NEWS
The Valencian Region’s public sanitation authority (EPSAR) opts for BILANZ QUALITAT® reagent-free online E. coli probes for microbiological monitoring of effluent from its WWTPs
In its drive to promote the digitalisation and optimisation of wastewater treatment plants in the Valencian Region, the public sanitation authority (Entidad Pública de Saneamiento de la Comunidad Valenciana, EPSAR) is set to introduce online E. coli measuring probes, a pioneering initiative in Spain*. As a first step, it will carry out a series of performance tests of the BILANZ QUALITAT® E. coli probe at the Crevillente WWTP, to assess how well it determines total coliforms, faecal coliforms and E. coli, and to study how to improve the management of existing disinfection systems, both to ensure quality targets are met and to optimise consumption, which in turn will extend the service life of the disinfection equipment.
The compact, easily portable probe takes measurements in less than 1 minute, enabling decisions to be made in real time.
As it uses no reagents, it requires neither cooling systems nor an external power supply: its supply voltage can range from 5 to 15 V, so it can run on ordinary batteries or solar panels.
All this makes it ideal both for permanent monitoring installations at treatment plants and for discharge monitoring sites where a power connection is difficult. Its versatility also allows it to be used as a portable probe to check different plants at specific times, or water bodies and discharge or overflow points.
The probe can be complemented with a remote management system that sends early warnings and can even act on other devices such as samplers, UV units, disinfection panels, etc.
By introducing these probes, EPSAR strengthens its commitment to producing treated water of the highest quality and with the greatest health guarantees for water intended for reuse, while also improving the efficiency of disinfection at these plants, monitoring how effective the disinfection systems are and reducing the carbon footprint of these processes.
This work aims to anticipate compliance with the new Regulation (EU) 2020/741 on minimum requirements for water reuse, which will apply from mid-2023.
Likewise, to encourage the necessary exchange of information on the experience gained by the different bodies and companies involved in wastewater treatment, EPSAR will organise a webinar on optimising disinfection through real-time E. coli analysis, to be held on the aguasresiduales.info portal. The results of the tests will be presented, with contributions from Dr Andrés Zornoza, a specialist in WWTP microbiology, and BILANZ QUALITAT®.
You can see the probe’s specifications in our catalogue.
You can view the catalogue of probes for digitalising water quality at the following link: BILANZ QUALITAT® catalogue.
