Emerson monitoring system scores 94% accuracy in EPA test

By Control Engineering Staff June 22, 2006

Irvine , CA —Rosemount Analytical Model WQS water quality monitoring system scored an overall system accuracy of 94% in a recent U.S. Environmental Protection Agency verification test. The system, from Emerson Process Management , performed unattended and required no maintenance during the 52-day deployment.

The system was participating in EPA’s Environmental Testing Verification (ETV) Program. According to Richard Baril, Emerson’s director of homeland security, the results of the test “demonstrated the fitness of the WQS for critical real-world applications in which it is used, as well as its lowest overall cost of ownership.”

The multiparameter system was evaluated along with four other water monitors. Batelle conducted the tests in its advanced monitoring systems center. Testing consisted of three stages:

Stage I assessed measurement accuracy during nine 4-hr periods against laboratory grab samples.

Stage II reviewed response to water quality changes by injecting contaminants into the pipe loop.

Stage III consisted of duplicate injections of aldicarb and E. coli.

At each stage, the WQS outperformed all other systems being tested. The system comes as a complete “plug-and-plumb” panel system designed to withstand real-world distribution environments. Sensors are said to be field-proven for long life and low maintenance. System needs no reagents. It allows plants to establish a baseline for measuring turbidity, conductivity, pH, ORP, free chlorine, monochloramine, dissolved oxygen, ozone, and temperature.

Click here to read more about the Environmental Technology Verification Program.

Emerson announced the test results at the 2006 Annual Water Works Association Conference and Exposition held earlier this month in San Antonio, TX. Click here for more about the conference.

— Control Engineering Daily News Desk

— Jeanine Katzel , senior editor, Control Engineering