Water Supply System
Measurement Engineering Australia can supply full systems and stand alone loggers for use in the water industry.
EXAMPLES OF SOME MEA SYSTEMS
Reservoir Stratification Monitoring
Stratification is a costly problem for water supply authorities. In hot weather, layers of warm water can form at the top of a body of water, leading to an outbreak of blue green algae. With the high cost of treating algal blooms, reservoir operators are looking at means of detecting the formation of temperature strata before the such an event occurs and taking steps to break them up. MEA's Reservoir Stratification System is a specialised product built around our SDI-12 based super matched thermistor string. The "smart" sensors are matched to accuracy's of around 0.005 degree C and, when placed at 1 metre intervals, can detect minute differences in the temperature of a body of water. Data from the system is collected using an MEA data logger. The logger may be installed in the unit, in which case data is collected by dialling in to an installed CDMA or GSM cellular phone modem; or else the logger may be mounted on shore in which case MEA Radio is used to send the data from the sensors to the logger.
Two versions of the product are available: a spar buoy based unit which floats in the reservoir and a fixed version which is fixed to the reservoir wall or adjacent to an off-take. The spar buoy is "top referenced" and is used in monitoring for stratification. The fixed version is bottom referenced and, when installed at an off-take, allows the operator of the reservoir to alter off-take depth to extract the best quality water.
Mains Pressure Monitoring
MEA's Mains Pressure Logger is a compact stand alone data logger built into a water resistant case. The unit is powered by a dry-cell battery and can be supplied with pressure transducers to match the expected pressure range. The units are typically installed in a manhole or service pit. Data is collected from the logger by plugging a computer into the communications port (via a Mil-Spec comms connector).
Reservoir Inlet Monitoring
MEA's has used the Unidata Starflow sensor for measurement of flow in reservoir inlets. The Starflow calculates flow using the depth and speed of water above it and details of the cross-section of the channel. High flow events, particularly after long dry spells, are typified by large quantities of debris and sediment. Information from the Starflow can be fed into the reservoir's SCADA system to enable the off-takes to be closed when such events occur to prevent the dirty water passing through to the treatment plant. The off-takes can be opened when the water has settled.