We see it all the time. With the onset of summer, calls come into water treatment plants or city offices, complaining about the green gunk and awful smell in lakes, rivers, and lagoons. Not only is it an eye-sore (who wants to go swimming in that or taste it in your drinking water?) but it can be a health hazard for humans and animals and can infiltrate drinking water treatment plants. Yet, when summer ends, the calls stop and city officials or water treatment operators ignore the issue or kick the can down the road until next year when the same cycle happens again.
All of that can stop though with LuminUltra microbial testing. Getting ahead of an issue before it gets bad is what today’s blog post is all about. So pull up a chair and your favorite cool beverage and let’s discuss the five-minute system that will transform your water treatment.
How Does ATP Monitoring in Source Water Quality Work?
The primary energy carrier for all forms of life, Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) Is measured in a sample that provides crucial information about biological concentration and health. Since ATP measures the light produced through its reaction with the naturally occurring firefly enzyme Luciferase using a Luminometer, we can rapidly assess the conditions in source water.
Using cellular ATP for several applications provides a direct indication of a living biomass’ energy level or total living biomass concentration. Learning about the science of ATP helps water treaters get behind the benefits of using it. Our partnership with LuminUltra allows ATS Innova to use this science to better help our customers get the best out of their water treatment – by first testing the microbes and then acting on those results.
How does this Help with Algal Blooms?
Dating back over 100 years, traditional regulated measurements in water treatment could only detect a portion of all waterborne microorganisms. When dealing with algal blooms, ATP monitoring in source water detects the early onset of biological proliferation, giving users a heads-up of a developing bloom. In minutes, officials and operators can know the situation and take proactive steps much faster than with any traditional testing methods.
In water distribution systems, instead of free-floating microorganisms, the majority are usually associated with surface microbes in water, which tend to form thick deposit layers (biofilm) on tank and pipe surfaces; this sets up a favorable ecosystem for growth and protection against disinfectants. The results lead to corrosion, build-up, and more. It’s important to precisely locate contamination hot spots quickly and efficiently.
As you know, algal blooms can cause health issues in humans and animals, but did you know that it can also have negative effects on infrastructure, including pipelines, storage tanks, and membranes. The best defense is offense with early detection.
Call ATS Innova to Learn More about Source Water Quality
When you call our water experts at ATS Innova, know that we will address your concerns and challenges and ensure you get questions answered and the best solutions offered. Our mission is improving life – one drop at a time. Call us now at 800.215.4600.
