation at at least two different wavelengths when illuminated by the respective illuminating wavelength provided from the array of excitation sources, and provide multiple emission detector signaling containing information about the multiple coexisting fluorescent species; and a signal processor or processing module configured to receive the multiple emission detector signaling, and determine corresponding signaling containing information about an identification of the multiple coexisting fluorescent species present in the water using a near-simultaneous identification technique, based upon the multiple emission detector signaling received, wherein the fluorometer is configured in, or forms part of, a single sensor body, and wherein the single sensor body comprises a sonde having a water tight housing that encloses the fluorometer; characterized in that: the array of multiple emission detectors includes a combination of a focusing lens and an optical spectrum analyzer, wherein the focusing lens focuses lens optical signaling to the spectrum analyzer, and, wherein the array of excitation sources is arranged circumferentially about the optical spectrum analyzer an array of excitation sources, each excitation source configured to provide respective excitation source optical signaling at a respective illuminating wavelength; an array of multiple emission detectors configured to detect multiple emission wavelengths emitted from water containing information about multiple coexisting fluorescent species present in the water that emit optical radiation at at least two different wavelengths when illuminated by the respective illuminating wavelength provided from the array of excitation sources, and provide multiple emission detector signaling containing information about the multiple coexisting fluorescent species; and a signal processor or processing module configured to receive the multiple emission detector signaling, and determine corresponding signaling containing information about an identification of the multiple coexisting fluorescent species present in the water using a near-simultaneous identification technique, based upon the multiple emission detector signaling received, wherein the fluorometer is configured in, or forms part of, a single sensor body, and wherein the single sensor body comprises a sonde having a water tight housing that encloses the fluorometer; characterized in that: the array of multiple emission detectors includes a combination of a focusing lens and an optical spectrum analyzer, wherein the focusing lens focuses lens optical signaling to the spectrum analyzer, and, wherein the array of excitation sources is arranged circumferentially about the optical spectrum analyzer the array of multiple emission detectors includes a combination of a focusing lens and an optical spectrum analyzer, wherein the focusing lens focuses lens optical signaling to the spectrum analyzer, and, wherein the array of excitation sources is arranged circumferentially about the optical spectrum analyzer