Automatic wastewater monitoring is a requirement for many businesses with a large discharge flow or those subject to installing the system according to current regulations. However, many businesses still do not clearly understand the meaning of each monitoring parameter as well as how to determine the indicators to be monitored. In reality, monitoring data not only serves environmental management but also helps businesses supervise the operating efficiency of the treatment system, early detect abnormalities, and proactively provide corrective solutions.
Choosing insufficient or incorrect monitoring parameters can force businesses to adjust the system after putting it into operation, incurring investment costs and affecting the fulfillment of requirements in the Environmental License.
Besides, the list of monitoring parameters does not apply equally to all businesses. The indicators to be monitored will depend on the production type, waste source characteristics, discharge flow, and specific requirements stipulated in the Environmental License. Therefore, before deploying a monitoring system, businesses need to clearly identify the parameters to be monitored to ensure both compliance with current regulations and the optimization of investment and operating costs.
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Automatic wastewater monitoring parameters that businesses need to care about
Each parameter in the monitoring system reflects a different aspect of wastewater quality. Correctly understanding the meaning of each indicator will help businesses not only meet management requirements but also effectively exploit data for operating the wastewater treatment system.
Flow rate is one of the most important parameters in an automatic wastewater monitoring system. This indicator helps determine the amount of wastewater generated and the amount discharged into the environment at each moment. Flow data not only serves management purposes but is also a basis for assessing pollution load and comparing it with the design capacity of the wastewater treatment system.
pH reflects the acidity or alkalinity of wastewater and directly affects the efficiency of the biological treatment process as well as the operation of many devices in the system. If the pH continuously fluctuates or falls out of the appropriate operating range, businesses should check the input wastewater source, the chemical dosing system, or stages using acid and alkali to determine the cause.
Temperature is a parameter often monitored to evaluate the condition of wastewater before being discharged into the environment and to help control the operation of the treatment system. In some cases, significant temperature changes can also affect biological treatment efficiency and the stability of monitoring sensors.
COD or TOC is a group of indicators reflecting the degree of organic pollution in wastewater. Depending on the requirements of the management agency or the characteristics of each monitoring system, businesses may be required to monitor one of these two parameters. Continuous monitoring of COD or TOC helps early detect an increase in pollution load and supports the evaluation of the treatment system's operating efficiency.
During operation, if COD or TOC tends to continuously increase over several days, this may be a sign that the input pollution load has changed or the biological treatment efficiency is declining.
TSS (Total Suspended Solids) reflects the amount of residual sludge in the wastewater after treatment. When this indicator increases abnormally, businesses can review the efficiency of the settling tank, the sludge separation system, or the sludge recirculation process to limit the risk of non-compliant effluent.
This is also a parameter that helps businesses early recognize the condition of activated sludge being swept along with the effluent flow or a decrease in the efficiency of the settling structure.
For some industries or projects that require Nitrogen control, Ammonium is an important parameter to be monitored. Ammonium data helps businesses evaluate the efficiency of the Nitrification process and early detect signs of declining activity of the microbial system before it affects the effluent water quality.
If Ammonium increases abnormally while COD remains stable, businesses should further check DO, pH, alkalinity, or the activity of the Nitrifying bacteria group before adjusting the treatment technology.
In addition to the above parameters, some businesses may be required to monitor additional indicators such as Total Nitrogen, Total Phosphorus, color, or other specific parameters depending on the production type and the contents of the Environmental License. Therefore, businesses should not apply the parameter list of another unit but must base it on legal requirements and the characteristics of their own waste source.
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6 basic indicators and parameters according to the requirements of each project
Not all businesses have to monitor the same list of parameters. In reality, the indicators to be monitored will be determined based on various factors to suit the waste source characteristics and management requirements of each project.
This is the most important basis for businesses to determine the parameters that must be monitored. In the Environmental License, the competent authority will specifically stipulate the parameters to be monitored, monitoring frequency, data transmission requirements, and other related contents. Therefore, businesses should not apply the parameter list of another project but must implement exactly according to the licensed contents.
The wastewater characteristics of each industry are different, so the parameters to be monitored are also not the same. For example, food processing wastewater usually needs more attention to COD, TSS, or Ammonium, while the textile dyeing, chemical, or plating industries may have to monitor other specific parameters.
The discharge scale is one of the important bases for determining whether a business is required to install an automatic wastewater monitoring system or not. At the same time, the discharge flow rate also affects the equipment selection plan, the number of sensors, and the parameters to be monitored during operation.
Fully installing equipment does not mean the monitoring system will always operate stably. For the measurement data to be highly reliable and meet management requirements, businesses need to pay attention to many factors during operation.
One of the biggest benefits of automatic wastewater monitoring is the ability to continuously monitor. Regularly tracking the fluctuation trends of parameters will help businesses early detect abnormal signs, proactively adjust operating modes, and limit the risk of environmental incidents.
Data from the monitoring system should not be considered the only source of information for evaluating treatment efficiency. When abnormal values appear, businesses should combine checking the flow rate, the operating status of the treatment system, periodic sample analysis results, and other operating parameters to accurately determine the cause.
|
Parameter |
Meaning |
| Flow rate | Monitor the amount of wastewater discharged into the environment |
| pH | Monitor acidity or alkalinity |
| Temperature | Monitor wastewater conditions |
| COD or TOC | Reflect the level of organic pollution |
| TSS | Monitor suspended solids |
| Ammonium | Monitor Nitrogen treatment efficiency |
| Other parameters | As required by each project |
Note: The above list contains common parameters in automatic wastewater monitoring systems. The actual parameters a business must monitor will be determined by current regulations and the contents of each Environmental License.
Correctly determining the automatic wastewater monitoring parameters right from the beginning not only helps businesses meet the requirements of management agencies but also effectively exploits data to monitor and optimize the operation of the wastewater treatment system. When parameters are continuously monitored and properly evaluated, businesses can early detect abnormalities, proactively adjust operating modes, and limit the risk of environmental incidents.
In case you need to review the monitoring parameters according to the Environmental License, evaluate the suitability of the existing system, or consult on automatic wastewater monitoring solutions, Dai Nam is ready to accompany businesses from consultation, design, and deployment to operation to meet the legal requirements and actual conditions of each project.
