Water quality monitoring
Water quality monitoring uses either one multi-parameter sonde for convenience, or multiple single-parameter probes on a shared RS485/Modbus bus for more parameters and higher per-parameter accuracy, depending on the deployment.
Single sonde or multiple probes
The ZWQ500 multi-parameter water quality meter bundles temperature, pH, conductivity, dissolved oxygen and turbidity in one submersible sonde (D75mm x L423mm), suited to long-term deployment or on-site rapid determination where deploying one instrument is more practical than several. Where more parameters or higher accuracy per parameter is needed, individual single-parameter probes (14 in total, covering everything from conductivity to blue-green algae) can be combined on one RS485/Modbus bus instead. See the full probe comparison for every parameter, range and accuracy figure side by side.
Surface water and groundwater monitoring
Nearly all probes in this range are rated for both surface water and groundwater monitoring, the two stated applications across the catalogue. Self-cleaning functions are fitted to the optical sensors most prone to biofouling (turbidity, COD, transparency, chlorophyll, blue-green algae), reducing maintenance visits for long-term unattended deployment.
Specialist applications
Residual chlorine (ZWQ-CT1) is specifically built for tap water, secondary water supply and swimming pool applications rather than open surface water, using Clark current sensing with a required flow rate of 250-500 mL/min rather than static immersion. This is a different deployment pattern to the immersion-style probes used for river or reservoir monitoring.
Emergency and rapid-response monitoring
The ZWQ500 multi-parameter meter is also positioned for emergency monitoring, where deploying a single instrument that reads multiple parameters immediately matters more than the marginal accuracy gain of dedicated single-parameter probes.
Relevant products
Frequently asked questions
Should I use the multi-parameter meter or separate probes?+
The ZWQ500 multi-parameter meter suits long-term deployment, rapid on-site checks or emergency monitoring where one instrument covering the core parameters is more practical. Separate probes suit projects needing more parameters than the ZWQ500 covers, or higher per-parameter accuracy.
Can these probes be used in swimming pools or tap water?+
The residual chlorine sensor (ZWQ-CT1) is specifically built for tap water, secondary water supply and swimming pool use, with a required flow-through rate rather than static immersion. Most other probes in this range are built for surface water and groundwater monitoring instead.
How often do self-cleaning probes need maintenance visits?+
Self-cleaning brushes reduce but don't eliminate maintenance needs on optical sensors (turbidity, COD, transparency, chlorophyll, blue-green algae). Exact intervals depend on water conditions at your specific site; contact us to discuss expected maintenance intervals for your deployment.