The role of on-line water quality monitoring in the production of top quality tap water

Mechanisation, industrialisation and more recently automation and remote operation have been transforming manufacturing and food production for the overall benefit of societies for a long time. Industrialisation through innovation and in particular the conception and application of new technologies has improved life significantly for centuries. The production of drinking water has similarly been transformed from a general philosophy of treatment facilities being locally managed and operated to more automation, remote monitoring and control; and from a focus on hygiene to wider focus on chemical and microbiological qualities of drinking water and health.

This presentation will focus on the role of on-line water quality monitoring in a drinking water utility in the South West of England. Monitoring in catchments, at abstraction, through treatment and distribution to consumers will be discussed. I have been asked to include something about quality control of on-line instrumentation and will cover this also; it is increasing important as changes in regulation to support more effective management of drinking water quality will reasonably require further quality assurance in all aspects of water production including instrumentation. Finally I will say something about the future of WQ instrumentation.