Disinfection Control Delivers Confidence in Drinking Water Quality

Once a treatment process has been selected and implemented, disinfection control methods, using water quality monitoring tools provide data that confirms the disinfection process is adequate, and that any disinfectant residual remains at levels safe for human consumption.

Disinfection Control with In-Network Water Quality Sensors

Chemical compounds and common pipeline construction materials can affect water quality as it flows through the network. However, routine maintenance and testing can limit interruptions of service by detecting water quality issues in a timely manner.

Rather than almost daily sampling and transporting grab samples to a central lab and waiting for results, in-network water quality monitoring solutions provide the basis upon which a robust disinfection control program is built. This online, real-time accurate measurement data provides the intelligence operators need to proactively manage the drinking water disinfection process.

Online sensors strategically deployed in the drinking water network continuously monitor and provide quantitative, high-resolution accurate measurements for assessing water quality.

Real-Time Assurances of Drinking Water Quality

Badger Meter offers a suite of solutions for measuring drinking water quality and disinfection control, without water waste or the use of harmful reagents. This speeds up the maintenance response time and improves network reliability.

Designed for deployment at critical locations selected by the user, MetriNet uses smart sensor technology for continuous, real-time assurances and evidence-based proof that water quality is safe.

A network of up to eight digital, ultra-low power M-Node smart sensors (selected from 16 available) can be selected based on individual site requirements to deliver the insights necessary to provide timely warning and analysis of network anomalies. Sensors can be selected for measuring the presence of chlorine, chlorine dioxide, conductivity, nitrite, ORP, peracetic acid, pH, pressure, turbidity and more. This data can be used to predict events including loss of disinfection, which can result in changes to taste, odor and discoloration. Because MetriNet runs on battery power, it is an ideal solution for remote water quality monitoring.

Monitoring Drinking Water Quality in Pipes Under Pressure

For monitoring drinking water quality in pipes under pressure, the pipe::scan measures up to 10 parameters in one system, including organic parameters such as TOC, DOC, and UV254/UVT without losing or discharging any water.

Full-scale event detection with real-time alarms notifies users when water quality falls outside of the pre-set measurement parameters, which can be set according to local regulations. Several sensors measure parameters essential for determining contamination events in drinking water:

• i::scan is an optical, miniature spectrophotometer with LED technology that measures turbidity and color plus organics such as TOC, DOC, UV254/UVT
• chlori::lyser is a pressure-resistant amperometric sensor for measurement of free or total chlorine
• pH::lyser is a pH sensor without a salt bridge with a polymer reference electrode
• condu::lyser is a 4-electrode conductivity sensor with an integrated temperature sensor and a miniature pressure sensor

The water quality data can be sent to any SCADA or central database for remote disinfection monitoring, freeing up operators to focus on other system maintenance.

Multiple pipe::scans are used to monitor the drinking water disinfection process in the network at any accessible point. Continuous, high-resolution data is collected even under fluctuating pressure conditions.

Conclusion

Drinking water safety is of great importance worldwide. A disinfection process with efficient, reliable water quality measurements delivers more than just trending data; providing the accuracy needed for disinfection control.

As part of a disinfection control program, this data can be used to adjust controls as necessary and builds confidence in operations. Furthermore, measuring the water quality directly in the drinking water network with online sensors provides valuable and comprehensive information to operators anywhere in the field or office while protecting valuable supply.