2009 R&D 100 Winner
For water quality monitoring, communities need affordable tools to get reliable information quickly so that emergency water treatment decisions can be made. The Water Sample Concentrator (WSC) developed by Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho Falls, Idaho, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio, fills a critical need for water quality sampling methods that non-specialists can use to monitor water resources.
This system automates two sample collection processes—concentration and packaging—and integrates them into a single process that occurs in the field. The WSC system is housed in a rugged, portable case that can be transported like a wheeled suitcase. It can be manually transported to the sampling location to process routine or emergency sampling. The WSC integrates an accepted laboratory fluid sample concentration process—ultra-filtration—with collection and packaging. Concentrated samples can be temperature controlled and shipped for lower costs for lab analysis. Software operates the WSC in accordance with industry standards.
Technology
Water quality monitor
Developers
Idaho National Laboratory
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
