Most utilities use continuous water quality monitoring to improve treatment performance. Cincinnati’s Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD) found an additional application by using the same KETOS SHIELD platform to better understand industrial nitrogen contributions within its collection system.
After deploying KETOS SHIELD at the influent and effluent of its Little Miami wastewater treatment plant, MSD recognised that the existing monitoring infrastructure could also support industrial pretreatment, extending the value of its monitoring programme.
THE CHALLENGE
MSD needed continuous visibility of treatment performance while meeting strict discharge requirements. Traditional grab sampling provided only periodic data, limiting the utility’s ability to monitor changing process conditions and understand industrial nitrogen loading before biological treatment altered the wastewater composition.
THE SOLUTION
KETOS SHIELD continuously monitored key water quality parameters at both the influent and effluent, providing real-time data for plant operators and the instrumentation team.
The platform enabled flexible monitoring schedules, automated data collection and cloud-based data logging without increasing workload for utility staff. Timestamped records could also be validated against manual samples and used to support industrial pretreatment investigations.
RESULTS
Continuous monitoring improved operational visibility and provided a clearer understanding of industrial nitrogen contributions before treatment. The system also gave operators greater confidence in treatment performance.
MSD is now exploring the use of continuous monitoring to support industrial surcharge programmes based on BOD, TKN and TSS. The existing monitoring platform provides a foundation for more accurate, defensible and scalable industrial pretreatment monitoring.
– Plant Operator, Little Miami Facility, MSDThe KETOS chlorine residual data confirmed what we were seeing in the lab. At that point, it’s not just monitoring; it’s a second set of eyes on compliance, running around the clock.
