PRESS RELEASERed 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 FASTtracka II
system. The event was
automatically detected using the FASTtracka 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 FASTtracka 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 FASTtracka 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 FASTtracka II sensor and RAG algorithm is effective in the detection of a wide range of toxicants. Click to learn more about the FASTtracka and FASTact .Contact
Ellen Keegan for more information |
