Water Quality Testing Equipment

The DelAgua kit is designed to carry out five basic tests to measure the quality of drinking-water: microbiological quality, turbidity, free chlorine, total chlorine and pH. The kit is designed for use in the field, but may also be used in a laboratory or other permanent location. The kit can be supplied with a range of accessories that will increase the scope of your water quality monitoring programmes. Please contact us for details.

The Oxfam-DelAgua Water Testing Kit was developed by scientists at the University of Surrey in collaboration with colleagues at Oxfam. The kit is designed to help provide information about the safety of water supplies in difficult situations such as natural disasters and refugee camps, as well as slums and in rural areas where laboratory facilities do not exist. The kit allows five important water quality parameters to be assessed in the field using well-proven and simple methods.

The kit will perform the following tests:

Thermotolerant (faecal) Coliform Count
The kit includes a portable, battery-powered incubator capable of making five cycles of incubation without mains electricity, generator or vehicle power. Thermotolerant (faecal) Coliform counts can be obtained within 14 to 18 hours of sampling giving a reliable indication of sanitary risk without need for transport or laboratory facilities.

Turbidity Test
A measure of the amount of suspended matter in a water supply. Suspended material may consume chlorine disinfectants and require treatment before disinfection.

Chlorine and pH Tests
Many emergency water supplies are dosed with chlorine disinfectant to ensure their safety as drinking water. These tests allow rapid assessment of chlorine levels and aid the efficient control of dosing thereby avoiding waste and ensuring that enough chlorine is present to safeguard the supply.

Total Coliform Count
The dual incubator kit allows microbiological analysis to be carried out at both 37 and 44 degrees Celsius. The lower temperature is used for the determination of total coliforms. Coliform counts can be made within 16-18 hours and give a indication of contamination of water supplies from environmental and other sources.

Other Tests
A conductivity meter is provided as an optional component of the kit. Conductivity provides an indication of contamination e.g. saline intrusion or sewage pollution. Additional equipment can be included on request to test for chemicals that may be of local importance.

Single Unit Specification

Summary

This lightweight, portable and easy to use kit has been designed to test water quality primarily for bacteriological contamination and to determine its safety for human consumption. It is especially useful in emergency situations where testing and results can be determined quickly so that corrective action may be taken without delay.

This kit can be used for surveillance and monitoring of water quality at the source, in water storage tanks, in treatment plants or at the consumer level.

It is packaged in its own impact resistant, waterproof polypropylene case with handle and hinged, lockable lid.

Tests that can be performed

Thermo-tolerant (faecal) Coliform Count
Free & total chlorine
pH
Turbidity
Temperature
Conductivity (not as standard)

Features

44°C incubator for analysis of faecal coliforms (can be calibrated to 37°C for total coliform analysis)
Rechargeable battery (chargeable within one day)
Internal battery capable of 5 incubation cycles before requiring recharging
16-test capacity
Membrane filtration unit using 0.45µm pore size membrane filters

Optional Extras

Portable Conductivity Meter
Portable Battery Pack
Rucsac (60L), includes 3 padded cells for consumables

The basic kit includes

Filtration Apparatus
Spare filtration disc and o-rings
Vacuum Pump
Sample cup with cable
3 sets of 16 re-useable aluminium petri-dishes with strap
Battery charger (110 to 240 volts) – includes additional connectors to power the unit from a car battery or cigarette lighter
Charger Fuses (x 2)
Consumables for 200 tests (Membrane Filters and pads, pad dispenser, culture medium 38.1g tub, DPD No 1, DPD No 3 and Phenol Red tablets)
Digital timer
Comparator (Chlorine & pH)
Tweezers
Polypropylene bottles (x 10)
Methanol Dispenser
Hand lens
Lubrication grease
Spirit thermometer (-10 to +50°C)
Trimmer Tool
Turbidity tube to measure 5 to 1000 NTU
Instruction manual in English. (Other appropriate language manuals can be supplied if necessary)
Instructional CD Rom

Specification

Dimensions = 34.4x14.6x29.7cm
Complete kit weight = 10kg

Accessories, spares, consumables

Spares and replacement parts available for all equipment and apparatus detailed above.

Consumables

Membrane Filters and Pads (x200 or x1000)
Pad Dispenser
Culture Medium (38.1g or 500g tub)
DPD No. 1 Tablets (x250)
DPD No. 3 Tablets (x250)
Phenol Red Tablets (x250)
Methanol
Complete pack of consumables for 200 tests
Extra Manual
Extra Manual with CD Rom

Repair Kits

Battery replacement kit includes;

New battery
Silicone Sealant

Electrical Repair Kit includes;

Silicone sealant
Trimmer Tool
Circuit board
Chip (wired)

Double Unit Specification