Northumbrian Water enhances water testing technology

Northumbrian Water (NWL) has enhanced its water quality monitoring capabilities by adopting Palintest’s Lumiso range of water testing solutions. This strategic move underscores NWL’s ongoing commitment to public health and operational excellence, ensuring the delivery of safe and high-quality water to 2.7 million residents across a 9,400 km² area from Teesside to Berwick upon Tweed.

Following a detailed consultation with Gateshead-based Palintest in 2023, NWL invested in 30 Lumiso Expert units, 41 Lumiso Chlorine devices, and 40 Turbidity Meters. These tools have transformed NWL’s ability to meet rigorous UK water quality standards, with trials showing a 70% reduction in technical escalations—a significant achievement for the utility’s treatment processes.

Michael James, Instrument Technician at NWL, highlighted the impact of the upgrade, stating: “The benchtop and portable instruments are key components to verify our treatment processes, so accuracy and reliability are crucial. Our operators and technicians have observed first-hand the precision, durability, and reliability that Palintest instruments bring to the table. These instruments are second to none in terms of their performance and have given us confidence in results to verify water quality.”

The adoption of the Lumiso range comes after NWL faced challenges with older testing instruments, which often led to inefficiencies, unreliable data, and compliance risks. The new tools—designed for accuracy and ease of use—allow NWL to monitor essential parameters like aluminium, ammonia, chlorine, and turbidity with greater confidence.

The Lumiso Expert benchtop device simplifies the testing of complex water quality parameters throughout the treatment process, while the portable Lumiso Chlorine device ensures accurate chlorine level verification post-disinfection. Additionally, the Turbidity Meters enable frequent manual checks to support online instrumentation, ensuring compliance even during high-frequency testing intervals.

Shaurya Sheoran, Head of Product Management at Palintest, noted: “Our partnership with Northumbrian Water reflects a mutual commitment to precision and reliability. By standardising testing across all water treatment sites with the Lumiso range, NWL can ensure their treatment processes are robust and their team has confidence in the results to demonstrate compliance.”

Palintest’s solutions also address operational efficiency challenges by reducing the need for unnecessary troubleshooting, escalations, and calibrations. This enhanced reliability has been welcomed by NWL’s operational teams, who now perform offline analysis with increased accuracy and repeatability.

Palintest, a global leader in water testing technology since the 1950s, is known for its innovative approach and industry-leading customer support. The company partners with major utilities in the UK and internationally, offering robust solutions backed by local and responsive service.