Following its introduction 12 months ago, ATi UK’s SiteBox has been hailed as a global breakthrough in versatile water quality monitoring by industry experts. Managing Director, Dr Mike Strahand, discusses how this early-warning optimisation tool is not only helping to improve compliance ratings, but is also proactively safeguarding water quality and security for customer use.

Traditionally, water quality monitoring systems are large, complex board-mounted solutions, which result in lengthy design and installation times – they are almost never “off the shelf”.

However, with innovation becoming more vital in water management optimisation and customers needing to take a more proactive rather than reactive approach, our new customer-focused technology is continuing to lead the way.

The industry-first SiteBox water quality and control system provides customers with a flexible method for delivering information, even from remote locations – in stark contrast to the size and complexity of traditional panel mounted solutions. Due to its size and capabilities, it is often referred to as a ‘water treatment works control system, in a box’.

With delivery to start up in minutes, SiteBox is quick to install and can generate live data within an hour. The versatile ‘lift and shift’ system also has a tiny footprint, low water usage and can be configured for dual validation, triple validation and multi-stream, with up to eight sensors and over 20 parameters to choose from.

Proactive Water Quality Management

Data from trials over the last 12 months has allowed water companies to employ proactive control with water quality management, introducing early-warning alerts to identify potential risks within a variety of applications.

Its flexibility means that SiteBox can be used anywhere that water quality measurement and control is needed, from drinking water treatment to process water in the food industry, all housed in a carry-on luggage-sized portable box.

Its modular nature enables users to tailor a bespoke monitoring system that fits individual site requirements. SiteBox can be used on its own as the input to a control system, or alternatively as an independent monitoring system that polices existing water quality monitors.

Bespoke, yet off-the-shelf

Over the last 12 months, SiteBox has been used by a variety of customers in trials for different applications, with the results proving to be industry-changing.

In response to the drought last summer, a major UK water company needed an emergency start-up solution to bring several drought boreholes back online and into supply. The time scale for this project was extremely demanding, with lead, installation and start up times all critical. Multi-stream SiteBoxes measuring turbidity, residual chlorine and pH were specified, manufactured and delivered in only six weeks, allowing the water company to increase resilience and safeguard water quality.

Demonstrating the versatility in its usage, SiteBox has also recently been used by the world’s largest provider of water systems for global events, including sporting games and rock festivals. The components, including pumps, tanks, valves, sensors and plc controllers, are all held in warehouses around the globe. Temporary systems are put together and must be robust, easy to use, easy to ship, easy to start up and easy to maintain. SiteBox has allowed these customers to have off-the-shelf water quality systems ready for immediate deployment.

In its most recent implementation, the SiteBox assisted a major UK water company in carrying out the cleaning and refurbishing of a large service reservoir. SiteBox gave continuous multi-parameter water quality data before, during and after the cleaning process, resulting in huge savings in both time and budget.

On-site start up time is one of SiteBox’s strongest points. Delivery to start up on all the projects was under 20 minutes, and typically generated live data (eg SCADA, Web platform) within 30 minutes, dramatically reducing the overall cost of the instrumentation package. Being in a portable case also allows customers to quickly and easily move the system from one site to another.

Future Collaborations

Following the successes of a series of evaluations, SiteBox is now entering a new phase that will see ATi UK working in collaboration with leading global partners, further developing the bespoke solutions and capabilities available for customers.

The opportunity to work closely with other technology providers will offer far reaching solutions to water quality monitoring. The need for new, pioneering technology to continue improving performance is ever-present – now is the time to change the future of the water sector for the better.

For further information, please contact ATi UK on sales@atiuk.com or visit www.atiuk.com