Drinking Water
Clean drinking water is provided by municipal water treatment plants through a process starting with a raw water source and including coagulation, flocculation, filtration, and disinfection. All are tightly controlled to remove contaminants and specific components to levels regulated by the USEPA.
The most commonly controlled parameter in this process is pH, and requires a rugged and reliable pH sensor and analyzer. Turbidity is also measured on filtered water and reported to the USEPA. Finally, disinfecting agents such as chlorine, monochloramine, and ozone are monitored and controlled to optimized levels for best efficacy and cost controls.
Once the finished water is in the distribution system, custody flow metering and water quality monitoring systems ensures it gets to the consumer accurately and safely. Throughout the process, plant controls can be viewed and changed remotely by using SCADA systems and in-plant wireless networks.