News Archive
Latest 50 news articles
New Ultrasonic Flowmeters
The PanaFlow™ ISX transit-time ultrasonic flowmeter from GE Sensing (UK) is a low-cost, multi-path, wetted flowmeter solution that is a 2-wire loop powered device. The PanaFlow ISX is suited for applications in the oil & gas, power generation and water industries. It can be used for a variety of liquid applications, including hydrocarbon liquids, water, solvents, weak acids, petroleum products, lubricating oils, diesel fuel oil and chemicals. “The PanaFlow ISX’s intrin...
Bathymetry + Water Quality Survey Data Without Getting Your Feet Wet!... in a Fraction of the Normal Time!
YSI’s ’EcoMapper’ a remote control underwater vehicle for plotting water quality and bathymetry over wide areas, has been made available for hire by UK company YSI Hydrodata. YSI Regional Manager Ian Thompson says, "This highly advanced monitoring technology comes with a 6-figure price tag, so it will be outside the reach of many water monitoring practitioners. However, we have been running training courses around the world and there is a tremendous demand for the sys...
New General Catalogue – Instruments and Reagents for Today’s Water Analysis
The new version of the Tintometer (Germany) general catalogue is now available. 140 pages will feature the full range of water testing equipment and reagents for today‘s water analysis needs. The aim in publishing this catalogue is to provide complete information for all kinds of application for water testing. The combination of illustrative photos, explanatory text, charts and detailed unit descriptions provides all the information you need. The general catalogue features an index an...
Oil-in-Water Measurements on Off-Shore Platforms, in Refineries or Wastewater Treatment Facilities
The InfraCal TOG/TPH Analyzers, manufactured by Wilks Enterprise (USA) are specifically designed for easy, on-site measurement of total oil and grease (TOG), total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH), and fats, oil and grease (FOG) concentration levels in produced water on off-shore platforms or wastewater in refineries or treatment facilities. Typical analysis time is under 15 minutes, including extraction, eliminating the need to wait for off-site lab results. InfraCal TOG/TPH models are available...
Smart Wireless Field Starter Kit to Increase Range of Applications for Plant Improvement
Emerson Process Management (UK) has added discrete switches, vibration and pH transmitters, to the already wide range of components available in its Smart Wireless field starter kit. Currently deployed in hundreds of installations across industries and world regions, the kit enables users to choose from a wide range of functions, to realise fast and easy operations improvement, while experiencing wireless technology as a basis for future innovation and advantages. Complete use of standard Wi...
Infrared Analyzers for On-Site Measurement of Oil/Grease Levels in Water and Soil
The InfraCal TOG/TPH Analyzers are highlighted in a new data sheet recently published by Wilks Enterprise (USA). These analyzers are specifically designed for easy, on-site infrared measurement of total oil and grease (TOG), total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH), and fat, oil and grease (FOG) concentration levels in water and soil samples. The InfraCal TOG/TPH Analyzers are used worldwide for analyzing produced water on off-shore platforms or wastewater in refineries, industrial plants or treatme...
New Ultrasonic Continuous Liquid Level Sensor with Multipoint Switch Capability
Gems® Sensors & Controls™ has launched the UCL-510 Ultrasonic Level Sensor. The compact UCL-510 is suitable for non-contact applications such as industrial water treatment, wastewater management, chemical storage, and many other challenging fluid applications. The UCL-510 offers an innovative solution for challenging fluid measurement with no moving parts. This highly accurate and reliable sensor is built for general purpose, small tank applications 49.2” (1.25m) or less...
Monitoring Effluent Ammonia Concentration at Wessex Water
Wessex Water has established a need to reliably and continuously monitor effluent ammonia concentration at a number of key wastewater sites and have used the ProAm analyser manufactured by Pollution & Process Monitoring (UK) Ltd. These sites all have an effluent consent of 5 mg/l or less and any failure to comply with the discharge consent could lead to hefty financial penalties under the OFWAT performance assessment. Since the initial evaluation at the Poole WwTW site during November 2...
DIY plumbing 'can reduce water quality'
Wessex Water has warned residents who intend to install their own appliances to ensure that they connect them correctly to avoid causing water pollution.The south-west company issued the advice after its water pollution prevention initiative revealed that some washing machines, hand basins and toilets had been connected to the wrong part of the sewerage network.Plumbing the appliances into drains for rainwater rather than the fowl part of the sewerage system had resulted in some soapy and dir...
New Protected Bulb Probe
Customers continually complain that they have broken the bulb of their P11 Glass Combination electrode. They ask why Glass probes do not have a bulb protector like Epoxy body probes. It is true that we do have a Bulb protector, which is listed in our Catalogue under reference – 743-01. Problem is that it is expensive, and costs more than the price of the electrode. However, Sentek (UK) have come up with a lower cost option. This is a Protected Bulb Probe. It is essentially a P11, but...
Environmental analysis news: Cumbria issued with fresh flood warning
The Environment Agency issued a further flood warning to Cumbrian residents last night (November 23rd) as more downpours overnight and into today were expected.With the ground already saturated following the deluge over the weekend, the government body said that the forecast rain "could further raise river levels and increase the risk of flooding".It added that it would closely monitor river levels as the Cumbrian fells were expected to receive 100mm of rainfall by early this mornin...
Mcerts Scheme Helps a Newport Based Food Factory Make Substantial Savings on Effluent Costs
Non-contacting ultrasonic specialists Pulsar Process Measurement have supplied a high-accuracy DUET transducer array to a Premier Foods owned company in Newport. The superb accuracy achieved has allowed the company to make a substantial saving on effluent charges. Siris Environmental of Co. Durham installed the transducer and its associated control unit to Premier Foods as part of an open channel measurement project. Companies are charged on both volume and quality of the effluent being disc...
Fuel spills can "destroy" water quality
Simple accidents such as fuel spills can "destroy" water quality, according to one sector expert.Environment Agency officer Nathan Winder made his comments as companies in Dronfield were given advice on how to keep their emissions and pollutions levels down.Officers from North East Derbyshire District Council joined Environment Agency representatives to visit an industrial estate in the area.The team gave information about environmental analysis to businesses on the estate, though i...
France in European court on waste water charges
The European Commission is taking action against France for not keeping to rules relating to waste water.About 60 major cities and towns, including Lyon and Bordeaux, do not have water treatment that adheres to European Union directives.The action follows a first warning made to the country in 2004.France is also one of five countries receiving a first warning about its waste water treatment in smaller towns.The other four are Luxembourg, Belgium, Portugal and Germany.Infrastructure to deal w...
Analytical Technology’s pH Monitor Achieves Prestigious MCERTS Certification
Specialist electrochemical sensor manufacturer Analytical Technology announces that it has been awarded an MCERTS product conformity certificate for its versatile Q45P pH monitor. MCERTS is the UK Environment Agency‘s monitoring certification scheme established to deliver quality environmental measurements. The certification of the Q45P is a significant achievement for Analytical Technology as it provides customers with confidence in the system’s emission monitoring capabilities f...
Water quality news: Cumbria flood warnings downgraded
A total of three warnings about severe floods in Cumbria have been downgraded by the Environment Agency.Warnings regarding the River Cocker at Cockermouth and Southwaite Bridge - as well as one about the River Greta at various points - have now been removed.However, the severe flood warning placed on the River Eamont in certain areas is still in force.People in the area have been urged by the police and the Environment Agency to remain vigilant despite the downgrading of the warnings.Superint...
Automating Crest Stage Gages with Continuous Monitoring Instruments
Crest stage gages are typically used to gather data from ephemeral streams or waterways that are subject to infrequent, but severe flooding. Increasingly, crest stage gages are becoming a cost-effective means of gathering peak flow data, which can then be used in a variety of applications, such as emergency planning, engineering design, and stormwater permitting. The United States Geological Survey (USGS; 2006) describes the advantages of automated crest stage gages: •Record date, time...
New Process Information Note for Pharmaceutical Industry
Analytical Technology (UK) announces the availability of a new technical note entitled ‘Calibration of Dissolved Ozone Monitors on Ultra Pure Water Loops’. The free of charge paper, available via email on sales@atiuk.com, discusses the use of ozone for disinfection and the importance of calibration accuracy in monitors measuring dissolved ozone for pharmaceutical grade water. There has been a significant increase in the use of ozone for the disinfection of ultra pure water system...
New Sensor Ideal for Ultrapure Water Applications
The Orbisphere 1100 series optical dissolved oxygen sensor from Hach Lange (UK) is providing major advantages to international service company Serco, in the course of its work to solve corrosion problems within the UK power generation sector. The instrumentation has helped reduce maintenance time and service requirements to improve the overall monitoring efficiency of testing carried out under plant conditions. The sensor is used to monitor feedwater for the determination of dissolved oxygen...
New Metrohm Brochure and Webpage ‘Water Analysis’
Of the numerous hazardous substances found in water, about 200 guideline values have been listed by the WHO. However, which method to choose to determine which substance? Metrohm’s new brochure «Water Analysis» provides answers. Metrohm’s complete know-how (instruments and applications) on water analysis is accessible on the new homepage water.metrohm.com ‘Water Analysis’, which can be ordered free of charge, is a condensed summary of the company’s c...
Enhanced Coriolis Mass Flowmeter
Krohne (Germany) has enhanced its OPTIMASS 1300 Coriolis mass flowmeter to measure with increased accuracy whilst dramatically reducing the influence of process conditions. The OPTIMASS 1300 was designed to provide industry with a high-performance, general purpose flow measurement solution at an entry level price. The twin straight tube design features an optimised flow splitter, which translates into minimal pressure loss. This in turn gives the OPTIMASS 1300 the advantage over its competit...
Water quality improves at south-west beaches
Water quality tests at beaches along the south-west coast of Britain found that 97.3 per cent of the bathing waters pass European standards.The figures demonstrate an improvement over last year, with just five beaches failing the survey, compared with ten in 2008.All the analysis was carried out by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which noted a significant rise in the number of bathing waters complying with strict EU standards across the country.Overall, 98.6 per cent o...
New Partnership to Help Greek Tap Water Quality
Intellitect Water (UK) has announced a new distribution partnership with Olympios Trading for its highly innovative Intellisonde™ in-pipe water quality monitors covering Greece and Cyprus. The Intellisonde™ is designed to provide water companies with more efficient access to drinking water quality data and will now be distributed across these two new markets by Athens-based instrumentation company Olympios Trading. Developed to continuously monitor in-pipe water within drinking...
New In-Situ Self-Verifying Dissolved Oxygen Meter Launched
The UK based instrumentation company Pi (Process Instruments), is to launch another world’s first - the world’s first in-situ self-checking Dissolved Oxygen Meter. Combining Pi’s award-winning electronics with In-Situ’s acclaimed RDO® sensor, Pi believes it has a world beating combination especially when you include the brand new self-checking functions included by Pi and In-Situ. The sensor comes equipped with a self-cleaning mechanism (requires air or water), w...
New Portable Water Quality Monitor for Remote Logging
Analytical Technology (UK) announces the launch of its new PQ45 Portable Water Quality Monitor. Companies in the water and industrial industries are now seeking rugged, field-deployable systems which enable the recording of water quality data in a variety of environments. Capable of monitoring a wide range of parameters in water, the PQ45 system is ideal where temporary measurements are required, with options for providing either outputs for telemetry, on board data logging or GSM data loggin...
Metasphere Wins CSO Contract in Northern Ireland
Metasphere (UK) has been awarded a contract to supply 300 CSO Sewer Monitors by Williams Industrial Services Ltd (WIS) as part of an overall supply, install and monitor contract for Northern Ireland Water. Metasphere’s Battery MM3PEx RTU with Pulsar Ultrasonic level sensor and IP68 compliant unit casing, is designed to be a fit and forget product for use in harsh and hazardous environments in remote locations. The solution provides Northern Ireland Water with real time remote monitorin...
Partech Appoints French Distributor
Partech Instruments (UK) has announced that it has appointed a new French distributor as part of its programme to rebuild its market share in France. The distributor, Equipments Scientific, is based near Paris and is a specialist supplier of instrumentation for the water industry. Equipment Scientific is well-established in this industry sector and its knowledge of the local market will enable Partech to gain wider exposure for its products. Partech’s instruments and systems are fully...
WWEM 2010 the world`s water monitoring event - Exhibitors jostle for places
Organiser Marcus Pattison is predicting an even bigger WWEM than usual. He says, "The reputation of the WWEM events has grown internationally because they provide an opportunity for anyone with a professional interest in testing and monitoring water to gather and exchange the latest information on technologies, techniques and regulations. For WWEM 2010, there seems to be even greater interest than usual, which may be a result of the start of the new Asset Management Plan (AMP 5) period i...
Oil pollution reducing Sudanese water quality
Oil production in Sudan is polluting a vital water supply and potentially affecting the health of thousands of people, a new report has found.German aid agency Sign of Hope travelled to the country's Unity State, where it carried out tests on water samples taken from wells near two major oil fields.Its analysis revealed that contaminants including cyanides, lead, cadmium, nickel and arsenic had reached critical levels, according to a report by AFP. Vice chairman of the organisation Klaus Stie...
Breakthrough in nanoparticle behaviour in wastewater
The environmental management of nanoparticle waste could be greatly improved following a new study into the substances found in wastewater. Researchers from a number of scientific institutions around the world collaborated on the report, which focused on the behaviour of potentially harmful nanoparticles found in sewage treatment plants.Their investigations centred on silica-shelled nanoparticles. During the course of their studies, they discovered that introducing a commercial surfactant to...
Environment Agency investigates water quality after fish deaths
The Environment Agency is investigating an incident in Oxfordshire that has resulted in the death of thousands of small fish. Officers from the organisation were called to the Thames Farmoor Reservoir water intake on the River Thames yesterday (November 12th) after more than 10,000 dead fish were discovered. Thames Water operates the reservoir, which is located approximately five miles west of Oxford. On its website, the company promotes the Farmoor reservoir as a recreational site w...
Rivers restocked as water quality improves
The Rivers Tame and Trent are both due to receive new fish stocks from the Environment Agency after pollution incidents earlier in the year badly affected water quality.Mature fish will be the first to be introduced to the waterways next month, followed by baby specimens due to be released in the early summer of 2010.Cyanide pollution devastated the River Trent last month, particularly in areas downstream of Stoke-on-Trent and near Burton-on-Trent. It was summer storms that had a detrimental...
Environment Agency launches water quality and climate change strategy
The Environment Agency has announced a new five-year plan designed to improve water quality in rivers around the UK and tackle climate change.Its strategy includes reducing serious pollution incidents by five per cent each year and offering an additional 200,000 homes and businesses protection from flooding.Reducing the agency's own carbon footprint is also an important part of its latest plans, with the organisation intending to lower its emissions by more than 30 per cent. At its annual con...
Wastewater reduction scheme wins award
An innovative scheme to reduce the amount of water used at a cement works in Staffordshire has won an award from the Environment Agency.Lafarge Cement developed a project which substantially reduced its annual water usage. In 2006, the company needed 290,000 cubic metres of water. This had fallen to 15,000 cubic metres two years later.Judges at the Water Efficiency Awards were particularly impressed with the significant water savings as well as the way in which the initiative's success was co...
MCertified Water Samplers
Sirco Controls Limited now has a range of 12 sampler models that have received mcerts certification including the popular GENIE-B and GENIE-J UWWTR portable samplers. Both these portable samplers can be battery or mains powered, using standard ice packs for cooling to ensure that they meet all the requirements for UWWTD sampling. Also included in the range are the GENIE-M fixed site samplers which again can be manufactured to meet UWWTD requirements. The GENIE-P and GENIE-P/VBV samplers are...
Water quality at Northern Irish beaches 'not up to standard'
Two of Northern Ireland's most popular beaches have failed a water quality test because of pollution.Portrush Curran East Strand did not meet the stringent requirements under the European Bathing Water Directive.A serious pollution incident was cited as the reason why the beach failed to achieve blue-flag status and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency intends to bring a prosecution over the matter. Salmon Rock beach in Portballintrae also failed to meet European standards as a result of...
Water quality news: Landowner fined over silt discharge
Water quality news: Landowner fined over silt dischargeA landowner in Cornwall has been fined by the Environment Agency over the illegal discharge of silt into the River Ruthern.John Drake of Higher Tregawne, Withiel near Bodmin, was ordered to pay a total of £3,000 in fines and costs after he caused silt to enter the waterway while carrying out work on an ornamental lake.Members of the public reported discolouration in the river on August 30th 2007 and the Environment Agency's subsequen...
Ireland 'failing' over EU waste-water laws
The European Court of Justice branded Ireland's domestic waste-water legislation as inadequate at a hearing on Friday October 30th. Ireland was accused of failing to fully implement a 1975 EU directive on waste, which the European Commission (EC) claimed had caused "serious damage to the environment".The EC brought the case against the Irish government over the installation and maintenance of private waste-water systems in rural areas of the country.Due to the number of remote villa...
Satellite launched in water monitoring mission
The European Space Agency (ESA) has successfully launched its satellite designed to carry out water monitoring on a global scale.The Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (Smos) satellite is the first of its kind to be programmed to monitor soil moisture and map sea surface salinity around the world. Smos is fitted with a microwave imaging radiometer using aperture synthesis which can be utilised to measure the temperature of the reflection of the earth's surface in the microwave frequency range....
Water quality news: WWF highlights glacier erosion
WWF has reiterated the fact that glaciers play an important role in the provision of water to millions of people around the world.The environmental charity made its comments as it noted that numerous areas in the high Alps are feeling the effects of climate change both "harder and faster" than many other regions.It stated that the Monte Rosa massif, which sits between Switzerland and Italy and is one of the highest mountain ranges in Europe, is experiencing border erosion.WWF noted...
Water quality news: Environment Agency "will prosecute persistent polluters"
The Environment Agency has reiterated its commitment to prosecuting parties that persistently pollute the environment and affect water quality.Bob Munroe, an officer with the organisation, made its remarks following the successful prosecution of Long Buckby-based Charles Jackson & Co.The company was fined a total of £14,000 and ordered to pay costs amounting to £5,546 for the pollution of a tributary of the Whilton branch of the River Nene in February.Grain and oil from the comp...
Environment Agency fines Chevron for "major" fuel spill
International energy firm Chevron has been fined for a "major" fuel spill from a terminal in Poole.The Environment Agency explained that it brought the case against the company, which was ordered to pay more than £11,500 in costs and fines.In a statement, it explained that it was alerted to a fuel spill at the site in 2006 and that some 29,000 litres of diesel had escaped from a tank at the site run by Chevron, which does business in more than 100 countries around the world.Aft...
Firm fined over reducing water quality
A food-producing company has been handed a £10,000 fine and been ordered to pay over £4,000 in costs after ammonia leaked into a river, polluting the waterway. Adams Pork Products Limited, which is based in Ruskington near Sleaford, pleaded guilty to causing "poisonous, noxious or polluting matter, namely ammonia, to enter controlled waters".Maintenance work on refrigeration units at the company caused the contamination, when workers used a tank of water to bubble ammonia...
Water quality 'compromised by Timor Sea oil spill'
An oil slick in the Timor Sea has killed thousands of fish and damaged seaweed crops on the coastal area of Rote Island, East Nusa Tenggara. The pollution originated in the Australian Montara oil field, off the coast of Darwin, back in August this year. The oil spill reached the Indonesian coast last week and has since had a devastating effect, according to the Jakarta Post.Over 1,000 hectares of ready-to-harvest seaweed has been destroyed and local fishermen have reported dramatic reductions...
Good water quality "vital" for fish survival
In order for fish to survive and flourish, it is "vital" that they have good water quality, according to one industry commentator.Fisheries officer Chris Bainger made his comments as the Environment Agency announced that it is to re-establish salmon in the River Leadon after several years of them being absent.A number of the animals were killed as a result of several recent pollution incidents.Mr Bainger said: "Good water quality is vital to the survival of these young fish. We...
Environmental legislation news: DECC hosts hot water taskforce
The Department of Energy and Climate Change has hosted the first meeting of the Domestic Heating and Hot Water taskforce, it has announced.In a statement, the UK government department explained that 47 per cent of the carbon emissions produced by the UK are caused by the way consumers generate heat.As such, it said that a "radical change" is needed if the country is to reach its ambitious carbon reduction targets.The meeting was chaired by energy and climate change minister Lord Hun...
Arctic will be "ice-free" in around 20 years
New research has supported the "consensus view" that the Arctic will be "ice-free" in summer within around 20 years, it has been asserted.Professor Peter Wadhams from the University of Cambridge made his comments after his team analysed new findings from the Catlin Arctic Survey and WWF.The research offers further evidence to suggest that the Arctic Ocean sea ice is thinning, showing that almost all of the survey area - a 450 km route along the northern stretch of the Beau...
River Trent pollution kills fish, experts say
A stretch of the River Trent that was polluted with cyanide has had its fish stocks wiped out as a result of the incident, according to experts.The BBC noted that investigations into the cause and source of the chemical leak, which was first discovered on October 6th near Stoke-on-Trent, are ongoing.It said that the Environment Agency carried out a water quality survey along a 700m section of the river and found almost no evidence of living fish.However, stocks of the animals located several...
UK 'needs to comply with EU environmental legislation'
The UK needs to comply with European Union (EU) environmental legislation on wastewater treatment, according to one civil servant.European Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said that the country needs to put more effort into upgrading its collection systems.His comments follow the European Commission's decision to take the UK to the European Court of Justice due to the poor standard of its urban wastewater systems and treatment facilities."Such investment will bring enormous benefit...
River water monitoring uncovers source of odours
The source of a distasteful odour which was emitted from a river in Bury St Edmunds over the past few weeks has been discovered.Environment Agency area manager Geoff Brighty said that his colleagues worked hard to identify where a bad smell in the river Lark was coming from and find a solution to it, because the organisation takes its responsibilities seriously."With the composting smell, we were able to take direct action but when the other source is due to the weather and lack of rain...