Multi-parameter water quality sensors for water supply systems

There is a growing interest in automated water quality monitoring which can provide sufficient temporal and spatial resolution of changes in water distribution networks. Recent advances in electrochemistry, interdigitated microelectrodes and thick film technology, and digital signal processing are enabling the production of sensors for monitoring various physical and chemical parameters. This paper presents an overview of the current state-of-the-art technologies and discusses their limitations. Commercial, portable multi-parameter sensors available currently in the UK are presented and compared. An evaluation of a current technology has been carried out at Imperial College and a detailed analysis of the sensor's performance is presented. The laboratory tests show promising results which are currently being verified in field conditions. However, the limited number of these sensors, their relatively high cost, the requirement for frequent calibrations, and the limitations regarding installation, emphasise the need for further research and development.