Grantee Research Project Results
Final Report: Low-Cost Multiparameter Sensors for Enabling Maintenance Free Deployments in Water Distribution Systems
EPA Contract Number: 68HERC20C0035Title: Low-Cost Multiparameter Sensors for Enabling Maintenance Free Deployments in Water Distribution Systems
Investigators: Thomas, Ross C
Small Business: Syntrotek Corporation
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: I
Project Period: March 1, 2020 through August 31, 2020
Project Amount: $100,000
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase I (2020) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) , SBIR - Homeland Security , SBIR - Water Security
Description:
This Small Business Innovation Research project addresses the development of novel low-cost multiparameter sensors that use a new lab-on-a-chip technology platform for enabling real-time, on-line and maintenance-free deployments within water distribution systems as well as most water collection systems (i.e., storm water, grey water, etc.).
At the present time, increasingly stringent local, state, and national regulations, coupled with a heightened awareness to potential terrorist security threats and public health concerns, have spurred the need for better and quicker information to monitor and track water quality using cloud-based supervisory control and data acquisition systems; thereby, allowing continuous, real time water quality information from a comprehensive network of on-line water measurement sensors that can be readily updated to utility companies, law enforcement and government health/welfare agencies for making intelligent data driven decisions.
Unfortunately, undesirable performance problems (i.e., device drift, calibration frequency and device fouling) combined with expensive total cost of ownership problems (i.e., overall system costs combined with frequent, labor-intensive maintenance) with commercially available water quality sensors need to be solved before it will be feasible to fully implement this critically important application over the desired number of water distribution and collection points for approximately 155,000 water utilities, or potential customers, charged with maintaining millions of miles of water conveyance infrastructure in the US.
The proposed lab-on-a-chip based multiparameter sensors, discussed herein, will lead to order- of-magnitude lower total ownership costs and performance improvements to enable maximum efficiency with real-time water quality monitoring in both water distribution and collection systems. Key benefits with the proposed LOC-based water quality sensors that will provide a basis for creating a disruptive market potential of ca. $350 million include: (1) low CapEx and OpEx costs; (2) fully automated real-time and on-line operation with no moving parts or external chemical reagent requirements. (3) maintenance-free deployments; (4) periodically cleaned, calibrated and verified chemical sensors in situ; (5) automated pairing with cloud-based SCADA systems using DNP3 standardized communication protocols for tracking/trending data over time with highly adjustable and configurable settings such as: action thresholds, response types, chemical concentrations, etc. Successfully completing EPA SBIR funded studies is helping lay the necessary groundwork for commercializing the proposed technology.
Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):
Low-cost multiparameter sensors under development at Syntrotek Corporation represent a very promising technology area having a broad range of online water monitoring applications in general; and, specifically, for a multitude of critical access locations within water distribution systems.
During Phase I feasibility studies, a fully integrated water quality monitoring system that measures all of the water quality parameters needed for drinking water production as well as other water quality applications was developed and tested in a carefully controlled laboratory environment. Key advantages that are afforded with Syntrotek’s low-cost water monitoring technology include (1) much lower capital and O&M cost; (2) smaller footprint, (3) automated sensor calibration, and (4) cleaning capabilities.
The application of miniaturized electrochemical devices consisting of new nanoparticle-based thin films and further assembled within a Lab-on-Chip technology platform were developed to provide an innovative approach having drastic improvements over existing water quality sensing methods in relation to performance, scope and sensor size. For example, Phase I studies proved that multiple water quality parameters (i.e., conductivity, pH, ORP, chlorine, turbidity, DOC, etc.) can be reliably fabricated into a micro-miniaturized platform for performing online water quality monitoring applications.
The type of technology under development at Syntrotek presents real-time water monitoring opportunities for all types of water treatment systems and/or distribution systems. This broad potential applications base will serve as an economic driver to move the technology forward into wide-spread acceptance and successful commercialization. Phase I experimental work elucidated issues concerning:
- fabrication of Lab-on-Chip devices and incorporation of electrochemical detection capabilities by nanoparticle thin-film processing methods.
- detailed characterization of chemical sensor performance for key water quality parameters that are relevant for finished drinking water distribution.
- calibration curve characterization (i.e., signal vs. analyte concentration) for key water quality parameters.
- verification of water quality sensor performance in comparison to commercially available methods.
- evaluation of response time, sensitivity, limit of detection and duty cycle of prototype water quality sensors.
- developing of suitable methods for low-cost and mass-producible fabrication of Lab-on-Chip devices for online water quality monitoring applications.
- performance characterization of the prototype device including: scope of applicability to a variety of water monitoring conditions (i.e., temperature, pH, conductivity, turbidity, etc.).
Conclusions:
Drinking water is monitored for a variety of parameters, to ensure the water quality is consistent and safe to drink. Currently, the most common way to test drinking water is so-called “grab sampling” where water samples are obtained from various points within the water stream and tested for various parameters. This has been the standard method for literally centuries, and continues to be the dominant method today. However, water providers are increasingly turning to online monitoring, where sensors are placed within the water stream and measurements are recorded online. This allows users to see measurements in real time, offering a number of important advantages in terms of efficiency, cost and security in relation to both natural and man-made disturbances within water distribution systems.
The global market for water quality sensors is a billion dollar opportunity. At present, this market is estimated at over $1.2 billion USD, and is expected to grow at a robust pace for the next several years. Important drivers in this market include the ongoing importance of drinking water, rising water pollution due to industrialization, increase in prevalence of waterborne diseases, rise in governmental obligations, the growing need for compact water quality sensors that can be placed near distribution lines, the need to reduce costs, and the rising popularity of wireless systems. This collectively represents significant motivators for the water treatment market. Experts interviewed for this report consistently identified several important user requirements in this niche. These include efficacy, scalability (able to grow from pilot site size to full-scale municipal water plant), accuracy, durability, reliability, and (especially) cost.
The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.