The role of on-line water quality monitoring in the production of top quality tap water

Date: 09:00:00 - Nov 21 2018

Speakers: Chris Rockey

Mechanisation, industrialisation and more recently automation and remote operation have been transforming manufacturing and food production for the overall benefit of societies for a long time. Industrialisation through innovation and in particular the conception and application of new technologies has improved life significantly for centuries. The production of drinking water has similarly been transformed from a general philosophy of treatment facilities being locally managed and operated to more automation, remote monitoring and control; and from a focus on hygiene to wider focus on chemical and microbiological qualities of drinking water and health.

This presentation will focus on the role of on-line water quality monitoring in a drinking water utility in the South West of England. Monitoring in catchments, at abstraction, through treatment and distribution to consumers will be discussed. I have been asked to include something about quality control of on-line instrumentation and will cover this also; it is increasing important as changes in regulation to support more effective management of drinking water quality will reasonably require further quality assurance in all aspects of water production including instrumentation. Finally I will say something about the future of WQ instrumentation.

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Speakers

Chris Rockey (South West Water)

I am currently Head of Water Quality for South West Water, a major utilities in the UK. I am lucky enough to manage an excellent team of Water Quality Scientists and the organizations Laboratory and together we have responsibility for ensuring the Company provides good safe drinking water that has the trust of our customers. We look after all aspects of drinking water quality from source to tap focusing exploiting innovation, technical process advice, regulatory and operational monitoring, resolving customer complaints, and liaising with the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI), UK Regulator and Public health professionals. I began work for SWW in 1989 spending 5 happy years in the organic micro-pollutant laboratory where I also studied for and attained a BSc (Hons) in Applied Chemistry from the University of Plymouth. For the last 25 years I've stumbled through various roles in operational water quality and have somehow ended up with overall responsibility. It has been interesting and challenging work and good fun - I hope my luck continues for a while yet.