Case Study: Continuous Online Monitoring Of Nitrate And Sludge Using UV/VIS Spectroscopic Sensor

Monitoring nitrates, total suspended solids and sludge volume concentrations ensures effluent quality, which is critical for meeting water quality standards for various regulatory agencies.

Company profile
A large metropolitan sewage treatment plant required equipment to monitor ammonia and nitrate in the discharge effluent to meet NPDES (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) permit compliance. On average, this plant treats about 30 million gallons per day, and can handle up to 49 MGD. On a short term, it may treat up to 160 MGD..

Application description
The water treatment plant had always relied on laboratory results to dictate appropriate actions with respect to control of the process for nitrification and denitrification and how they impacted effluent quality. Lab results often take up to 2 to 3 days. To provide a faster and more economical means of controlling the nitrification and de-nitrification process for ammonia and nitrate removal and to monitor effluent quality for NPDES permitting, the plant wanted to have a continuous online monitoring system in place.