On-Line water quality monitoring system

April 2000 Analytical Instrumentation & Environmental Monitoring

The Microtox-OS test system from Siemens Environmental Systems is an automated on-line water quality monitoring system that uses luminescent bacteria to detect the presence of organic and inorganic pollutants, providing early warning of chemical pollution in raw drinking water.

Based on the successful scientifically validated Microtox toxicity test, the system is designed to operate on-site, unattended for two weeks, automatically monitoring surface water quality for dangerous or unexpected concentrations of chemical pollutants.

Two main components are used in the system. The sample preparation unit automatically takes a sample from the surface water source, filters it, and delivers the filtered sample to the Microtox-OS unit. This is a temperature-controlled test instrument equipped with a 36-position carousel loaded with individual vials of freeze-dried luminescent bacteria. One vial of reagent is reconstituted every 12 h. Sampling and testing can be programmed at 20 min intervals, 24 h/day.

The system is equipped with Statos, statistical process control software which continuously monitors data and trends. It is user-configurable to identify test results that are statistically different from preceding values.

Samples can be retained for future analysis and contaminant source identification while data can be downloaded to a PC for convenient analysing. A colour correction capability and programmable reagent performance verification eliminates false positive results due to the coloured samples, and the automatic flushing and cleaning cycles prevent sample constituent carry over.

Designed for use where water production facilities are concerned about contamination, the Microtox-OS monitors raw drinking water from transportation or weather-related disasters, industrial wastewater discharges, excess agrichemical runoff or chemical spills.

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