The DC1500 waterproof chlorine colorimeter from the LaMotte Co. meets IP67 waterproof criteria and includes six glass sample vials, DPD tablets for 100 tests of free and total chlorine or liquid DPD reagents for 140 tests.

“It’s always nice to have a waterproof meter just because of the conditions you’re in a lot of times out in the field doing these samples,” says Ernie Rector, market manager for the LaMotte Co.

“There is wear and tear in any kind of treatment facility,” he says. “They get knocked around quite a bit and get dropped. Water can get all over things. I know when I went into treatment plants to do sampling that sometimes there would be pipes burst and water spraying all over. It’s not a bad idea to have it as rugged and durable as humanly possible so that it will last a long time.”

The colorimeter has a rechargeable battery, USB cable and protective carrying case. A car charger is optional.

“The USB cable makes it much easier to take information and put it in a computer and into your spreadsheet so you don’t have to do data entry,” he says. “The recharger battery is nice because most waterproof meters with replaceable batteries, if you get them wet, the battery compartment can rust. The meter may say it’s waterproof but the battery compartment is not. With this meter, it’s completely sealed and completely waterproof so no matter what kind of water you get on it, it’s still going to be ready to go.”

The meter can be used both in the field and in the lab as a benchtop unit.  It has a range of 0-4 ppm and sensitivity of 0.05.

“It’s geared primarily toward public drinking water facilities,” Rector says. “If you wanted to go higher you could do some dilutions. We offer other meters, but the market I most see for this is rural water, smaller water utilities that are doing grab testing of chlorine – hitting five or six places a day.”

The meter has a backlit screen that can be turned on and off, which comes in handy when working in dimly lit areas.

“It has six buttons. It’s very easy to use as far as the reagent systems and to get a reading,” he says. “It’s meant to be a very simple, straight-forward meter so you can go out the day you get it and be collecting relative data.” 800/344-3100; www.lamotte.com.