Turbidity/suspended solids/sludge concentration

Turbidity, suspended solids (SS), and sludge concentration (MLSS) in water quality are core indicators that reflect the cleanliness, pollution level, and biochemical treatment efficiency of water bodies. Their precise monitoring is directly related to water supply safety, environmental compliance, and process optimization.

Real time tracking and data analysis of three types of indicators, from water purification in water plants to standard discharge in sewage treatment plants, from industrial production of circulating water control to ecological protection of surface water, are key links in ensuring water quality safety, reducing operating costs, and protecting the ecological environment. This interface integrates full scenario monitoring products and core knowledge to provide professional and efficient solutions for different needs.

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Online turbidity/SS/MLSS controller

dss-220 turbidity sensor

DSS-220-10M

dss-230 turbidity sensor

DSS-230-10M

Clarity on key terms

Turbidity

Water turbidity, expressed in NTU, is caused by suspended particle materials (bacteria, organic matter, silt, etc.). Turbidity affects aquatic life and disinfectant effectiveness while indicating the purity of the water.It is essential for drinking water and surface water safety assessment.

Sludge concentration

SS refers to solid particles suspended in water (0.1 μ m-1mm in size), measured in mg/L, such as inorganic sediment, organic detritus, and colloidal particles. Its content is closely related to water body transparency and pollution load and is the main control indicator for industrial and domestic sewage discharge compliance.

MLSS sludge concentration

The dry weight concentration of activated sludge in the sewage treatment biochemical system, measured in mg/L, indicates microbial number and activity. Its numerical value directly impacts biochemical reaction efficiency, aeration energy consumption, and effluent quality, and is a significant sewage treatment plant process parameter.

Applications

Municipal water management field

Waterworks: raw water turbidity monitoring, sedimentation tank/filter effluent turbidity control, ensuring the supply of drinking water meets the standard;
Wastewater treatment plant: Screening of influent SS concentration, real-time control of MLSS in the biochemical tank, monitoring of effluent SS discharge from the secondary sedimentation tank to ensure compliance with treatment requirements.

Industrial production field

Chemical/metallurgical/papermaking: SS pre-treatment monitoring of production wastewater, turbidity control of circulating water, to avoid equipment scaling and pipeline blockage;
Food/Pharmaceutical: Monitor the turbidity of process water, meet the hygiene standards for production water, and ensure product quality.

Ecological and environmental protection field

Surface water monitoring: tracking turbidity and SS concentration of rivers, lakes and reservoirs to assess water pollution status and ecological restoration effect;
Emergency monitoring: Rapid detection of turbidity/SS at the site of sudden water pollution events (such as sediment loss and illegal discharge of wastewater) to provide data support for emergency response.

Research and laboratory fields

Water quality research: analysis of turbidity and SS characteristics of different water bodies, providing data support for the formulation of environmental standards;
Third party testing: Compliance testing and reporting of indicators for enterprise discharge water, surface water, and drinking water.

The importance of detecting these parameters

  • Preserving water supply Turbidity, the “intuitive ruler” of microbiological safety, conceals viruses and bacteria, reducing disinfection and endangering human health. Accurate monitoring guarantees that water distribution satisfies terminal water consumption safety requirements.
  • Honor the surroundings
    SS and turbidity are limited by the “Comprehensive Wastewater Discharge Standard” (GB 8978-1996) and the “Surface Water Environmental Quality Standard” (GB 3838-2002). Organizations can avoid fines and meet environmental regulations by keeping an eye on compliance.
  • Improve processes
    Sludge accumulation, aeration, chemical use, and wastewater treatment plant costs are all decreased by maintaining MLSS levels.
    increased production efficiency, quicker discharge or filtration, longer equipment life, and real-time industrial circulation water turbidity and SS monitoring.
  • Preservation of the environment
    Monitors can detect pollutants, prevent water damage, and safeguard ecosystems. The ecology and photosynthesis of aquatic plants are harmed by heavy suspended particles that reduce the clarity of surface water.

Quick Comparison: Which Technology Do You Need?

FeatureTurbidity (NTU)SS / MLSS (mg/L)
Primary Method90° Light ScatteringInfrared Absorption / Backscattering
Typical Range0.01 – 1000 NTU0 – 50,000 mg/L (or 5% concentration)
Water TypeDrinking water, filtered water, pool waterRaw sewage, activated sludge, industrial waste
Light SourceWhite light or Infrared LEDNear-Infrared (860nm LED)
Key AdvantageHigh precision for clear waterUnaffected by water color or high density

Technical Support

In simple terms, turbidity is an optical property that shows how much light water blocks (usually shown by NTU). SS is a quality indicator that shows how much weight insoluble solid particles have in water (usually shown by mg/L). There is a connection between the two at low concentrations, but they can’t be changed into one another because their particles are different sizes, shapes, and colors.

MLSS (Mixed Liquid Suspended Solid Concentration) represents the total amount of activated sludge (microorganisms) in the aeration tank. Monitoring MLSS helps operators control the return sludge ratio and aeration rate. If MLSS is too low, biochemical reactions may not be thorough; If it is too high, it will lead to sludge leakage and energy waste in the secondary sedimentation tank.

Not recommended. Measuring tap water (low turbidity) requires extremely high sensitivity, usually using the 90 ° scattered light principle; The concentration of sewage or sludge is very high, and light cannot penetrate, so infrared absorption or backscattering principles must be used. Sino Inst provides dedicated models for different application scenarios to ensure optimal range and accuracy.

Yes, the answer is yes. Sensors can confuse bubbles with solid particles, which can cause high readings and big changes.

Solution: When installing, don’t put the sensor exactly above the drop tank or aeration head. If you want to install it in places where the flow rates are stable, you should utilize a Flow Cell with a Degassing system. Sino Inst’s defoaming design can help lower turbidity measurements by getting rid of microscopic bubbles that get in the way.

In complex water treatment processes, turbidity, SS, and MLSS are not just numbers on the screen, they are the “eyes” that ensure process stability, reduce operating costs, and protect environmental compliance.

From the pursuit of extremely low turbidity in water plants to the monitoring of viscous sludge in biochemical aeration tanks, every drop of water changes the overall situation. Choosing Sino Inst means that you are not only choosing high-precision optical sensors, but also a complete solution that can deal with bubble interference, film fouling, and chemical corrosion.

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