Distribution Network Monitoring
Belgian Utility Monitors Drinking Water Quality In-Network
Case Study / 4 min read
Measurement & Control
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Distribution Network Monitoring
Case Study / 4 min read
Farys sought a way to confirm the water quality in its network, with devices that would fit into spaces where traditional solutions were impractical.
Real-time data provides valuable insights into drinking water quality during distribution.
Today, Farys provides clean drinking water to over 1 million residents across 52 municipalities and oversees wastewater infrastructure and water safety monitoring. Water is produced in the central part of Belgium, then transported to the coast through a 6,936-mile (11,166 km) network of large, low-pressure pipes.
To maintain high water quality, Farys sought to install online water quality sensors for distribution network monitoring in 2017. Sensors were needed to measure a broad spectrum of quality parameters beyond standard legal requirements and fit into spaces where traditional solutions were impractical.
Elscolab, a Badger Meter distributor in Belgium for more than 20 years, engaged with Farys and determined that the BlueEdge™ solution from Badger Meter would be ideal for this project. Selected for the ability to measure multiple parameters simultaneously with minimal maintenance, the solution was comprised of eight micro::stations and one pipe::scan station. This solution was designed to measure and detect the most relevant drinking water quality parameters, including temperature, turbidity, TOC, DOC, UV254, free chlorine and conductivity in a water source.
The pipe::scan is designed for installation inside pipes, while the micro::station can be installed next to conventional sampling lines. The pipe::scan compatibility with multiple probes makes it a versatile alternative to the micro::station for in-pipe applications.
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One of the key advantages of these products is the event detection system (EDS), ana::tool, which analyzes water quality data to identify dynamic changes over time. When an anomaly is detected, the ana::tool software triggers an alarm within the SCADA system.
When an abnormal change occurs, the ana::tool EDS sends an alarm to warn the operators.
For example, during maintenance work, a reservoir was refilled with water from an alternative production plant with higher conductivity (around 850 microsiemens per cm) compared to the usual water (around 450-500 microsiemens per cm). This switch, occurring at 1 a.m. on Dec. 21, was clearly reflected in the conductivity data captured by the condu::lyser. The ana::tool software detected this change and triggered a pattern alarm 3 hours and 30 minutes after the switch. The pattern alarm, integrated with the SCADA system, notified engineers of the water quality change.
Throughout this period, the water quality data showed that the utility supply consistently met Flemish and European drinking water standards.
Additionally, the simultaneous online measurements of UV254, TOC, DOC and free chlorine optimize chlorine dosage and reduce the formation of disinfection byproducts. Coupled with Farys’s online microbiological monitoring, this real-time data provides valuable insights into the behavior of drinking water quality during distribution.
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Figure 1: During maintenance, the reservoir was filled using a different production plant, which caused a noticeable change in conductivity. |
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Figure 2: The changes in the water quality described in Figure 1 were identified by the ana::tool software. |
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Customer Care representatives are available by phone Monday–Friday, from 9am–5pm CST.
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