“Better Water” powered by the sun
A skid-mounted, solar-powered Online Real-time Remote Monitoring system/unit is now available from AECI Water. It gives customers, particularly those in remote areas, the ability to manage discharge wastewater proactively. This enables compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations.
“Knowledge is power and we can only act on what we can measure,” explained Dean Mulqueeny, Group Executive: AECI Water. “We now have the ability to know the exact make-up of discharge wastewater at a speed and level of precision that was previously unobtainable.”
In the past, municipalities and water treatment plants relied on static laboratory testing and time-consuming manual data processing. Potentially, this meant that problems could go undetected for hours or even days. Other facilities use portable devices but some sensors are not sensitive enough to collect the precise data needed for effective action in real time. In addition, fragmented data, constant calibration concerns, handheld probes and other manual processes add to frustration and inefficiency.
“Organisations that embrace online real-time monitoring avoid static laboratory testing, eliminate unnecessary calibration and cleaning, minimise controls, optimise chemical feeds and reduce the cost of raw materials,” said Dean. “At the same time, they support emergency response requirements, reduce the risk of polluting the environment, secure compliance and facilitate adherence to ethical and moral business conduct.”
The skid is fitted with 14 solar panels to provide 46 hours of back-up power and air conditioning to keep the electronics cool.
AECI Water and the Zambia Environmental Management Agency are in the process of deploying these skids to monitor effluent discharge streams in the country. This will ensure adherence to discharge wastewater regulations for pH, Total Dissolved Solids, Total Suspended Solids and Turbidity.