Optimising quality control lab testing.

New QC lab scheduling capability synchronises lab testing with real-time production conditions to improve efficiency and flexibility.

DeltaV™ Real-Time Scheduling (RTS) software has been enhanced by Emerson so that extends integrated, real-time manufacturing scheduling capabilities to quality control (QC) labs. The new capability automates complex scheduling rules and logic to optimise lab operations and keep QC activities continuously synchronised with changing production conditions, helping life sciences manufacturers improve throughput, reduce delays and accelerate decision-making.

QC labs face numerous challenges that limit efficiency and scalability. Labs receive many samples from multiple points throughout the manufacturing processes across a plant and must conduct a wide range of tests on those samples. As labs navigate equipment availability, multi-sample test capabilities, technician capacity, incoming samples and shifting priorities, scheduling quickly becomes too complex for the whiteboards, spreadsheets and lab information management systems commonly used today.

“Well-run QC labs are a keystone of ensuring quality and meeting delivery commitments. By driving efficiency, QC teams ensure samples are tested with results returned promptly, enabling manufacturing to proceed without delays and quality teams to promptly determine product disposition so therapies can reach patients on time,” said Kristel Biehler, vice president of life sciences for Emerson’s process systems and solutions business. “QC scheduling in DeltaV RTS software is a simple and effective tool providing automated, real-time scheduling to integrate the lab with the shop floor to make the most effective use of resources and eliminate bottlenecks.”

The enhancement provides fit-for-purpose QC lab scheduling directly into Emerson’s proven DeltaV RTS software, harmonising schedules with manufacturing operations. Users can ensure that testing is executed correctly at the right time on the right equipment, including both production-dependent and final product testing. Integration with real-time lab information management systems automates lab schedule alignment, ensuring accurate updates to changing priorities and sample availability. The software empowers teams to implement and automate complex rules to optimise the lab, such as analytical test run sample batching and other advanced scheduling strategies.

This expanded DeltaV RTS functionality enables the scheduling rules to be configured in a flexible manner, which empowers lab schedulers to quickly adapt to the dynamic needs of the testing lab, even when supporting new product introductions. Ultimately, this functionality can reduce the manual QC lab scheduling effort and improve on-time delivery of test results to enable faster, more reliable release of batches.

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@EMR_Automation @EmersonExchange@Emerson_News @HHC_Lewis #PAuto  #TandM

Continuous water quality data.

Around 10 years of continuous water quality data has been generated as a result of a stipulation in a water abstraction licence on the River Medway in Kent (GB). Installed and managed by Meteor Communications, a network of water quality monitoring stations is being used by Southern Water to protect the River Medway and manage related water infrastructure, such as the Bewl Water reservoir.

“Our abstraction licence includes strict water quality requirements at specific locations; not just specifying measurement limits, but also detailing precise sets of conditions that initiate upstream flow management,” explains Tim Taylor, Water Resources Policy & Regulation Manager at Southern Water. “Meteor configured the monitoring stations to monitor the required parameters and to automatically create the necessary alerts. The data are therefore used for two purposes - to demonstrate compliance, and to inform the ongoing management of flow rates in the Medway and its tributaries.”

Background.
Flow rates on the River Medway are collaboratively managed by the Environment Agency and others using a complex system of barriers, locks, and sluices to balance drinking water supply, flood risk, navigation, and ecological health. This includes the management of releases from Bewl Water reservoir by Southern Water.

Southern Water and its legacy authorities hold multiple historical and continuously renewed abstraction licences for the River Medway system. The primary authorisations for the major River Medway and Bewl Water pump-storage scheme were originally established following the Medway Water Act 1968 and the construction of Bewl Water reservoir, which was completed in 1975.

Bewl Water contributes to the management of River Medway flow rates through a seasonal abstraction and release cycle. During wet winter months, surplus water is pumped out of the river into storage, and in summer months, water is released back into the river network to support drinking water supplies. There is an all year-round release from the reservoir to maintain baseline flows. The distance between Bewl Water and the Medway abstraction point represents river water travel time of approximately one day.

Abstraction licence conditions.
In 2013 the Environment Agency published the Medway Abstraction Licensing Strategy using information gathered by a Catchment Abstraction Management Strategy (CAMS) process. The strategy was designed to protect the ecology of water resources through all seasons, and during all conditions from low flow to high flow. This strategy led to the implementation of a complex set of conditions surrounding Southern Water’s River Medway abstraction licence.

Around 10 years ago Southern Water approached Meteor Communications and asked them to adapt their remote water quality monitoring solution to meet the specific requirements of the abstraction licence.

Fundamentally, the licence conditions were designed to ensure that dissolved oxygen (DO) levels in the River Medway did not drop below acceptable levels as a result of the abstraction that is necessary for the ongoing provision of treated drinking water. However, in addition to DO, the licence also required the continuous monitoring of pH, temperature, conductivity, ammonium, turbidity and chlorophyll.

While these parameters are useful indicators of water quality, DO measurements were deemed to be of greatest value because of the relationship between DO and river flow, and because lowered DO levels can have particularly harmful ecological effects.

A network of at least four of Meteor’s ESNET (environmental sensor network) systems monitor water quality at strategic locations downstream with (almost) real-time data continuously fed to the MeteorCloud® platform, which provides secure data access with visualisation, analysis and alerts that have been configured to meet the abstraction licence requirements.

Extracting value from water quality data.
Southern Water’s engineers are able to access live water quality data at any time, and from anywhere, either by logging into MeteorCloud or accessing the data via an API. “The security of the Meteor platform is critically important,” Tim Taylor explains. “This means that the Environment Agency is able to view the same data as us, and as a secure platform they are able to use the data in a court of law if necessary.”

By programming the algorithmic requirements of the abstraction licence into the MeteorCloud platform, Meteor ensured that timely notifications are automatically issued to initiate action to prevent deterioration of dissolved oxygen levels for example.

Collecting remote water quality data.
ESNET systems are available in either a kiosk-based format for permanent bankside deployment, or as a portable system. Both systems employ a multiparameter sonde loaded with the required sensors, and can run on solar power. A telemetry connection allows users to view real-time data remotely. Water quality monitoring sondes can be deployed directly in the river or, in locations where it is necessary to protect the sonde, it can be located in a flow-through chamber through which sample water is pumped.

In the last 10 years, Southern Water has employed up to 12 ESNET systems in the Medway catchment, three of these are estuarine and six are freshwater, with an additional borehole water level logger. However, only 4 of the ESNETs contribute to the abstraction licence calculations. Portable ESNET systems are utilised because the sondes can be safely deployed directly in the water, and because portability brings flexibility in the choice of monitoring location.

Meteor’s customers can either purchase ESNET systems and rent access to MeteorCloud, or rent the entire service – known as Water Quality as a Service (WQaaS). Southern Water’s Medway catchment systems are run on a WQaaS contract under which Meteor staff install, operate, maintain and calibrate the remote equipment.

Explaining the importance of the calibration and service programme, Jack Hambridge from Meteor says: “Sondes typically require service and calibration every 4-6 weeks, so we have invested heavily in a bespoke calibration laboratory and a team of field engineers. This means that we are able to service large numbers of sondes, ensuring that data are accurate and that the ESNET systems are maintained in optimal condition.”

The Medway catchment ESNETs have recently been upgraded to ESNET3, the next-generation version, specifically engineered with enhanced power management, updated hardware, and a more compact footprint to meet stricter environmental regulations.

10 years of continuous water quality data.
Summarising the performance of the Medway monitoring network, Tim Taylor says: “We have been delighted with the service delivered by Meteor Communications. Data access is simple and secure, and the algorithms that Meteor created to meet the abstraction licence have worked very well. As a result, we have been able to stay compliant with the conditions in our Abstraction Licence, and the river’s ecology has been protected.”

Looking forward.
With climate change prompting more intense rainfall and greater risks of drought and floods, river levels can change very quickly. The need for continuous monitoring and alert systems is therefore growing, and with ten years of data, the network in the Medway catchment has clearly shown how such systems can protect water ecology.

Summarising Tim Taylor says: “The abstraction licence stipulates eight water quality parameters, but the alert system and associated water management initiatives are all associated with dissolved oxygen levels. While these parameters are useful indicators of water quality, DO measurements were deemed to be of greatest value because they are a key condition in the Abstraction Licence that impacts the volume of water released from Bewl Reservoir and subsequently abstracted for public water supply.”

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@MeteorComms  @SouthernWater @_Enviro_News #Environmental #Water #Britain

Wastewater Phosphate monitoring.

"It's all about the sample!"

Swan Analytical Instruments has launched a new Sample Filtration Cabinet which ensures the reliable provision of representative samples to its continuous phosphate analysers. The climate-controlled cabinet houses all of the key instrumentation and employs innovative sampling technology to ensure reliable, regulatory compliant measurements.

Designed and manufactured in Switzerland, Swan’s water quality analysers have a global reputation for accuracy and long-term reliability, but as the company’s John Saxton says: “The accuracy of a measurement can only be as good as the quality of the sample, and this can be one of the more challenging aspects of wastewater monitoring. We have therefore worked closely with specialists in this field to develop the new Sample Filtration Cabinet, which combines the quality of a Swan Analytical analyser with a best-in-class sampling system.”

Phosphate is an essential nutrient, and is necessary for example, in low concentrations in biological wastewater treatment, but excessive concentrations can cause significant ecological harm. It is therefore common for phosphate to be included in environmental permits at municipal and industrial wastewater treatment plants.

Phosphate can be removed from wastewater by dosing with precipitants such as Ferric Chloride. However, dosing to excess can be very costly and inefficient, so it is common practice to continuously monitor phosphate levels for dosing control, and for demonstrating discharge compliance. Swan’s online AMI Phosphate instruments combined with the Sample Filtration System, have been designed specifically for both applications.

Background.
Phosphate is a key nutrient in the maintenance of aquatic animal and plant life. However, it is also considered to be one of the most important pollutants in surface waters. Excessive quantities, through natural accumulation or derived from human activities such as wastewater treatment and agricultural runoff, can stimulate the rapid growth of algae, resulting in algal blooms. This reduces the amount of light available for plants and can lead to oxygen depletion, bacterial growth and eutrophication. In addition, some algal blooms produce toxins that are harmful to other organisms. High phosphate concentrations can therefore cause enormous ecological and aesthetic damage to streams, lakes, rivers and oceans.

In England, the Environment Act 2021 and the supplementary Environmental Targets Regulations 2023 have set targets for reducing the levels of phosphorus, and other contaminants, that are released into fresh and coastal waters. As a consequence, phosphate limits in treated wastewater discharged into water courses are being tightened.

Monitoring phosphorus – the challenge.
The most prevalent compounds of phosphorus are derivatives of the phosphate (PO4) anion, with orthophosphate being soluble and the only bioavailable form. Orthophosphate is therefore a key measurement parameter in wastewater process control.

Inlet variation of orthophosphate concentration is common in sewage and wastewater treatment plants, which increases the necessity for monitoring to inform dosing control. In addition, some of the organically bound phosphorus and polyphosphates are converted into orthophosphate during the wastewater treatment process, which can influence the total orthophosphate concentration over time. This conversion is specifically optimised by some wastewater treatment plants to improve the overall balance of phosphorus recovery. For these reasons, orthophosphate concentration is the appropriate control parameter for optimising precipitation treatment.

Precise dosing of precipitants is extremely important for phosphorus elimination/recovery to avoid over- or under-dosing. The key to cost-efficient precipitant dosing is robust online measurement analytics that can determine the orthophosphate parameter accurately and reproducibly.

Orthophosphate precipitation typically takes place in three process locations:

1. Pre-precipitation (before the biological stage) – early elimination of orthophosphate.

2. Simultaneous precipitation (in activated sludge) - combining biological and chemical processes.

3. Post-precipitation (after the biological stage) - reduces residual phosphate in effluent.

With high levels of contamination, these process sampling points are always very demanding. A highly effective filter mechanism is therefore necessary to ensure that there are no blockages and that samples are truly representative.

Monitoring phosphorus – the solution.
Swan’s Sample Filtration Cabinet is an all-in-one solution for orthophosphate analysis in wastewater, facilitating problem-free sampling and analysis in even the most challenging wastewater streams.

The system supports ISO 6878 or APHA 4500-P/C colorimetric methods, with model options offering ranges of either 0.01 – 10.0 mg/l, or 0.1 – 50 mg/l. The cabinet houses all of the key components of the measurement system, including reagents, pumps, compressor, photometer and transmitter/display unit.

The filtration head removes suspended solids from the sample, but a number of highly innovative features ensure sampling does not affect measurement uncertainty. For example, a built-in compressor automatically implements air-pulse cleaning to extend service intervals.

Typically, the filters are replaced every 3-4 weeks – a process that takes just a few minutes, and requires no special tools. Used filters can then be chemically cleaned, using a special cleaning apparatus that is supplied as standard. This means that filters can be expected to last for over 2 years.

The stability, repeatability and accuracy of measurements are enhanced by an overflow cell that eliminates pressure and flow fluctuations, and an auto-zero check is conducted before every measurement. In addition, the instrument conducts automatic self-diagnosis of sample flow and reagent levels.

Orthophosphate measurement is ideal for process control, but many plants also employ this technology for monitoring final effluent, correlating with laboratory results for Total Phosphorus (TP). This is because online TP takes longer due to the requirement for a digestion stage. Online TP instruments are also more expensive.

Optional extras… for even greater peace of mind An optional cleaning module is available to help keep the photometer and overflow cell free from biofilm, and heated sample lines can be added for particularly cold locations. In addition, many customers also purchase Swan’s solid-state photometer verification kit.

Summary.
Swan Analytical’s wastewater phosphate measurement solutions reflect the company’s key brand values. The AMI Phosphate instruments are designed to offer highly accurate, stable and repeatable measurements with a low maintenance requirement and a low lifetime cost, but as John Saxton emphasises: “This can only be achieved with the reliable sample quality that is provided by the new Sample Filtration Cabinet. With this technology, wastewater process managers can minimise precipitation costs, optimise performance and maintain regulatory compliance.”

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@_Enviro_News @swan_usa #Wastewater

Quality assurance beyond visual inspection.

Quality assurance should not depend on chance, eyesight, or end-of-line discovery.

On a high-speed food and beverage line, small errors rarely stay small across the wider production environment. A slightly underfilled tray. A seal that doesn’t fully bond. A trace of product caught where it shouldn’t be.

Individually, they seem minor. But multiplied across thousands of units per hour, they turn into waste, rework, complaints and sometimes recalls. And when that happens, it’s not just the business that feels it. Production teams face pressure. Quality managers answer difficult questions. Consumers lose trust.

Many manufacturers still rely heavily on visual inspection to catch these issues. The reality is simple. What you can see is not always what is happening.

The real risk on the filling line
Filling and sealing are deceptively complex stages as speeds are high, materials vary, and environmental conditions can shift throughout the day. Even minor temperature inconsistencies at the seal point can affect integrity.

Manual inspection and standard vision systems have their place, but have limits; sampling means some packs are never checked. Operators rotate. Fatigue sets in. Opaque or multilayer packaging hides defects that traditional cameras cannot easily detect.

Weak or contaminated seals compromise shelf life and, in the worst cases, food safety, highlighting the importance of seal integrity monitoring.

When an issue escapes the line, the consequences move fast. Production stops, stock is quarantined, and teams work late to contain the damage. But it doesn’t end at the factory gates; products may be pulled from shelves, customers inconvenienced, and in serious cases, consumers put at risk. The financial cost is visible, and the human cost is felt.

Quality control without blind spots
Thermal imaging adds a different layer of control. Instead of relying on surface appearance, it measures heat distribution as seals are formed and products move through the line.

The Flir A70 Smart Sensor captures detailed thermal patterns at production speed. Variations in temperature highlight underfills, trapped product in the seal area and inconsistent sealing pressure, even through opaque or printed packaging.

This is not sampling. It is continuous, 100 per cent in-line inspection. Every pack. Every cycle. No sampling gaps. Defects can be rejected immediately, before they progress further downstream or leave the facility, reducing surprises.

From checking to controlling
When thermal inspection is integrated into existing control systems, quality shifts from reactive checking to process control.

Data feeds directly into the plant’s existing platforms, creating a clear, auditable record and supporting HACCP and BRCGS requirements. Edge processing ensures decisions happen instantly, without slowing the line.

For operations teams, the impact is practical and measurable:

• Less product giveaway
• Fewer seal-related rejects
• Reduced rework and downtime
• Stronger compliance documentation
• Greater confidence during audits

Most importantly, it reduces the stress that comes with uncertainty. When operations teams can see exactly what is happening at the seal point, they make decisions earlier and have confidence that the process is under control.

Protecting more than product
In food and beverage manufacturing, quality failures are not just technical events. They affect people, putting reputation at risk and undermining consumer confidence.

Filling Line and Seal Inspection using thermal imaging closes a critical gap. It verifies fill levels and seal integrity on every unit without adding manual workload or slowing production.

Because quality assurance should not depend on chance, eyesight, or end-of-line discovery, it should be built into the process, protecting product, performance and, most importantly, people.

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@flir @mepaxIntPR #TandM #PAuto #Food #Beverage

Quality, innovation and sustainability.

The 7th International Conference on Quality, Innovation and Sustainability (ICQIS 2026) will take place from 10–12 June 2026 at SETU-South East Technological University’s Cork Road, Waterford campus. The event is expected to attract researchers, industry leaders, and practitioners from across Ireland and internationally.

SETU Campus, Waterford, Ireland.

The conference aims to create a platform for knowledge exchange and collaboration, with a particular focus on how businesses can apply the latest thinking in quality management, innovation, and sustainable practice to drive competitiveness and growth.

Chaired by Dr Patrick Lynch, the conference will feature keynote contributions from internationally recognised experts including Professor Peter Hines and Richard Dawson.

Speaking ahead of the event, Dr Lynch said the conference offers a valuable opportunity for regional enterprises to connect with global expertise; “ICQIS 2026 will bring world-leading insights directly to the South East. For regional businesses, this is an opportunity to engage with new ideas, share experiences, and explore practical approaches to improving performance, embracing innovation, and advancing sustainability.”

The conference programme is designed to ensure strong industry relevance, with highlights including keynote talks, an industry panel discussion, parallel sessions, and an industry-focused excursion.

On Thursday, 11 June, delegates will visit Lean Industry 4.0 (LI4) and an industry partner to see innovation and quality systems in practice, offering tangible insights for businesses looking to enhance their own operations.

The conference will also include networking opportunities with academics, industry experts, and policymakers, helping to strengthen connections between SETU and the regional enterprise base.

The opening evening will take place at Waterford Treasures: Medieval Museum, while the conference gala dinner will be held at the Tower Hotel Waterford.

ICQIS 2026 will explore a wide range of topics relevant to industry, including lean management, artificial intelligence, Industry 4.0 and 5.0, circular economy, and smart management systems. Regional businesses interested in innovation, operational excellence, and sustainable growth are encouraged to attend.

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@SETUIreland #ICQIS #Conference #Ireland

Best software!

Ideagen has been named one of the ‘Best UK Software Companies’ for the third consecutive year in the G2 2026 Best Software Awards. The company also earned the Best Enterprise Resource Planning Products award, specifically noted for excellence in the Quality Management (QMS) and Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) categories - reflecting the high esteem Ideagen solutions are held in the eyes of their customers.

Across its portfolio, the company earned an impressive 331 G2 badges in 2025, demonstrating consistent user satisfaction and product excellence.

Standout results in 2025 include Ideagen Quality Management being recognised as a Leader in 49 reports and Ideagen Quality Control winning 77 badges in 2025 - the highest number of total badges in the entire product suite. Across the portfolio, solutions achieved an impressive 125 number one rankings.

John Molamphy, Chief Technology Officer at Ideagen, said: "Being recognised in G2's Best Software Awards for the third consecutive year is a powerful validation of our AI-first approach to solving the complex challenges facing regulated industries.

“This honour reflects the trust more than 18,000 customers place in our platform to deliver the clarity and confidence they need to protect their people, operations and the world around them.

"What makes this recognition especially meaningful is that it comes directly from our customers - the safety managers, quality directors and compliance officers who rely on our software daily. Their feedback drives our innovation and reinforces our commitment to being the most insightful and enabling platform for organisations managing critical risk, quality and safety challenges."

This point was echoed by Godard Abel, co-founder and CEO at G2: "As buyers increasingly shift to AI-driven research to discover software solutions, being recommended in the 'answer moment' must be earned with credible proof. Our Best Software Awards are grounded in trusted data from authentic customer reviews. They not only give buyers an objective, reliable guide to the products that help teams do their best work, but they're also the proof AI search platforms rely on when sourcing answers. Congratulations to this year's winners, including Ideagen. Earning a spot on these lists signals real customer impact."

Customer feedback influenced the success including:

• “I have used Ideagen Quality Management for eight years and it is a great system to share documents, perform audits and report internal incidents. I use the system daily and it is a big part of my role as a quality lead.”
• “Ideagen Quality Control has been a game-changer for our team's quality management processes. The platform is incredibly intuitive, leading to a dramatic improvement in our efficiency, accuracy and compliance.”
• “Managing compliance monitoring within our organisation has always been a complex task. However, Ideagen has made this process much simpler and effective. It has significantly reduced the number of man-hours needed to manage our audits.”

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@Ideagen_Plc @G2dotcom #PAuto #Britain

AS9100 Certification award.

Intelliconnect (Europe) has been awarded AS9100 certification, which recognises that the company’s quality management system meets the AS9100 standard, a specialised set of requirements for the aerospace, aviation and other industrial sectors.

AS9100 is based on the general quality standard ISO 9001, with additional aerospace-specific requirements covering such areas as safety, reliability, and regulatory compliance. AS9100 covers the total supply chain and applies to manufacturers, suppliers and service providers in aerospace of any size.

Compliance to the standard demonstrates that a company has proven it follows a globally recognised aerospace-specific quality system, can deliver products that meet customer and regulatory requirements and has processes to prevent defects and manage risks.

To become certified, a company undergoes an in-depth audit by an accredited third-party registrar, and it must be re-audited regularly (often annually) to maintain certification.

The award was presented to Intelliconnect at their Essex, (GB), facility by Michael Venner of Auva Certification Ltd.

Steve Groves, Sales & Marketing Director at Intelliconnect (Europe) Ltd, commented, “We are incredibly proud to presented with this prestigious award. It is a great achievement and demonstrates the commitment of our whole team to maintaining our ethos of manufacturing great products with excellent customer service. Auva Certification were instrumental in ensuring the success of our hard work”

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@Intelli_Connect @AuvaCert @proactivefleet #Pauto #Quality

How to select water purity monitors for 24/7 reassurance.

The leading providers of continuous water quality monitoring instrumentation frequently claim similar levels of performance, so it can be challenging to choose the best measurement technology with which to entrust critical manufacturing processes. In this article, Russell Culver from Swan Analytical explains why some of the key differentiators are not shown in specification sheets.

Russell Culver,  Swan Analytical

Background.
Continuous monitoring equipment plays an essential role in most manufacturing processes, protecting product quality, lowering costs, avoiding waste and ensuring regulatory compliance. For the purposes of this article, we will study the monitoring of total organic carbon (TOC) in purified water systems.

The quality of purified water is particularly important for most manufacturers, but especially so for the manufacturers of pharmaceuticals, medicines and personal care products. Cutting-edge measurement technology is therefore essential to ensure the quality and reliability of purified water systems.

TOC is a particularly important measurement in pure water systems because it provides a failsafe method to immediately detect any unwanted organic content. Contamination may result from sources present in the supply water and not removed by the purification process. However, contamination may also arise from within the high purity water system itself. Sources include piping, filters, valves, biofilm buildup, system leaks, adhesives, process gases, ion-exchange resins and thermoplastic breakdown products created during sterilisation procedures. Continuous monitoring, a fast response time and reliability are therefore essential – to monitor trends and raise alarms.

The Pharmacopeia regulations.
TOC is one of the four critical parameters defined by the Pharmacopeia to ensure the quality of purified water (PW) and water for injection (WFI).

The objectives of the United States Pharmacopeia standard USP <643> are to ensure the accurate measurement of TOC and to provide guidance on how to achieve that goal. USP <643> does not specify a particular analytical method, however it does specify the criteria for qualifying TOC instrumentation and for the interpretation of results. For example, instruments should be able to distinguish between organic and inorganic carbon, and must have a detection limit specified by the manufacturer of 0.05 mg/L (equivalent to 0.05 ppm or 50 ppb). Also, instruments must be calibrated according to the manufacturer’s instructions and regularly subjected to a System Suitability Test (SST). USP <643> intentionally says nothing about how often the SST should be run, because the frequency depends on the stability of the TOC instrument response and other factors associated with water quality and risk.

USP <643> states that TOC must not exceed the defined limit, which is the response of the TOC analyzer to a 500ppbC standard made from USP-traceable sucrose. This means that the value which a specific TOC analyser gives for USP-traceable 500ppbC sucrose becomes the limit value.

Continuous TOC monitoring is also specified in European standards. For example, the EU GMP Annexe 1 requires water for injection systems to include continuous monitoring systems such as TOC and conductivity, (unless justified otherwise) as these may give a better indication of overall system performance than discrete sampling. Sensor locations should be based on risk and the outcome of qualification.

Spec sheet conundrum.
One of the key challenges facing process managers is how to choose instrumentation when all the spec sheets look the same! This is because measurement instrumentation frequently employs the same or similar detection technology, so performance measures such as accuracy and resolution are inevitably similar. The key differences between different manufacturers therefore mainly relate to issues such as measurement stability, reliability, and ease of use. However, these characteristics are difficult to define on specification sheets, but feature prominently in the minds of existing users.

Case study - pharmaceutical manufacturer.

One of Swan Analytical’s customers is a well-known global brand in the body care and fragrance sectors with a British manufacturing facility using purified hot and cold water for both manufacturing and cleaning purposes. The level of purification is critical for the quality of their products, so a comprehensive continuous water quality monitoring network has been established for quality control and regulatory compliance.

The company takes an uncompromising approach to quality, covering every stage of the development and manufacture of its products, with rigorous compliance to some of the strictest regulations in the world. In addition, the company’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities feature the most advanced testing equipment to guarantee product quality. All manufacturing equipment is tested and certified, and every production process is validated.

Local engineering staff have commented that most reputable instruments can be relied on to deliver accurate results, but they believe that the key differentiators are the ease and cost of maintenance procedures such as service and calibration. These are not issues that can generally be assessed in product literature, so it is necessary to learn from the experience of existing users. However, in this example, the user already had the prior benefit of an existing Swan chlorine analyser which was employed to continually check the performance of a carbon filtration system. This provided the level of confidence necessary to subsequently deploy a Swan analyser for the measurement of TOC. Importantly, the client chose Swan, not because it was more accurate than its predecessor, but because it was so much easier to manage.

Swan analysers are simpler to maintain because they have a modular design. This means that the footprint is very slightly larger, but importantly, service and calibration work is improved, because it is easier and less costly to work on or replace individual modules. In addition, the Swan analysers come with a 3-year warranty, which is quite unusual in this market.

To further extend confidence and reliability in continuous monitoring systems, many UK customers are covered by a service contract under which Swan engineers conduct a preventative maintenance and SST/calibration check every 6 months. The resulting service report and calibration certificate can form part of an internal audit procedure, as well as external audits by organisations such as the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA).

Summary.
The accuracy and performance of Swan’s AMI LineTOC analysers are equivalent to other leading manufacturers, but for many users a key point of differentiation is the ease of maintenance. This generally results in lower operational costs, but in comparison with other continuous monitors, Swan instruments also represent a lower capital cost.

In addition to online monitoring, many customers take water samples from multiple locations for laboratory analysis. This enables the measurement of a wide variety of parameters, but lacks the advantages of continuous monitoring. For example, online instruments provide 24/7 reassurance that processes are in perfect condition and fully compliant with pharmacopoeia and all applicable regulations. These continuous measurements are extremely important, not just for regulatory compliance, but also to provide fast alerts to prevent any possibility of product contamination.

In conclusion, most instrument manufacturers publish high levels of performance for their monitors, so it can be difficult to choose one over another. It is therefore important to seek the views of existing users, most of whom will emphasise the importance of maintenance ease and cost.

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@_Enviro_News @swan_usa #Pharma #Water

Water quality service extended.

Thames Water Utilities has extended the term of Meteor Communications' Framework Agreement for the supply of water quality monitoring equipment and services for Final Effluent Monitoring.

The Framework extension will run until September 2027, and covers the provision of ESNET monitoring systems with associated calibration, maintenance and data services via the MeteorCloud® platform.

Commenting on the contract extension, Meteor’s MD Matt Dibbs said: “These systems are primarily used to monitor final effluent water quality at wastewater treatment plants. ESNET provides instant, real time, high resolution Final Effluent Water Quality data to enable Thames Water to gain enhanced visibility of their works’ operations, and effectively manage treatment processes.”

ESNET systems can be deployed in minutes and are carbon neutral in operation, with the majority solar powered. As such they represent an extremely cost-effective approach to providing high quality, real-time water quality data from any location.

In response to demand from the water industry, regulators and environmental consultants, Meteor Communications is investing heavily in the resources that deliver remote water quality data. Matt says: “These commitments from Thames Water and others, reflect the confidence that customers have in our ability to deliver real-time data to enhance process efficiency and environmental protection.”

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@thameswater @MeteorComms @_Enviro_News #Environmental #Water #Britain

Pollution mitigation recognised.

APEM Group has been announced as the winner of the ‘Pollution Mitigation Initiative of the Year’ category at the Water Industry Awards, in recognition of the company’s continuous water quality monitoring project for United Utilities.

Working in partnership with Meteor Communications, APEM Group managed a water quality monitoring project on the River Kent near Kendal in the Lake District (GB). The project was implemented to help ensure the protection of water quality while treated water was discharged into the river through a temporary outfall pipe at a new location, following the damage of the original outfall by storm Desmond in 2015.

Hannah Austin, Divisional Director – Water Science, APEM Group, said: “I am immensely proud of the team that brought this amazing project to life. It’s great to see the tangible benefits to our rivers that monitoring data and evidence-led decision making bring. For APEM Group and our partners at Meteor Communications to be nationally recognised for this innovative work is a remarkable achievement.”

The WIA judges felt that APEM Group’s entry “stood out as both very relevant and innovative, while also presenting a positive message about pollution mitigation.” They described it as “a scalable solution to enhance pollution control and meet future demands, presenting significant benefits.”

A key element of the project was the deployment of Meteor ESNET water quality monitoring stations, installed and maintained by Meteor Communications to provide real-time water quality data both upstream and downstream of the temporary outfall. Meteor’s Managing Director Matt Dibbs, who attended the awards ceremony, said: “We were delighted that the scalability of our water monitoring quality monitoring solutions has been recognised as these systems meet the river monitoring requirements of the Environment Act’s Section 82. This project therefore represents a blueprint for the large number of monitoring systems that water companies will establish in the upcoming AMP period.”

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@MeteorComms @APEM_Ltd  @_Enviro_News #Environmental #Water #Britain

Rainfall and nickel concentration on environmental conditions.

Continuous metals monitor reveals environmental improvement opportunities.

A new continuous metals monitoring technology was recently trialled at a river by a Talc production plant in central Finland. The trial was conducted to assess the possibility of avoiding the need to sample and analyse large numbers of environmental water samples.  The new monitoring technology employs Micro-Discharge Optical Emission Spectroscopy (µDOES®), and was supplied by the Finnish company Sensmet.

“The results were extremely enlightening,” explains Jari Sirviö, Development Engineer for Elementis, the plant’s owner. “Luckily, a heavy rainfall event occurred during the brief trial, and we discovered a rapid increase, and subsequent decrease, in nickel concentration that closely followed the rain. This strong correlation between rainfall and nickel provides an important insight into the behaviour of nickel, and raises a number of important questions; it also highlights the enormous benefits that can be gained from continuous monitoring.”

It is common practice globally, to monitor metals concentrations by sampling for laboratory analysis, and the plant had previously taken samples three times per week. In contrast, the continuous and automated monitor makes a measurement every 5 minutes, 24/7. “Lab analysis would not have been able to demonstrate the correlation between rainfall and nickel concentration,” Jari explains. “We are therefore delighted to see that this new monitoring technology can deliver greater insights into the factors affecting water quality, so that we can continuously improve our environmental performance.”

Background.
Employing over 1,300 people at more than 24 locations, Elementis is a specialty chemicals company with operations worldwide. The company is focused on distinctive, high-value solutions and products to improve performance and enhance sustainability for customers in the personal care and product performance specialties markets. The Elementis plant at Sotkamo produces Talc according to market demand, as well as Nickel concentrate as a by-product.

Talc is one of the softest minerals, and with platy and hydrophobic characteristics it adds value to a range of industrial products including paper, paints & coatings, polyester putties, plastics, ceramics, food, and fertilizers.

Nickel is used in a wide range of industrial applications such as the manufacture of stainless steel. However, its importance has been heightened in recent years as a component of rechargeable batteries – in electric vehicles for example.

Environmental monitoring.
Elementis constantly aims to design better products that use less resources and create less pollution. In addition, the company has identified water management, waste minimisation and ecological impacts as material issues within its sustainability strategy.

A water treatment plant was built at the Sotkamo facility in 2021, using lime to raise the pH of site wastewaters and remove contaminants such as metals. In compliance with an environmental permit, together with Finnish environmental law, high quality process monitoring ensures the receiving environment is not polluted by the discharge, and includes an upper limit for nickel in the receiving river water of 0.034 mg/l.

During the period immediately after the installation of the neutralisation plant, a large number of laboratory samples were taken as the plant was optimised. This prompted Elementis staff to investigate the possibility of continuous analysis, which led to the trial of Sensmet’s µDOES® analyser.

Continuous multi-metal monitoring technology.
Sensmet's Micro-Discharge Optical Emission Spectroscopy, µDOES®, enables the multi-metal real-time analysis of aqueous samples. In addition to nickel monitoring, the technology can also be utilised to monitor elements such as lithium, sodium, cobalt, manganese, nickel, copper, and more.

The patented µDOES® technology is based on atomic emission spectroscopy. A micro-discharge (electric spark) is created directly inside the aqueous sample, causing a microscopic volume of the fluid surrounding the spark to be flash-heated to 10 000 °C. Molecules in the micro-discharge are dissociated into atoms, which are excited to their respective higher electronic states. Upon returning to their ground state, these atoms release their excess energy by emitting light at their characteristic wavelengths. The µDOES® measures this atomic emission spectrum to derive quantitative analysis of the sample, displaying measurements locally, and transferring data to the user’s DCS and database as needed.

Conclusions.
The µDOES® analyser has provided the Sotkamo staff with new insights into the factors affecting nickel levels, which enables the development of mitigation measures. “Sensmet’s continuous monitoring technology has delivered a real lightbulb moment for us,” Jari Sirviö explains. “Now that we know about the correlation between rainfall and nickel concentration, we can investigate a range of options that could be employed to lower nickel levels, and with continuous monitoring we will be in a better position to evaluate the results.”

In recent years there has been a global trend toward greater use of continuous environmental monitoring. “This has been enabled by advances in technology,” explains Sensmet CEO Dr Toni Laurila. “However, as this trial has demonstrated, continuous monitoring delivers a range of other important advantages, that combine to further improve environmental protection.”

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@Sensmet_Ltd @_Enviro_News #Environment #Pauto

Importance of testing for gas analysers.

Levels of uncertainty in gas measurements can be increased, for example, by calibration gases that offer poor levels of accuracy. For this reason, Signal Group manufactures gas handling and calibration equipment as well as gas analysers. “The linearity check is particularly important,” explains Managing Director James Clements. “Our Model 821S Gas Divider, for example, has been tested independently against our main competitor globally, and found to be dramatically superior.”

Conducted in North Carolina (USA), the trial found the slope accuracy for the Signal 821S to be just 0.25% for a NO/N2 gas mixture, whereas the competitor gas divider offered 1.6% slope accuracy. Similarly, for a SO2/N2 mixture Signal’s slope accuracy was 0.74% and the competitor’s was a disappointing 2.5%.

“Sources of uncertainty are incremental,” James explains, “so it makes no sense to introduce extra error unnecessarily, which is why the 821S Gas Divider is popular with both our customers and with other gas analyser manufacturers.”

The European standard EN14181 describes the quality assurance procedures for Automated Measurement Systems (AMS) installed to measure emissions to air. Under this standard, an analyser’s linearity must be checked using five different reference concentrations, including zero. The reference concentrations should be approximately 20%, 40%, 60% and 80% of the range of two times the emission limit, and the test concentrations should be applied in a randomised sequence.

It is common practice to employ a gas divider to create the different reference concentrations, however, it is of course also necessary to be able to validate the gas divider. To protect accuracy and reliability, the Signal Group Model 821S Gas Divider does not use mass flow controllers. A manifold block with ten identical capillaries and a precision pressure balance regulator ensure the high levels of accuracy demonstrated in the USA trial.

The procedure for checking the accuracy of the 821S Gas Divider is simple. Users connect the zero and calibration gas to the opposite connections and repeat the test, and if the gas divider is operating correctly, the gas analyser will show exactly the same readings.

Summarising, James Clements says: “Bottles of calibration gas have a fixed ‘use-by’ date and can be expensive to purchase and store, so it makes sense to employ a gas divider to conduct multi-point calibrations. However, purchased calibration gas itself incurs a level of uncertainty, so we designed the 821S Gas Divider to minimise increases in uncertainty, and I am grateful to the researchers in North Carolina for highlighting this technical superiority.”

@GasAnalysers @_Enviro_News #PAuto

Instrument company achieves nuclear standard.

WIKA has been certified by TÜV SÜD in accordance with the new ISO 19443:2018 quality management standard for civil nuclear projects. The measurement technology manufacturer is thus the first company in Germany, and the fourth worldwide, to achieve this status. The audit was passed at the first attempt.

So far, WIKA has been certified to KTA 1401. However, this standard was primarily designed for the German market. With its processes in accordance with ISO 19443, WIKA is now focusing on global project business in the civil nuclear power generation segment. Customer audits for qualification as a supplier can thus be widely reduced.

For the measurement requirements of the industry, WIKA offers products and customer-specific solutions for the measurement parameters of pressure, temperature and level.

• WIKA products are marketed in Ireland through Instrument Technology.

@WIKANews #Pauto #Automation 

Ensuring royal water quality.

Royal water quality Looking to find ways to keep improving water quality, the managers of the English Royal Parks have installed a continuous water quality monitor; an ESNET (Environmental Sensor NETwork) system from the company Meteor Communications.

The Serpentine, in London's Hyde Park, is monitored by the British Environment Agency which collects samples for bacteriological analysis every week between May and September. However, the ESNET continuous water quality monitor was installed to improve understanding of the factors affecting water quality.

George II (Hannover) & Caroline

Covering an area of around 16 hectares, the Serpentine was created in 1730 by the wife of George II, Queen Caroline. Originally fed by the River Westbourne and Tyburn Brook in the 1730s, the lake's water was later pumped from the River Thames. Today, water is pumped from two boreholes from within Hyde Park.

The water quality monitoring system was installed in February 2022, measuring key parameters including Blue/ Green Algae, Chlorophyll, Temperature, Conductivity, pH, Turbidity and Dissolved Oxygen. Measurements are taken continuously in real-time with updates every 30 minutes to the MeteorCloud™ web portal, with instant alerts for any issues that may influence bathing water quality. “The ESNET system will provide essential data for the future management of the lake,” explains the Royal Parks’ Dr Pawel Szynkarczuk. “We need this empirical data to better understand short- and long-term trends, as well as the factors affecting water quality. For example, a key advantage of a continuous time-series dataset is the ability to correlate water quality incidents with potential impact factors such as ambient temperature and heavy rainfall.

“The Environment Agency’s laboratory tests are more focused on bathing safety, whereas the wider variety of parameters monitored by ESNET will provide greater insights into the factors affecting water quality generally. The ESNET system will therefore allow us to make informed decisions, whilst also enabling us to measure the impact of any improvement measures.”

Water quality improvement measures currently include litter/debris removal as well as aeration at 24 points around the lake. However, the large population of wildfowl in Hyde Park is the likely cause of any water pollution; with raised nutrient levels during summer being an area that is carefully monitored. The water quality challenges presented by the wildfowl are compounded by Park visitors feeding the ducks and geese by throwing food into the water. Raised nutrient levels during summer are therefore carefully monitored, and an initiative is underway to try to alter visitor behaviour. “We have a campaign entitled ‘Help Nature Thrive’, which is designed to discourage overfeeding – it’s not good for the birds and it certainly isn’t good for water quality,” explains Assistant Hyde Park Manager, Ian Nightingale. “In the past, we have had to address raised nutrient levels on two occasions by dosing the water with a modified bentonite clay which binds with free reactive phosphorus. While this method appears to be effective, it is expensive, so the provision of continuous monitoring will enable us to fully evaluate the cost/benefits of any future water quality improvement measures.”

The ESNET system has been installed at the Environment Agency’s water sampling point, adjacent to the lake’s bathing area, and the water quality sensors are built into a compact water quality sonde which is permanently located beneath the water surface. In order to maintain the highest levels of accuracy, the sonde is routinely swapped out with a pre-calibrated sonde by Meteor Communications.

The entire system runs on very low levels of power, with a small solar panel meeting the power requirement of the entire ESNET system. “This is very important,” explains Meteor MD Matt Dibbs. “These systems are usually installed in remote locations for customers such as the Environment Agency and utility companies; frequently these sites have no pre-existing power or communications capability.

“We were recently consulted by the Environment Audit Committee and provided them with a live demonstration; explaining how ESNET systems are monitoring UK rivers and providing alerts when potential pollution incidents could threaten bathing water quality. We hope that the Serpentine ESNET system will deliver similar benefits; helping the Park managers to improve the lake’s water quality.”

@MeteorComms @EnvAgency @_Enviro_News #Environmental #Water

Gas measurement quality approval.

Qmicro by Sensirion has congratulated MeterQ on their achievement of the approval from the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Germany’s national metrology institute, for two of their gas quality measurement systems for custody transfer.

Climate neutrality, sustainability and the reduction of CO² emissions are global trends that are driving the decarbonization of the energy sector. The new standard of MeterQ, MGCflex, performs 13-component natural gas analysis including hydrogen, oxygen and neo-pentane and is ready for the future.

In addition, MeterQ provides a suitcase-mounted mobile version called MGCmobile. This solution enables the whole system to be transported in nearly every passenger vehicle. The system can then be quickly assembled at the desired location and begin analyzing the gas straight away. The MGC is the first mobile process gas chromatograph which received the PTB approval and equals the performance of MGCflex.

Germany functions as a reference country for this gas analysis because MeterQ solutions have been part of the German federal research project TransHyDE. It is expected that other countries will follow soon.

@sensirion #PAuto #Standards

River quality report calls for better river monitoring.

A report on river water quality, published by the British Parliamentary Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) has been welcomed by Meteor Communications. Following consultation with a wide variety of stakeholders, the Report revealed damning evidence of river pollution in England. However, Andrew Scott, Meteor’s Technical Director, who provided evidence to the committee, says: “Of course, it is good that this vitally important issue is being highlighted, and we are pleased to note that the Report specifies a wide range of measures that should be undertaken to improve water quality; all of which should be underpinned by effective monitoring.

“The Report also highlights the need for greater investment in infrastructure, which will be vital in the pursuit of the Report’s goals.”

The most recent data published by the Environment Agency, under obligations originally established by the EU Water Framework Directive, show that only 14% of English rivers met good ecological status and no river met good chemical status. The Environment Act 2021 empowers Ministers to set long-term statutory targets for the improvement of the natural environment, and requires a long-term target for the improvement of water to be set not later than 31 October 2022.

Several witnesses criticised the use of ‘spot sampling’ suggesting that this method dramatically reduces the likelihood of detecting pollution incidents. Witnesses also urged the introduction of continuous real-time monitoring of water quality. For example, Salmon and Trout Conservation observed that technological developments in monitoring meant that “continuous monitoring should now be both practical and affordable for the Environment Agency to use widely, especially at potentially high-risk locations such as sewage treatment works.” The Centre for Hydrology and Ecology concurred: “The use of multi-probe Sondes with telemetry to detect ammonium, turbidity and dissolved oxygen concentrations in effluents at hourly frequencies, alongside flow gauging, could provide an accurate estimate of pollution loadings coming from sewage treatment works, an early warning system to detect sewage treatment works failures and provide the key data for researchers to evaluate the impact of combined sewer overflows on downstream river water quality and ecology.”

The Report provided further evidence in support of continuous monitoring. For example, it said continuous monitoring could provide a high level of certainty as to the condition of a river and the causes of pollution, thus alleviating the need to apply complex statistical processes to data analysis. The technique could be cost-effective if used in a targeted way. It was suggested that if there is a particular problem to investigate, you can find out more from continuous monitoring in two weeks than you would probably find in many, many years of random sampling.

Salmon and Trout Conservation also recommended the use of continuous monitoring, especially with the ‘spikey’ nature of discharges from such industries as watercress and trout farming. It said that the technology has progressed so markedly that continuous monitoring should now be both practical and affordable for the Environment Agency to use widely, especially for potentially high-risk polluters such as sewage treatment works. In addition, the report said that the Environment Agency, in its submission, had said that it would like to explore the use of continuous monitors for the quality of effluent that could ‘trigger early warning if effluents were starting to deteriorate’ for regulatory purposes.

During his presentation to the EAC Andrew Scott explained that remote, continuous river water quality monitoring technology is already well-proven. “Over 300 of our Environmental Sensor Network (ESNET) outstations are currently monitoring UK rivers, but many more will be necessary in the future because, for example, there are over 6,000 sewage treatment works in England alone,” he explained. “The current ESNET users are the Environment Agency, seven water companies, environmental consultancies and other water sector bodies. ESNET produces scientifically robust, legally enforceable evidence that truly reflects the dynamic nature of the surface water environment. It differentiates and identifies sources of pollutants from man-made activity such as sewage treatment works, combined sewer overflows and agriculture; outputting high resolution data for the most important water quality parameters.”

ESNET monitoring station on site

Quick and easy to install, ESNET systems typically monitor parameters such as dissolved oxygen, temperature, pH, conductivity, turbidity, ammonium, Blue Green Algae and chlorophyll. However, it is also possible to include other water quality parameters as well as remote cameras, water level and flow, or meteorological measurements. The addition of autosamplers enables the collection of samples for laboratory analysis, which enables the measurement of other pollutants such as pharmaceuticals and plastics. Autosamplers can collect at pre-set intervals and/or when initiated by specific alarm conditions. This is a particular advantage for water companies and regulators because it enables the immediate collection of samples in response to a pollution incident, which informs mitigation measures and helps to identify the source of contamination.

The ESNET systems were designed specifically for the collection of real-time data from remote locations because they operate on very low power and wirelessly connect with the MeteorCloud web portal providing secure access for viewing and downloading data.

Summarising, Andrew says: “The EAC Report provides a detailed plan for improving water quality in our rivers, but as the Report says, this will require a significant investment in infrastructure. A relatively small part of that investment, we believe, should be in a much higher number of remote continuous water quality monitoring systems. This will significantly improve our understanding of pollution, enable rapid response to pollution incidents, and allow source attribution when such events occur. It is therefore very pleasing to note that the Report recommends that the Environment Agency should rapidly introduce cost-efficient and effective sensors at an increased number of locations.”

@MeteorComms @CommonsEAC @UK_CEH #Environment #WaterQuality #Britain

Parliamentary committee requests info on remote continuous water quality monitoring.

The Westminster Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) has requested written evidence from Meteor Communications as part of the committee’s ongoing inquiry into water quality in the rivers of Britain. The submission was timely because it was made while sewage spills were the subject of intense media attention, and after the Environment Act 2021 placed a new responsibility on sewerage undertakers to progressively reduce the impact of discharges from storm overflows.

“We have been following the EAC enquiry closely,” explains Meteor Technical Director Andrew Scott, “and with over 300 of our ESNET outstations currently monitoring UK rivers, we were concerned that some of the participants may not be fully aware of this technological capability.

“Conveniently, data from the Environment Agency’s pollution investigations were recently made public, so we were able to show the EAC examples of the ways in which our technology is able to continuously track the key signatures for different types of pollution, and how these can be correlated with events such as heavy rainfall; delivering legally defensible information.”

ESNET Systems in situ

Following an online meeting with representatives of the EAC, Meteor staff were asked to provide a written submission, describing the current monitoring networks and explaining how these could be upscaled to monitor downstream and upstream of sewage treatment works in England.

There are two main types of ESNET (Environmental Sensor NETwork) water quality monitoring system; a portable monitoring station, and a kiosk-housed pumped system for semi-permanent or fixed installations. The systems were developed to allow rapid deployment with no requirement for pre-existing power or communication infrastructure. As a result, high resolution, real-time, multiparameter water quality data can be obtained within minutes of deployment.

ESNET monitors are typically loaded with sensors for parameters such as dissolved oxygen, pH, conductivity, turbidity, ammonium, temperature, blue green algae and chlorophyll. However, it is also possible to include other water quality parameters as well as remote cameras, water level and flow, or meteorological measurements. The addition of autosamplers enables the collection of samples for laboratory analysis; either at pre-set intervals and/or initiated by specific alarm conditions. This is a particular advantage for water companies and regulators because it enables the immediate collection of samples in response to a pollution incident, which informs mitigation measures and helps to identify the source of contamination.

The EAC inquiry follows increasing concern about water quality in rivers, with just 14% of English rivers currently achieving ‘Good’ ecological status and no river rated ‘Good’ on its chemical status. It has also been reported that in 2020 there were over 400,000 discharges of raw sewage into English rivers.

Looking forward Andrew says: “All stakeholders are currently looking for ways to improve water quality in rivers, and effective continuous monitoring of receiving waters will perform a vital role in achieving that objective. In addition, the Environment Act 2021 places a new responsibility for monitoring the quality of watercourses into which storm overflows discharge.

“Water companies, regulators, consultants and water users can therefore be reassured that proven technology exists to better understand the factors affecting the quality of receiving waters.”

@MeteorComms @UKParliament @_Enviro_News #Environment #Waste #England

Water management - fantastic opportunity.

In this article Nigel Grimsley from OTT HydroMet explains why Big Data in the water sector represents a fantastic opportunity.

Water security can be defined as the availability of a sufficient quantity and quality of water to sustain livelihoods, health, socio-economic development and ecosystems. To achieve this goal, water managers need timely access to reliable, insightful, defensible data, but with the volume and speed of data now available, will existing data infrastructure be able to cope?

Recent developments in sensors, dataloggers and telemetry, have delivered intelligent monitoring systems that are able to operate remotely, running on very low levels of power and delivering reliable data in real-time. This has prompted dramatic growth in the implementation of high-intensity monitoring systems that generate enormous volumes of data. These systems also possess advanced alarm capability; issuing alert messages by SMS, email etc. when pre-set conditions arise.

Water management policies must be sustainable and resilient, so it is vital that both strategic and operational decisions are based on sound data. However, if data are not managed correctly, users may become ‘data-rich but information-poor’, so some of the most important decisions in the organisation of a monitoring programme relate to the ways in which data will be managed.

Working at every stage of the data collection process, OTT HydroMet has developed sensors that can operate remotely for extended periods; loggers that run on very low power but provide enormous data processing capability; telemetry solutions to transmit data from and to anywhere, and software that can assimilate vast quantities of data. The latest software (as a service) packages, such as Hydromet Cloud and AQUARIUS, are able to provide insights and alerts, while also providing easy access to live or historical data.

In combination, the OTT HydroMet solutions, from sensor to screen, enable water managers to meet the needs of disparate stakeholders and enhance water security. 

When it comes to the management of water, Big Data represents a fantastic opportunity.

@OTTHydromet @_Enviro_News #Utility #Automation 

Water quality as a service.

For decades, anyone needing to monitor water quality would purchase equipment to measure the parameters of interest. Today, an innovative, rapidly growing company, Meteor Communications, has challenged that model with their ‘Water Quality as a Service’ (WQaaS) solution.

“Ultimately, people monitor water quality because they need data,” explained Meteor’s MD Matt Dibbs. “So, we would happily sell them water quality monitoring systems, but many of our customers now prefer to just pay for the data - and let us manage the equipment.”

This radical approach has proved so popular with water companies, regulators and environmental consultants that hundreds of stations are now in the field, delivering continuous real-time, water quality data.

“Our monitoring systems are ideal for providing real-time data from remote locations because they operate on very low power and wirelessly connect with the MeteorCloud secure web portal providing secure access for clients to view and download their own data.”

Wireless environmental sensor networks
Working with water companies and government agencies, Meteor Communications developed the ESNET (Environmental Sensor NETwork) autonomous water quality monitoring systems to allow rapid deployment with no requirement for pre-existing power or communication infrastructure. Modular and with multiparameter capability as well as built-in communications, ESNET systems deliver robust, high resolution real-time water quality data within minutes of deployment. The systems are available as a complete portable monitoring station or as part of a kiosk pumped system for semi-permanent or fixed installations. ESNET enables the rapid creation of monitoring networks, which is a particular advantage in the monitoring of catchments because it allows water managers to track the movement of water quality issues as they pass through a river system.

ESNET sondes are typically loaded with sensors for parameters such as dissolved oxygen, temperature, pH, conductivity, turbidity, ammonium, Blue Green Algae and chlorophyll. However, it is also possible to include other water quality parameters as well as remote cameras, water level and flow, or meteorological measurements. The addition of autosamplers enables the collection of samples for laboratory analysis; either at pre-set intervals and/or initiated by specific alarm conditions. This is a particular advantage for water companies and regulators because it enables the immediate collection of samples in response to a pollution incident, which informs mitigation measures and helps to identify the source of contamination.

How ‘Water Quality as a Service’ works
Under a WQaaS agreement, Meteor Communications installs ESNET stations at the customers’ sites, measuring pre-specified parameters. Meteor is then responsible for all aspects of the installation and retains ownership of the equipment. The provision of high intensity (typically 15 minute intervals) water quality data is assured by daily online checks that the stations are performing correctly. In addition, regular site visits are conducted for service and maintenance including monthly visits to swap the water quality sondes with duplicates which have been calibrated at Meteor’s dedicated Water Quality Services Hub near Basingstoke. “This ability to swap sondes is a vitally important feature of the service,” said Matt. “By providing this service to all WQaaS customers there is a major benefit of scale, because this has enabled us to establish a dedicated sonde service and calibration facility that is able to process large batches of sondes quickly and effectively.”

Advantages of non-ownership model
The most important advantages are financial. With no capital costs, this model provides enormous flexibility for the users of the service because it means that they only have to spend money on the data that they need. In addition, there are no equipment depreciation costs and no requirement for investment in the resources that are necessary for ongoing service and calibration.

For many of Meteor’s customers, the main advantage is peace of mind, because continuity of data is usually vitally important. With staff from its Water Quality Services Hub checking outstations every day, combined with regular site visits, users of the system can rest assured that uninterrupted monitoring will generate a comprehensive dataset. On rare occasions, monitoring activities can be hampered by vandalism or even natural events, but the WQaaS system ensures that such issues are detected immediately, so that appropriate action can be implemented quickly to protect the continuity of data.

Risk reduction is also an advantage, because purchased equipment can fail, resulting in a requirement for repairs or replacement parts, which may cause a loss of data continuity. However, under the WQaaS scheme, Meteor is responsible for the system’s uptime, so spares for all of the ESNET’s modules are kept on standby as rapid replacements.

Where water quality monitoring is required for a specific project, the equipment can be tailored to meet precise needs, and at the end of the project the monitoring equipment is simply removed. This is ideal for consultants or researchers bidding for projects with a monitoring element, because it allows them to define the costs very accurately in advance.

Flexibility is the key benefit for water company users of the WQaaS model. Traditionally, final effluent water quality monitoring at wastewater treatment plants is undertaken by fixed equipment installed with appropriate capital works. This means that mainly larger plants benefit from continuous monitoring, so the major advantage of the ESNET systems is that they can be rapidly deployed at any site; delivering water quality insights later that same day. Then, once the investigation is complete, the equipment can be easily moved to a different plant.

Summarising Matt said: “This technology has been developed over many years, and with hundreds of systems already in the field we have invested heavily in the resources that are necessary to support these networks. This means that our customers do not need to make the same investment, which delivers efficiency and cost-saving benefits for everyone.

“We still sell ESNET systems to those for whom ownership makes more sense, but for many others the advantages of WQaaS are significant, because when the monitoring stops; so does the cost!”

@MeteorComms @_Enviro_News #Water #WQaaS #Utility #Pauto #Environment