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Oceanology International 2010, Excel Centre, London (9-11^th March 2010)

PRESS  RELEASE

Red Light Signals Dawn of New Water Contamination Detector

A contamination event at a UK water pumping station was successfully detected by the Chelsea Technologies Group's FAST^tracka II system.  The event was automatically detected using the FAST^tracka II, Fast Repetition Rate (FRR) chlorophyll a fluorometer combined with a novel Red, Amber, Green (RAG) algorithm, which has been developed to provide continuous, real-time protection for water supplies at the pre-treatment stage.

A discharge of Triclosan at a concentration of 22.6 µg l^-1 was detected by one of a number of FAST^tracka systems within an ongoing evaluation programme, involving UK sites operated by Veolia Water, United Utilities and Scottish Water, plus one site within the US. All FAST^tracka II sensors within this trial are installed at the water intake of pumping stations, with natural flora providing the target material for FRR measurements. The RAG algorithm provides a clear display of the water condition and alarms when a contamination event is detected. Since each FRR sequence requires only 2.7 ms the system can provide very high temporal resolution (currently set at one acquisition per minute), whilst allowing for use of a very low maintenance, flow-through arrangement. Using data from the evaluation programme, the RAG algorithm now has been developed to the point where it provides extremely effective rejection of false positives, whilst maintaining high sensitivity to contamination events.

Results from the evaluation programme plus those from  independent laboratory tests, which showed that the combination of FAST^tracka II sensor and RAG algorithm is effective in the detection of a wide range of toxicants. 

 The Chelsea team will be available to meet with you at Oceanology International 2010, Excel Centre, London (9-11^th March 2010) through the Association of Marine Scientific Industries (AMSI) stand No P300.   

Click to learn more about the FASTtracka and FASTact 

.Contact Ellen Keegan for more information

Click to download larger image

FAST^tracka II in water contamination detection mode: Veolia Water

NOTES

The Association of Marine Scientific Industries - As a market orientated trade association, AMSI supports companies in the marine science and technology sector and is also the focus for the oceanographic and marine environment interests of members of the Society of Maritime Industries.

Chelsea Technologies Group Ltd - Leading designer & manufacturer of a range of multi parameter oceanographic sensors and systems including the newly launched low cost TriLux family of miniature digital fluorimeters, the high performance Fast Repetition Rate Fluorimeter (FAST^tracka II) and the world class towed vehicles SeaSoar, NuShuttle and AQUA^shuttle. CTG also supplies a full range of underwater acoustic products: echo repeat sonar test and evaluation systems, hydrophones, projectors, echosounders and sidescan sonar.