What is real-time monitoring technology?

The Earth’s surface waters are the most valuable natural resource, supporting all life on the planet, and everything that happens on land has an impact on the quality of this resource for humanity.

With constantly-changing climate and human-influenced circumstances affecting our lakes, rivers and streams, water quality monitoring is more critical than ever.

Water Quality Monitoring in Real Time

Real-time is an innovative technology that gathers data from different sensors such as the Sensor Observation Service (SOS), Geographic Information Systems (GIS), telemetry systems, machine learning techniques, the Internet of Things, predictive analytics and other technologies to analyze data in real-time statistically.

This real-time data is utilized to develop predictions and inform time-critical decisions.

Water quality monitoring has traditionally been a mostly manual procedure, with field data collectors collecting physical grab samples at various surface water locations in cases of pollution, unlawful discharges, damaging runoff, climate-induced hazards and other issues technique.

Because human techniques take a lot of time, effort and money, real-time technology is more accurate, cost-effective and energy-efficient than any other technique.

These sensors are continuously monitored to provide a high-density dataset for rapid analysis using a cloud-based data analytics platform.

Component of real-time technology

There are three major technological components required to set up a real-time water quality monitoring system, and each of those components has numerous brand options to pick from.

To begin, water sensors, probes, or “sondes” are inserted in physical locations in the water to collect continuous samples.

The samples are then data logged using a remote monitoring device set up at the sampling site, which combines data logging, digital processing, global positioning, and telemetry and connects the field sensors to the cloud network.

Finally, that cloud network is accessed via a physical data analytics platform installed at the water utility system’s analysis location.

Real-time monitoring of wastewater

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Because of its complexity, real-time monitoring of BOD was previously impossible.

A renowned UK institution recently established a relationship between electrical conductivity, turbidity, TLF and CDOM, among other water quality measures.

These factors can all be tracked in real-time using a combination of classic (electrical conductivity through electrodes) and modern (fluorescence) approaches.

TLF has been effectively used as a proxy for biological activity and enumeration, with an emphasis on Escherichia coli.

TLF-based monitoring may be used in a variety of settings, including but not limited to sewage treatment plants and freshwaters.

BOD and COD are important water quality indicators for wastewater treatment.

Unfortunately, the findings of these time-consuming laboratory tests might take hours to days to arrive, causing a major delay.

When laboratory results are received, the information is usually of limited use for event detection or process control.

Operators will miss out on the opportunity to recognize activities as they happen and adapt or enhance their treatment system as a result of this delay, therefore Real-time monitoring technology is used.

High amounts of organic material and other toxins can be found in industrial effluent.

In the event of an industrial discharge incident, the quality of incoming wastewater to a municipal treatment facility might abruptly change, causing an unanticipated shock load.

These occurrences have the potential to disrupt regular plant operations, resulting in treatment process issues, higher operating costs and, in certain situations, poor effluent water quality.

To control shock loading activities, WWTPs may use a buffer to reduce the impact on water quality, but this has the disadvantage of increasing operational costs.

Regular monitoring of key water quality parameters, such as biological oxygen demand (BOD) and/or chemical oxygen demand (COD), can focus on providing an early warning of industrial discharge activities and feedforward information for effective treatment, which is a faster and more costly solution to shock load management.

Real-time BOD/COD measurements from Real Tech are revolutionizing wastewater management.

By continually assessing the water on-site, the systems provide considerably superior data both spatially and temporally, as opposed to laboratory testing methods, which study small volumes over a long period.

This enables the WWTP to detect occurrences that would otherwise be missed, better monitor discharge trends and provide considerably more control.

Benefits of real-time monitoring technology

The earliest warning of a shock load incident entering the plant comes from continuous BOD/COD monitoring.

This vital information not only alleviates the difficulties and possible operational issues that non-detection may bring, but also gives the operations personnel with actionable data that can be utilized to change the plant’s operating parameters to guarantee effluent regulations are fulfilled.

With real-time organics data, the input of chemicals to the primary clarifier or aeration tank may be adjusted.

Dosing chemicals based on current water quality circumstances guarantees that the right amount of chemicals is supplied to fulfill treatment goals while avoiding overdose.

While preserving the required effluent quality, optimizing the dosage helps to lower the expenses associated with these expensive treatment aids, especially during activities.

The same optimization capabilities may be found in aeration basins, allowing customers to raise the aeration rate mostly during activities to promote treatment or reduce the aeration rate for low organic load wastewaters to conserve energy and money.

The application of real-time BOD can help to enhance current system parameters such as ammonia and DO.

The ability to make better use of permits while still adhering to compliance regulations is a game-changer for improving sewage treatment efficiency and optimization.

Real-time BOD monitoring can provide a degree of control previously unreachable, and it has the potential to transform the way we think about wastewater treatment.

Fluorescence technology is setting a new standard for wastewater treatment monitoring in the future, giving significantly more control and awareness of the whole system than was before possible.

References

[1] Energy saving potential of using real-time BOD monitoring for feedforward and feedback control in wastewater treatment 17 march (online) available at: https://h2oglobalnews.com/energy-saving-potential-of-using-real-time-bod-monitoring-for-feedforward-and-feedback-control-in-wastewater-treatment/

[2] Real-Time BODEvent Detection Monitoring for Municipal Wastewater 28 march(online) available at:  https://www.environmental-expert.com/articles/real-time-bod-event-detection-monitoring-for-municipal-wastewater-1061596

[3] How Real-Time Environmental Monitoring Systems are improving our Relationship with the Planet 21 September (online) available at: https://www.heavy.ai/blog/how-real-time-environmental-monitoring-systems-are-improving-our-relationship-with-the-planet

[4] Real-Time Water Quality Monitoring for More Resilient Water Systems (online) available at: https://www.ohm-advisors.com/insights/real-time-water-quality-monitoring-more-resilient-water-systems

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