TECHNOLOGY
Wireless water quality monitor in a small robust casing Biosensor
Biosensor
APPLICATION, METHOD AND BENEFITS
Can monitor changes in water quality by measuring basic parameters: electrochemical potential, pressure, temperature Proxy measurement of water quality | Real time data via radio and mobile phone network, sent to base stations and on to an online database to visualise the data | Can enable high spatial resolution due to low cost – many could be deployed across a river catchment.
Can measure microbial load and toxicity in wastewater for process control | Electro-active bacteria e.g. Geobacter on the electrode create an electrical current which is proportionate to Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) | Can be used to predict biodegradable organic matter (BOM)
Real-time microbial performance monitoring in wastewater | Direct measurement of exoelectrogenic microbial metabolic activity | Enables water companies to quantify microbiology to better understand wastewater treatment | Can be used to improve energy performance by siting one biosensor before and one after the Biological Aerated Flooded Filter (BAFF). BAFF units can be turned off during periods of low microbial loads. This can lead to an energy saving of 10-20% per site, or savings of £50,000 - £100,000
Autonomous water quality monitor
Multi parameter system combined with solar PV to generate its own power | Currently developed to include pH, temperature, conductivity sensors but can be adapted. Energy harvesting enables • Higher data frequency • Less maintenance costs • More sustainable
A smart water monitor
Sample at different depths in a water column using one device | A relatively low cost system | Fully autonomous | Solar PV to top up battery | Multi parameter probe | Sensor agnostic | No chemical reagents needed | Comms to integrate with customer requirements | Real time data visualised on an app dashboard | Alerts and notifi cations can be set | Patented system | Short or long term monitoring solution
Applications include:
• Upland catchment quality and fl ow monitoring • Inland water quality • Lake and pond health monitoring • Early river pollution warning • Urban river quality monitoring • Industrial effl uent discharge monitoring • Slurry discharge monitoring
Sewer blockage monitor
Real time multiparameter water quality sensor
Smart level sensor
• Reservoir water quality • Drinking water quality trunk mains monitoring • Combined sewer outfall fl ow monitoring • Wastewater outlet monitoring • Bathing water quality monitoring • Fish farm effl uent monitoring
Proactive detection of fatbergs and other blockages | Lower cost than other inspection techniques | Incorporates telemetry data capture and analysis | Low cost, easy installation and low maintenance sensors | Uses machine learning | ATEX certifi ed | Robust in harsh environments | Battery life of 10 years
Secondary measurement of BOD/COD/coliforms | Stable, low maintenance fl uorescence-based sensors | Can be used to monitor bathing waters and watercourses for recreational use | Can be used for BOD compliance for wastewater treatment works | Can be used for aeration control at WwTW, saving energy and carbon | Patented, disruptive technology | Institute of Water Innovation Award Winner 2021
Level sensor for sewers | Relatively low cost for mass deployment | Quick and easy installation | Complements existing monitoring | Can help improve network performance | Level data can be integrated with forecast and actual rainfall data in the machine learning software provided, to provide alerts to take action to prevent spills | Built in NB-IoT | Confi gurable sampling and logging of level data | Remote confi guration including fi rmware upgrades
AI based sewer network control
To reduce the number and volume of CSO spills | Provides a Storm Overfl ow Assessment | Framework which can help to prioritise investment in CSOs, WWTP overfl ows and tank discharges based on environmental impact, public visibility and frequency parameters | Proactive monitoring and control | 1st and 2nd fl ush of sewers could be contained to protect watercourses | Sluice gates can be automated and controlled by AI | Uses simple surrogate measurements | Relatively quick to install and implement | Low cost spill/no spill/duration and quantity response | Can reduce the need for construction of storage, cut associated costs and carbon emissions.
Monitor has been proven to work, already being used by Thames Water. Idea is being patented. Lots of commercial interest. Field trials in the summer of 2022.
On the market
Deployed around the world, including in the UK, US, Asia, Europe & South America
On the market
STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT
Prototype has been made, trials are underway, manufacturers are interested. Partners are sought to develop the prototype to market.
Prototypes have been trialled for more than 3 years with continuous settled sewage. Seeking partners: Sensor manufacturer or for system integration (software & hardware) To develop prototype into commercial device or direct to market
On the market.
Lab tested, seeking partners to run larger scale proof of concept
Benchmarking of product data has been undertaken with Anglian Water against the gold standard water quality sondes.
Seeking partners to run larger scale proof of concept
On the market
Rosa Richards is an Independent Environmental Consultant specialising in water policy and monitoring. She is Programme Manager of the Sensors for Water Interest Group (SWIG), and a freelance writer of science and technology. This article is based on a SWIG/KTN Sensor Sprint webinar held on 24 November 2021.
www.swig.org.uk
Author Contact Details Rosa Richards, Independent Environmental Consultant
• Bristol • Tel: 01934 830658 • Email:
rosapmrichards@gmail.com • Web:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosa-richards-7a515936/
WWW.ENVIROTECH-ONLINE.COM
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