The Clever and Effective Way to Deal with Turbidimetry

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In a scientific study, the University of Lorraine in Nancy, France studied ‘Particle Counting for early detection of contaminants in drinking water’. The results of this study were then presented at the WCEC5 conference (Water Contamination Emergencies – Managing the Threats) in Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany. Based on measurements of a real application at the city waterworks of Nancy in France, the study provided evidence on the benefits of the Pamas Water Viewer for water quality control.

Particles were counted in three different online measurements:

Under stable and normal conditions, the Pamas Water Viewer measured a mean number of 310 P/ml in the specific interval of particle sizes between 1–15 μm.

In a second step, the particle concentration was analyzed after a major raining event. During a thunderstorm, a lightning stroke into the water treatment plant of the city of Nance and seriously affected the plant operation. The water production was stopped for several hours and water had to be taken out of highly chlorinated security reservoirs. When analyzing the water coming out of these reservoirs, the Pamas Water Viewer counted between 801 P/ml and up to 2300 P/ml for the particle size range between 1–15 μm.

During the third experimental step of analysis, the water was contaminated by injecting a bacteria suspension into an isolated loop circuit, in order to examine the effects on water quality.

The measuring results of the Pamas Water Viewer clearly showed that the average number of particles per millilitre was seriously increased due to the lightning event and the changes in water production and distribution.
(Picture: Pamas)

During the first hours after injection, more than 20,000 P/ml were counted. The graph of online measurements however shows that the particle concentration decreased within few hours after injection. The authors of this study attribute this fast decrease of particles to sedimentation and dilution processes.

The injected bacteria suspension was visible in the particle counts only during the first hour after injection. Due to sedimentation and dilution, the particle concentration decreased quickly. The analysis in the water treatment plant of Nancy gave evidence on the fact that the Pamas Water Viewer is an ideal instrument for the early detection and warning of contaminants in drinking water. The online particle counter instantaneously gives alert in case of drastic changes in the measuring results and immediately informs about exceeding particle contamination.

* The author is Marketing Manager at Pamas Partikelmess- und Analysesysteme

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The Clever and Effective Way to Deal with Turbidimetry