Sensors waste 6 billion
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6.1 billion gallons of non-revenue water are wasted every year-
Just to measure chlorine
Non-revenue water (NRW) losses are a significant concern for drinking water utilities worldwide because they represent water that is produced but does not generate revenue, impacting both financial sustainability and resource management. Water is lost through leaks, pipe bursts, or overflows in the distribution system. Aging infrastructure, poor maintenance, and high system pressures often contribute to these losses. One often overlooked source is water losses generated from chlorine sensor waste streams. Most chlorine sensors require 70,000 gallons (265,000 liters) or more per year per sensor of treated water to be disposed of. This is true for online DPD instruments but also amperometric sensors. With an estimated 88,268 analyzers in operation across 29,423 chlorine-using community water systems, the total wasted water is 6,178,771,200 gallons (23,390,000,000 liters) per year.
Other waste stream problems
If this waste is directed into septic systems, the high chlorine content can kill beneficial microorganisms, rendering the septic system less effective or even causing damage. This volume of wastewater can quickly overwhelm such systems. Some municipalities have reported that the cost to install additional sewer lines to manage this waste can exceed $100,000, a significant investment for any water treatment facility.
Revenue Losses
Depending on local water rates, municipalities can see savings ranging from $400 to $1400 per year per sensor (based on Tier two water rates range from $0.003 to $0.01per gallon. Some areas are under “drought restrictions” and reduction of water usage is mandated.
New Technology Solution
A recent innovation addresses this problem. This new technology stems from a project funded by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) under the U.S. Department of Defense. The objective was to create a chlorine sensor for seawater, designed for minimal maintenance and a lengthy calibration interval—up to 3,000 hours or 125 days—intended for the U.S. Navy’s Next Generation Reverse Osmosis system. A waste stream could not be tolerated or managed.
The sensor also needed to function independently of flow rates. These tough specifications led to a novel, membrane-free design to combat biofouling through continuous electrode cleaning. This development proved successful and found commercial use in ballast water treatment to curb the spread of invasive species like zebra mussels. Its self-cleaning feature also made it an excellent fit for drinking water and wastewater applications. Unlike earlier amperometric sensors, this design allows direct pipe insertion and operates without flow dependency. It subsequently received NSF61 Certification for safe exposure to drinking water.
Enter the Halogen MP-5 sensor, which introduces a new paradigm in water quality monitoring. Here's how it changes the game:
I did some flow measurements with our reagent DPD system and discovered that we were using 138,000 gallons of water per year. Your system is on a side stream and only uses 14,000 gallons. Our next installation will use your Wet Tap Sensor which has zero waste stream. We’ve been very happy with the Halogen MP5 sensor, and it has been holding up really well.
Christopher Alvarado
LaCumbre Mutual Water Treatment Company
According to Derwin Dy of City of Lakewood, CA:
There are some sites that cannot be monitored due to the need for a waste stream. Halogen MP5 solves this problem.
Derwin Dy
City of Lakewood, CA
Factory Calibration
Unlike its predecessors, the MP-5 sensor does not require a waste stream. This feature alone is groundbreaking, as it eliminates the need to manage or dispose of large volumes of treated water.
NSF61 Certification
Only the MP5 is certified for direct exposure to drinking water under NSF61 standards, ensuring it meets stringent public health and safety requirements.
Install Anywhere
since the MP5 is Flow and pressure Independent, it can be inserted directly into pipes or tanks without the need for flow or pressure regulation, offering flexibility in installation that previous sensors could not match. The sensor reads accurately in zero flow or 4 meter per second velocity. Pressure from 0 to 145 PSI has no effect on accuracy.
Measures 5 critical water parameters
Free chlorine, Monochloramine, pH, conductivity, temperature.
Maintenance Free for 6 to 12 months
this is a significant reduction in labor and materials. The are no membranes that require replacement. The sensor is self-cleaning and also uses electrochemical cleaning to achieve very long interval calibration checks. In some cases, amperometric sensors must be calibrated weekly.
Reagentless
No reagents are required or tubing replacement, saving roughly $1000 per year. This does not require a truck roll or manpower to for monthly changes of reagents and parts or “cell cleaning.
No memory
The MP5 has no “memory” if exposed to zero chlorine levels for hours or even days. When chlorine residuals return, the sensor detects them rapidly. Amperometric membrane sensors cannot achieve this without complicated systems that add cost and complexity.
Safety and customer satisfaction can be improved with a chlorine monitor that can be installed anywhere in the distribution system.
By eliminating the waste stream, Halogen Systems not only helps in conserving water but also ensures that water treatment facilities can operate more sustainably and cost-effectively. This technology is a clear step forward in the quest for more environmentally friendly and economically viable water management solutions. As more water treatment facilities adopt this technology, we can expect a significant reduction in water waste, a decrease in operational costs, and an overall improvement in water quality monitoring practices.
References
Halogen Systems Inc. technical documentation on the MP-5 sensor.
Testimonial from Christopher Alvarado from LaCumbre Mutual Water Treatment Company.
City of Lakewood White Paper
Assumptions
Community Water Systems-EPA
45,973
Percentage using chlorine
64%
Number of sites using chlorine
29,423
Number of analyzers per plant
3
Gallons of NRW used per analyzer
70,000
Total Non Revenue Water losses due to chlorine analyzers in gallons
6,178,771,200
6.1 billion gallons of non-revenue water are wasted every year-
Just to measure chlorine
Non-revenue water (NRW) losses are a significant concern for drinking water utilities worldwide because they represent water that is produced but does not generate revenue, impacting both financial sustainability and resource management. Water is lost through leaks, pipe bursts, or overflows in the distribution system. Aging infrastructure, poor maintenance, and high system pressures often contribute to these losses. One often overlooked source is water losses generated from chlorine sensor waste streams. Most chlorine sensors require 70,000 gallons (265,000 liters) or more per year per sensor of treated water to be disposed of. This is true for online DPD instruments but also amperometric sensors. With an estimated 88,268 analyzers in operation across 29,423 chlorine-using community water systems, the total wasted water is 6,178,771,200 gallons (23,390,000,000 liters) per year.
Other waste stream problems
If this waste is directed into septic systems, the high chlorine content can kill beneficial microorganisms, rendering the septic system less effective or even causing damage. This volume of wastewater can quickly overwhelm such systems. Some municipalities have reported that the cost to install additional sewer lines to manage this waste can exceed $100,000, a significant investment for any water treatment facility.
Revenue Losses
Depending on local water rates, municipalities can see savings ranging from $400 to $1400 per year per sensor (based on Tier two water rates range from $0.003 to $0.01per gallon. Some areas are under “drought restrictions” and reduction of water usage is mandated.
New Technology Solution
A recent innovation addresses this problem. This new technology stems from a project funded by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) under the U.S. Department of Defense. The objective was to create a chlorine sensor for seawater, designed for minimal maintenance and a lengthy calibration interval—up to 3,000 hours or 125 days—intended for the U.S. Navy’s Next Generation Reverse Osmosis system. A waste stream could not be tolerated or managed.
The sensor also needed to function independently of flow rates. These tough specifications led to a novel, membrane-free design to combat biofouling through continuous electrode cleaning. This development proved successful and found commercial use in ballast water treatment to curb the spread of invasive species like zebra mussels. Its self-cleaning feature also made it an excellent fit for drinking water and wastewater applications. Unlike earlier amperometric sensors, this design allows direct pipe insertion and operates without flow dependency. It subsequently received NSF61 Certification for safe exposure to drinking water.
Enter the Halogen MP-5 sensor, which introduces a new paradigm in water quality monitoring. Here's how it changes the game:
I did some flow measurements with our reagent DPD system and discovered that we were using 138,000 gallons of water per year. Your system is on a side stream and only uses 14,000 gallons. Our next installation will use your Wet Tap Sensor which has zero waste stream. We’ve been very happy with the Halogen MP5 sensor, and it has been holding up really well.
Christopher Alvarado
LaCumbre Mutual Water Treatment Company
According to Derwin Dy of City of Lakewood, CA:
There are some sites that cannot be monitored due to the need for a waste stream. Halogen MP5 solves this problem.
Derwin Dy
City of Lakewood, CA
Factory Calibration
Unlike its predecessors, the MP-5 sensor does not require a waste stream. This feature alone is groundbreaking, as it eliminates the need to manage or dispose of large volumes of treated water.
NSF61 Certification
Only the MP5 is certified for direct exposure to drinking water under NSF61 standards, ensuring it meets stringent public health and safety requirements.
Install Anywhere
since the MP5 is Flow and pressure Independent, it can be inserted directly into pipes or tanks without the need for flow or pressure regulation, offering flexibility in installation that previous sensors could not match. The sensor reads accurately in zero flow or 4 meter per second velocity. Pressure from 0 to 145 PSI has no effect on accuracy.
Measures 5 critical water parameters
Free chlorine, Monochloramine, pH, conductivity, temperature.
Maintenance Free for 6 to 12 months
this is a significant reduction in labor and materials. The are no membranes that require replacement. The sensor is self-cleaning and also uses electrochemical cleaning to achieve very long interval calibration checks. In some cases, amperometric sensors must be calibrated weekly.
Reagentless
No reagents are required or tubing replacement, saving roughly $1000 per year. This does not require a truck roll or manpower to for monthly changes of reagents and parts or “cell cleaning.
No memory
The MP5 has no “memory” if exposed to zero chlorine levels for hours or even days. When chlorine residuals return, the sensor detects them rapidly. Amperometric membrane sensors cannot achieve this without complicated systems that add cost and complexity.
Safety and customer satisfaction can be improved with a chlorine monitor that can be installed anywhere in the distribution system.
By eliminating the waste stream, Halogen Systems not only helps in conserving water but also ensures that water treatment facilities can operate more sustainably and cost-effectively. This technology is a clear step forward in the quest for more environmentally friendly and economically viable water management solutions. As more water treatment facilities adopt this technology, we can expect a significant reduction in water waste, a decrease in operational costs, and an overall improvement in water quality monitoring practices.
References
Halogen Systems Inc. technical documentation on the MP-5 sensor.
Testimonial from Christopher Alvarado from LaCumbre Mutual Water Treatment Company.
City of Lakewood White Paper
