Fast And Simple: The Benefits Of Remote Water Quality Monitoring

Most states require some level of distribution water quality monitoring, most often to ensure sufficient levels of disinfectant and monitor a few key parameters. Oftentimes, traditional methods of water quality monitoring are slow and labor-intensive and require an operator to drive to key points, pull grab samples, and test them in a lab. Problems with turbidity or odor may be noticeable right away, but lab tests for chlorine levels and other quality issues may not be detected until lab results come in — which can take hours, if not days. That can make it difficult to know how to respond, as conditions may have changed in the meantime.

For years, remote distribution monitoring has been available as a solution to these and many other challenges. Adoption has been slow—but this is beginning to change. Today’s street-level telemetry systems are making remote water quality monitoring in the distribution system easier, moving these efforts out of the lab, providing information in near-real time to address the needs of a modern workforce and secure trust with consumers.