ES2425003A2 - Method for controlling quality of drinking water distributed to consumer, involves recovering bed of active material subjecting to analysis of retaining material after deriving fraction of consumed flow in sufficient number of times - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves deriving fraction of water flow in an installation of a consumer during consumption. A bed (4) of an active material is passed through the fraction of derived water to retain the material present in the water. The fraction of derived water, which is crossed through the active material bed, is rejected to an outlet (5). The bed of the active material subjecting to the analysis of the material remaining is recovered after deriving the fraction of the consumed water flow in a sufficient number of times. An independent claim is also included for a device for controlling quality of drinking water distributed to a consumer.

Description

PROCEDURE AND DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING THE QUALITY OF A DRINKING WATER SUPPLIED TO A CONSUMER.

The invention relates to a method for controlling the quality of a drinking water supplied to a consumer.

European Directive 98/83 / EC obliges local authorities to control the quality of water for human consumption, and this control can be delegated by contract to water management companies. This control involves the collection of samples at different points of the water supply network according to a specific sampling methodology that provides for the extraction of samples for a few minutes and several times per year at certain points.

However, such a methodology is not completely satisfactory because many sampling points are not representative of the water actually consumed. Only the water that comes out of a tap from the consumer's installation meets this requirement. The current sampling methodology sometimes leads to erroneous conclusions. In addition, it is desirable to increase the number of samples collected in one year.

An aim of the present invention is to overcome problem remains allowing to detect and measure in a representative and easy way the quality of the water actually consumed. The invention aims to allow quantifying all the chemical elements or compounds that run the risk of being absorbed by consumers / customers over a period of time that can be several days to several weeks.

The invention is particularly intended to detect and measure the amount of metals, in particular lead, copper, chromium, iron and nickel, present in the consumed water as well as the amount of volatile or semi-volatile organo compounds such as trihalomethanes, (PAHs (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons), pesticides, ...

According to the invention, the procedure for controlling the quality of a drinking water supplied to a consumer is characterized in that: - a fraction of the water flow during a consumption is diverted, - is passed through the fraction of diverted water, at least one bed of active material, capable of blocking the compounds, to retain materials present in the water, likely to affect their quality, - the fraction of diverted water that has crossed the bed of waste is discarded in the evacuation active material,

-and, after having diverted a sufficient number of times a fraction of the

flow consumed, the bed of active material is recovered to be subjected to

analysis of retained subjects.

Thus, in each consumption, an extraction corresponding to

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the deviated fraction of the water flow and, after a sufficient number of

extractions, the bed of active material is recovered for analysis.

Preferably, the diverted water flow fractions are

They perform with cold water.

Advantageously, the diverted water flow in each consumption is

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is between 5 and 15 mUmin (milliliters per minute) and the bed of

active material is recovered after being traversed by at least 2 L

(2 liters of water. This volume is obtained thanks to a sufficient number of

Extractions

The invention also relates to a device for

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performing the procedure defined above, in order to control the

quality of a drinking water supplied to a consumer, characterized

This device because it includes:

-a diverting connection means, in a supply line of

water in the consumer installation, from the entrance of at least one unit

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which contains a bed of active material,

-a means of splicing the exit of the unit with an evacuation of water

residual,

-and a means of controlling the flow of diverted water that passes through the bed of the

active material.

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Preferably, the splice means in deviation is provided in

a cold water feed line.

Advantageously, the device comprises a main conduit

suitable to be introduced into a water supply line, in

particular cold water, from the consumer installation, at least one cartridge

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which contains a bed of active material, the cartridge inlet being

joined, by a connection pipe, in diversion with the water part

above the conduit, and the cartridge outlet being connected to the

evacuation through a splice pipe.

The device may comprise a solenoid valve, located in

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particular in the connection pipe, and a water circulation detector

by the main line to operate the solenoid valve in the opening

when a circulation is detected, and in the closure in the absence of circulation. He

Water circulation detector can be located downstream of a tap.

The device may comprise a micro-pump controlled by the

water circulation detector and that ensures the diversion of a flow

water controlled

5

The micro-pump can be placed in the splice pipe

With the evacuation. The micro-pump is advantageously electric, that is

Powered by an electric motor.

The water circulation detector, the micro-pump, and the

solenoid valves are connected to an electronic control board that pilots

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the equipment and stores the data necessary for the operation of the

device.

The device for quality control of the water consumed is

particularly introduced into a cold water supply pipeline,

upstream of an extraction tap for the consumer. In variant, the

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Water circulation detector can be installed at the outlet of the tap

extraction.

The active material is selected to retain the materials to

control, particularly metals and organic compounds.

The control device is installed in the consumer's home

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over a period of time that can reach up to several weeks.

The diversion of the flow that is used for sampling and its disposal in

the evacuation allows to avoid that the consumer consumes water that has passed

by the bed of active material, thus avoiding any possibility of health risk.

Sampling performed with cold water is advantageous since the

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adsorption phenomenon depends on the temperature and is stronger at

low temperatures. Thus, if hot water passes through the material

active after cold water, contaminants retained during

cold water phase would be released at least in part, by the effect of

temperature, which would not allow to appreciate exactly the consumption of

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Pollutants to which the customer is exposed.

The invention consists, apart from the provisions set forth

previously, in a certain number of other provisions of which it will be

explicitly question below regarding an embodiment

described with reference to the attached drawing, but which in no way is limiting.

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In this drawing:

Fig. 1 is a diagram of a quality control device

of water according to the invention, and

Fig. 2 is a schematic view, on a smaller scale, of the

device installed in the home of a consumer.

Referring to the drawing, you can see a device 1

to control the quality of a drinking water supplied to a consumer.

This device comprises a connection means in deflection B, in a

5

cold water supply line 2 (Fig. 2) at the consumer's home,

of the inlet of at least one unit or cartridge 3 containing a bed 4 of

active material. The device comprises a means J for connecting the output

of the cartridge 3 with an evacuation 5 (Fig. 2), advantageously formed by the

evacuation duct of a drain E.

10

The device 1 further comprises a flow control means e

of diverted water that crosses the bed 4 of active material.

The device 1 comprises a main conduit 6 suitable for

be introduced into the consumer's cold water supply line 2. He

main duct 6 can be made of rigid opaque material or

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transparent, or in the form of a flexible tube. The conduit 6 comprises in each

end a splice 6a, 6b that allows quick assembly in series on the

channeling 2 of which a part has been disassembled to allow

device placement 1. The cartridge 3 inlet is connected,

by means of a channel 7 of connection in diversion, with the part upstream

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of the duct 6. A connection duct 8, which starts from the outlet of the

cartridge 3, is connected to the evacuation and constitutes the means of

splice J.

An electrovalve 9 is arranged in the pipeline 7 of the

connection, upstream of the cartridge 3. A water circulation detector 10

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is installed in conduit 6, in order to drive the opening of the

solenoid valve 9 when a circulation is detected, and its closure

solenoid valve in the absence of circulation. The detector 10 provides in a

output a signal that is transmitted, by an electric conductor 11, to a card

printed circuit 12 intended to handle signals from the detector

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10. The card 12 is connected to a power supply unit 13

electrical suitable to be connected to an outlet of the sector with the help of

an electrical connection cable 14. The power unit 13 provides in

the outputs a direct current under a voltage of 12 or 24 volts, from

of the power grid voltage.

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The device can also work with electric batteries

rechargeable

The circulation detector 10 is generally placed in the middle of the

extension of the main duct 6. The detector 10 consists of a device that

It lets the electric current through when a water circulation is detected. He

connection channel 7 can be made of plastic or glass and

used to drive certain amounts of water through the active material. The

deflected connection of conduit 7 over conduit 6 ensures

5

by means of a "T" shaped joint.

The device 1 further comprises, as control means C of the

flow, an electric micro-pump 15 installed in the connection pipe

8, downstream of the cartridge 3. The micro-pump 15 can be a pump

peristaltic or a positive displacement pump, suitable for

10

Provide a constant flow rate. The power supply of the

solenoid valve 9 and micro-pump 15 is secured by conductors 16, 17

connected to card 12 output terminals. Solenoid valve 9 opens and the

pump 15 is put into operation when the sensor 10 detects a

water circulation through the duct 6. The solenoid valve 9 closes and the pump

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15 stops when this water circulation ceases.

The components of device 1, particularly the conduit

main 6, cartridge 3, card 12 and the different pipes and

connecting conductors are advantageously mounted inside a box

H of plastic material, which can be easily placed in a part of the

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consumer installation

According to the example of Fig. 2, the conduit 6 is connected to the

cold water arrival pipe 2, upstream of a distribution tap

18 located above the drain E.

In variant, the flow detector 10 could be connected to the output

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of tap 18, the fraction being diverted from the flow always directed towards the

evacuation so that the consumer does not have to consume water that is

passed through bed 4 of active matter.

In the case where the tap 18 was of the powered mixer type

through a cold water pipe and a hot water pipe, the

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device 1 would be installed in the cold water line.

Several beds of active materials may be provided according to

families of materials or chemical compounds to retain. These beds of

Active materials are placed in series using different media cartridges,

or using the same cartridge, as illustrated in the drawing, and placing

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the different beds of active materials according to different layers. Every

cartridge 3 is interchangeable with fast splicing noon at

Channels 7 and 8.

The active materials used can be for example CheleX® (or

equivalent) for metals, and Tenax® (or equivalent) for compounds

Organic volatile in water. The amount of these active materials is

select appropriately with respect to the chemical charge that must be

retained and that depends on the volume of the sample and the concentration

5

predictable in the water.

A volume of water is diverted every time the consumer opens the

tap 18 to consume water. The sample of water that is extracted and the water that

is consumed therefore has the same content in matters to

analyze; the samples that cross the bed 4 of active material are

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representative of the water consumed.

Extractions stop when a given volume of

water has passed through bed 4 of active material. This volume of water can

be of the order of 2 L (2 liters), while the daily water flow that passes

by bed 4 it can be of the order of 150 mL day (150 milliliters per day). He

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device 1 will remain installed for a sufficient time, of several

days or weeks, so that the 2 L of water have crossed the bed 4 of

active material before the cartridge is removed for analysis in

laboratory.

The operation of the device is as follows.

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When tap 18 opens and when water flows through the pipe

2 and conduit 6, the circulation detector 10 closes an electrical circuit of the

card 12 that activates the opening of the solenoid valve 9 and the setting in

operation of the micro-pump 15. Pump 15 allows a flow to be diverted

of reduced water, particularly between 5 and 15 mLlmin (milliliters

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per minute), through bed 4 of active material in which metals and / or

Other organic compounds are retained.

When the tap 8 closes, the water circulation ceases through the

main conduit 6 and the detector 10 opens the electrical circuit so that the

card 12 triggers the closing of the solenoid valve 9 and the stopping of the pump 15.

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Sampling ceases at that time.

This process is repeated every time the consumer stops spending

cold water.

The printed circuit card 12 is intended to control: the level

of electrical voltage of each electronic device, the sampled volume

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(because the pump flow rate is calibrated based on

the supply voltages), and the duration of the extractions.

The device 1 can be easily adapted, using beds 4

of interchangeable active materials, to sample organic compounds or

Any compound according to the European Directive and future additions.

This device, and the analysis service offered, refer to

different user groups:

-the water supply companies; they will have a useful

5

effective and comfortable, reliable and representative that provides information on

the water that is actually consumed by the customer;

-the entities responsible for controlling water quality levels; the

they may use this tool to control the parameters required by the

European directive and local regulations;

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-Any company whose procedures (for example food industries)

or services (for example hotels) require control and monitoring of water quality

used

The device of the invention particularly allows to detect all

the metals indicated in the European Directive: lead, copper, chromium, iron and

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nickel, and a large number of organic chemical compounds of which

many are responsible for episodes in the course of which water

It has an unacceptable smell and / or taste (s).

The 3 cartridges after disassembly are sent to a

Laboratory to be analyzed. The method of analysis depends on the family

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Chemistry and properties of active materials.

An optimum deviated water flow, which passes through the pipeline 7,

It is of the order of 10 mUmin. The volume of water that must pass through each

Bed 4 of active material is estimated at approximately 2 L (two liters) of

water containing the expected parametric concentrations for

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compounds to analyze. Estimating that tap 18 is open

approximately 15 min / day, the amount of diverted water that passes each day

by bed 4 it is therefore 15 min / day x 10 mUmin = 150 mUday.

So that the bed 4 is crossed by 2 L, that is 2000 mL, they will be

Accurate 2000 mU150 mUday or approximately 13 to 15 days. He

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cartridge 3 and bed 4 will be removed after this sampling period

To be sent to analyze.

The method and the device of the invention allow obtaining

several advantages, particularly:

- have available an automatic, continuous, easy to use and install tool and

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inexpensive, able to control the real quality of the water that is consumed by

the client; the sampling procedure can last several weeks;

- comply with the requirements of Directive 98/83 / EC;

-Because of its low cost, this device can be widely used;

-

Because the device is installed directly at the water inlet of the consumer's installation, the customer can perceive at what point the water supplier is questioned by the quality of the water used for human consumption;

5-obtaining more extensive information in time than those obtained with old sampling campaigns, creating less damage to customers due to a lower number of operator visits

Claims (2)

5 10 15

1. Procedure to control the quality of a drinking water supplied to a consumer, characterized in that: -on deflects (7), in the consumer's installation, a fraction of the flow of water in a consumption, - is passed through the fraction of diverted water, at least one bed (4) of active material to retain materials present in the water, likely to affect its quality, - is discarded (8) by evacuation (5) the fraction of diverted water that has passed through the bed of active material, - and, after having diverted a sufficient number of times a fraction of the flow consumed, the bed of active material is recovered to be subjected to the analysis of the retained materials. 2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the diverted water flow fractions are performed with cold water.

2 o

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the flow of diverted water in each consumption is between 5 and 15 mLlmin (milliliters per minute).

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4. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bed (4) of active material is recovered after being traversed by at least 2 L (2 liters) of water.

30 35

5. Device for carrying out a method according to any one of the preceding claims, in order to control the quality of a drinking water supplied to a consumer, characterized in that it comprises: -a diverting connection means (B), in a water supply conduit (2) in the consumer installation, of the inlet of at least one interchangeable cartridge (3) containing a bed (4) of active material, -a splicing means (8) of the cartridge outlet (3) with an evacuation (5) of wastewater, -A control means (C) of the flow of diverted water that passes through a bed of active material.

6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the means (B) of

Bypass connection is provided in cold water.

a feed duct (2) of

5 10

Device according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that it comprises a main conduit (6) suitable for being introduced into a water supply conduit (2), in particular cold water, of the consumer installation, to the minus a cartridge (3) containing a bed (4) of active material, the inlet of the cartridge being connected by a connection duct (7) in deflection with the upstream part of the conduit (6), and the outlet of the cartridge being connected to the evacuation by a splice pipe (8).

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Device according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that it comprises a solenoid valve (9), located in particular in the connection pipe, and a water circulation detector (10) through the main conduit for actuating the solenoid valve in the opening when a circulation is detected, and in the closing in the absence of circulation.

2 o

Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the water circulation detector (10) is located upstream of a tap (18).

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10. Device according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that it comprises a micro-pump (15), this micro-pump being activated by the water circulation detector (10) and ensuring the deviation of a controlled water flow.

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11. Device according to any one of claims 5 to 10, characterized in that the active material is chosen to retain metals and organic compounds.

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