The final inspection is a crucial process step in industrial water and wastewater treatment. It is used for final inspection and quality assurance before the treated water is reused or discharged into the environment. The final inspection includes monitoring physical and chemical parameters as well as checking compliance with legal limits.

Technical basics

Various measurement and analysis methods are used in the final inspection to validate the water quality. The most important parameters include

1. Physical parameters

   • Turbidity: Indicates the concentration of suspended matter.
   • Conductivity: Indicates the concentration of dissolved salts in the water.

2. Chemical parameters

   • pH value: Shows the acidity or alkalinity of the water.
   • COD (chemical oxygen demand): Indicator for the pollution of water with organic substances.
   • Heavy metal concentrations: Are controlled specifically for the respective application, e.g. for zinc, copper or chromium.

3. Biological parameters

   • Bacterial count determination: Checking the microbiological load.

Procedure for carrying out the final inspection

1. Online measurement technology
   Many systems are equipped with online sensors that continuously monitor the most important water parameters. This data is processed in the system control unit and enables an immediate response to deviations.

2. Laboratory analyses
   For a detailed analysis, samples are taken and examined in a laboratory. This applies in particular to parameters that cannot be measured continuously, such as AOX or pesticide residues.

3. Visual inspections
   For certain applications, a visual inspection, e.g. of the color or clarity of the water, may also be useful.