Bright Alternative

A Colorado treatment plant lab team adopts a method of ammonia measurement and reporting that enhances quality and saves time.

Jun 17, 2013 | by Ruth Hecker and Derek Walker |

Bright Alternative — The staff at the City of Loveland Water Quality Lab uses an alternative method of ammonia measurement that saves time and labor in producing high-quality, consistent results.

The laboratory staff at the wastewater treatment plant in Loveland, Colo., wanted an easier way to analyze and report influent and effluent ammonia levels. The 10 mgd plant’s process reduces influent ammonia of 25-30 mg/L to below 0.1 mg/L in effluent. At those low levels, the staff found it challenging to use the U.S. EPA-approved SM4500-NH3D Ion Selective Electrode (ISE) method for ammonia measurement and compliance reporting. The staff successfully switched to Hach Method 10205 using TNTplus vial chemistry. “We have saved a significant amount of time in our daily samples and quality control checks,” reports analyst Nick Marusin. “We can now

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