In environmental applications ammonia is monitored to identify risk to aquatic life posed by high concentrations. In wastewater treatment, ammonia is a nitrogen-containing compound removed through biological nitrification. In drinking water treatment, ammonia is used during the chloramination disinfection process.

Barometric pressure is the measurement of air pressure in the atmosphere. Pressure sensor readings must be compensated for barometric pressure changes when monitoring water level.

Also known as cyanobacteria, blue-green algae (BGA) levels can indicate a decline in surface and coastal water quality and point to the growth of harmful algal blooms (HABs). An overabundance of BGA can negatively impact the health of humans, animals and ecosystems.

Chloride forms when chlorine gains an electron. Monitor chloride to ensure recommended residuals in treated water and to assess the water quality and presence of agricultural and industry runoff in rivers, lakes and streams.

When combined with ammonia to form chloramine, chlorine minimizes disinfection byproducts in drinking water and ensures safe water for distribution. In wastewater treatment chlorine is an economical treatment, and measurement confirms the proper levels for disinfection.

Chlorophyll a is the biochemical component in plant life responsible for photosynthesis. Chlorophyll a is measured to estimate the concentration of suspended phytoplankton in a water body, which can be an indication of algal blooms and general water quality.

Chromium VI or hexavalent chromium is a carcinogen that can enter drinking water naturally or through industrial processes. Colorimetric analysis is a reliable and cost-effective means of chromium monitoring in treatment processes to ensure safe drinking water.

Conductivity is the measure of water’s ability to conduct electrical current, which can indicate the water’s quality and purity. Combined with temperature measurements, conductivity measurements can be used to calculate salinity, resistivity and density values.

Copper can enter surface water, groundwater and drinking water through natural sources, or from agricultural and mining runoff by way of effluent release. Monitoring copper prevents high levels of copper in drinking water and helps identify the presence and impact of runoff.

Also known as petroleum, refined crude oil is used in the production of many forms of fuel. It also contains volatile organic compounds that can contaminate lakes, rivers and streams and damage human, animal and environmental health.

Monitor dissolved oxygen in surface water, coastal, groundwater and wastewater applications to assess a water body’s ability to support fish, bacteria and other aquatic lifeforms.

Fluorescent dissolved organic matter (FDOM) is a fraction of chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) that fluoresces when excited with near-UV light. FDOM measurement is used to track dissolved organic matter, which can adversely affect aquatic life.

Accurate velocity and flow data helps hydrologists understand seasonal variation in rivers, lakes and watersheds, and supports effective development and management of agricultural irrigation systems, flood models and disaster recovery plans.

Iron levels in source water can fluctuate and affect the color and taste of drinking water. And iron entering wastewater treatment plants from industrial sources can exceed safe levels. In both cases, iron is monitored so treatment and chemical-feed systems can be appropriately applied.

While classified as a secondary contaminant, high concentrations of manganese in drinking water create an unpleasant color, taste and odor in the finished product.

Monitor chloramines to assess the effectiveness of the disinfectant process, ensure chlorine residual guidelines are met and prevent corrosion, nitrification and loss of disinfectant residual after release of treated water.

Nickel is one of the most mobile heavy metals in an aquatic environment and is widely used in industrial applications. It’s important to monitor nickel in treated water because excess amounts can be toxic to humans and harmful to the environment.

Essential to plant growth, nitrate occurs naturally but threatens aquatic life in excess. Wastewater treatment facilities perform nitrification and denitrification as part of their biological nutrient removal (BNR) process. In drinking water treatment, nitrate in source water requires removal through biological or ion exchange.

Oxidation reduction potential (ORP) is an indicator of the tendency of a chemical substance to cause the oxidation or reduction of another chemical substance. It’s used in process applications to indicate process efficiency and determine what type of biological reactions are taking place.

Peracetic acid (PAA) is a water treatment oxidant employed to remove bacteria and organic matter prior to chlorination, or as a pretreatment chemical before treating and discharging effluent.

Measuring pH reveals the solubility of nutrients and heavy metals, their toxicity and availability to aquatic life. Changes in pH can signal a pollution event or other disturbance in the environment and affect the rate at which bacteria can perform nitrification.

Phosphate and orthophosphate, the soluble form of phosphate, are measured in wastewater treatment plants because excess phosphorous in a water body can lead to harmful algal blooms. In drinking water phosphorous is used to control corrosion of lead and copper.

Measure pressure and derive water level to determine available water quantity to plan for supply and distribution, measure discharge, prepare responses to floods and other climate events, profile water bodies and assess impacts of changing water levels on environmental health.

These are dyes used in tracer studies to measure the time of travel (TOT) and other activity in surface water and groundwater. Fluorometers that emit light cause the dyes to fluoresce. Measuring relative fluorescence can determine the dye concentration within a water system.

Sulfite is measured in wastewater treatment processes to ensure proper control of the dechlorination process. Automatic control ensures minimal chlorine residual without overdosing with chemical.

Temperature is a critical parameter for every application, as it influences the speed of chemical reactions and aquatic bioactivity and growth, and it has wide-ranging effects on many other parameters.

Total suspended solids (TSS) is the quantitative measure of suspended particles in water. In environmental applications, we can derive TSS from turbidity measurements. In process applications, TSS is measured separately using a TSS sensor or monitor.

Turbidity is an indirect measure of water’s optical clarity and an important indicator of water quality. Measurement of the amount of light scattered by particles in a water sample is used to determine the concentration of suspended material.

UV-254 is the measurement of UV Transmittance—the amount of ultraviolet light at 254 nanometers able to pass through 10 mm of water. It is used to determine the amount of organic matter in drinking water or wastewater.