Demonstration of applications for an online particle detector in the water supply system.

Summary

Through the drinking-water regulations, waterworks are required to sustain sufficient hygienic barriers to ensure health-safe drinking water when received by consumers. Adequate monitoring systems are necessary to be able to document that the waterworks are operated satisfactorily and that the hygienic barriers are safeguarded. One of the most commonly applied monitoring parameters at Norwegian waterworks today is turbidity, as a measure of the water’s particle content. This particle content can also be quantified more directly by particle counting. Here we present results from tests conducted with an online particle counter at various locations along the water supply system connected to a waterworks. This type of particle counter is often used for quality control at foreign water-works. The purpose of our investigation was to demonstrate various applications where turbidimeters are less adequate.