EXOR Role in Drinking Water Quality Assurance  

UniOP TFT HMI panels with integrated PLC functionality are helping to ensure optimum drinking water quality at Thames Water treatment works.

Thames has installed the UniOP panels to control stringent triple validation procedures at around 40 of its sites, enhancing the functionality of analogue equipment that is no longer in production.

The company asked monitoring specialist ATI to find a new solution and in turn the firm identified Exor’s UniOP range of panels supplied by sole UK distributor, Scattergood & Johnson.

“I heard about the UniOP so we tried it and were very impressed,” says ATI technical manager Chris McTear.

Just one of the benefits is that the new colour TFT panels are able to simulate the redundant system, while at the same time offering vastly increased operability.

“We have programmed the UniOP panels to mimic the old analogue units that staff were familiar with,” says Chris. “The footprint is exactly the same as the old product, but it is state-of-the-art equipment with capabilities far exceeding anything they were used to.”

As part of Thames’ stringent triple validation process, panels containing UniOP HMIs have been installed at the water treatment works. Each panel monitors a separate chlorine sampling process.

“It is essential that chlorine is maintained at the correct level to avoid the creation of bacteria. Thames have never had a bacteriological failure and they are determined to maintain that performance,” says Chris.

The upgrades have also been cost-effective for the utility company as it no longer needs to undergo separate pH monitoring using chemicals. That monitoring is now integrated into the UniOP systems.

The enhanced capability of the units, including integrated Ethernet ports and OPC connectivity means that additional functions can be programmed in according to Thames’ requirements. Chris says: “We are now looking at wireless network access for remote interrogation.”

In addition to Thames Water, ATI has also installed the UniOP HMIs at United Utilities water treatment works in the north west.