Georgetown: Three mini labs were recently established at the water treatment plants in Linden, namely at West Watooka, Mckenzie and Amelia’s Ward. The aim of this is to monitor more frequently, important parameters of water quality such as pH, turbidity, colour, metals, chlorine residual and microbial contamination.
The laboratories are equipped with the essential monitoring equipment and requisite reagents to monitor the water quality round-the-clock. Recently, all water treatment operators and supervisors in the region were trained to use, calibrate and carry out accuracy checks on the equipment so that they have the assurance that the data generated are accurate, reliable and credible.
The training was conducted by GWI’s Chemical Engineer Deon Anderson, who said, “This quality information will be used by management to continuously monitor and evaluate the individual treatment processes in an effort to improve the overall water treatment system”.
He added that the water quality team along with operations and ICT departments are combining their efforts to ensure that these data are available real time to the relevant personnel so that any deviation from quality guidelines can be corrected before it escalates or reaches the customer.
“This will certainly result in better water quality and strengthened confidence of customers in the utility, since a more consistent water quality, compliant with WHO guidelines will be produced”, he noted.
Operators have already expressed their satisfaction in this system, since it helps them to better monitor the effectiveness of the treatment stages. They can also be better guided as it regards interventions to be made to improve the water quality.
According to Mr. Anderson, this system also alerts them of any deficient treatment stage that may need immediate attention. The decisions and actions taken pertaining to water quality improvement can now be more evidenced based, since quality data will be generated, data trends will be studied and investigative work can be better implemented.
This approach has already been implemented at the Shelter Belt and New Amsterdam treatment plants – which have seen quite some improvements in water quality especially in the areas served by Shelter Belt – and will be rolled out at each treatment plant across the country. These efforts are aimed at guaranteeing effective and efficient water treatment, confidence among operators and ultimately improved customer satisfaction through quality service.
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