FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present subject matter relates generally to water quality analysis systems and methods for detecting contaminants in water, such as e.g., lead.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Water is an essential element for life and has many uses. Generally, it is desirable to remove contaminants from water designated for safe drinking and use. This may be done via known treatment and filtration processes. In some instances, however, water designated for use may not be properly treated or may contain certain contaminants, such as e.g., lead, cadmium, chromium, and other toxic heavy metals, etc. Such contaminants may be harmful to human health and thus it is desirable to detect such contaminated water and ensure that it is not used. Conventional systems and processes for detecting and measuring concentration levels of contaminants in water have been unsatisfactory. For instance, conventional systems for measuring concentration levels of contaminants in water are relatively expensive and the process for detecting and measuring concentration levels typically has a long turnaround time and must be conducted at an offsite laboratory.

Accordingly, a water contaminant measurement system and methods for detecting and measuring concentration levels of preselected contaminants in water that address one or more of the challenges noted above would be useful.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be apparent from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention.

In one exemplary aspect, a contaminant measurement system for measuring a concentration level of a preselected contaminant in a volume of water is provided. The contaminant measurement system includes a housing defining a chamber configured for receipt of the volume of water. Further, the contaminant measurement system includes a detection agent disposed in the volume of water in the chamber, the detection agent configured to selectively interact with the preselected contaminant in the volume of water in the chamber. Further, the contaminant measurement system includes a sensing circuit having a first electrode and a second electrode both disposed at least partially in the volume of water in the chamber, the first electrode spaced at a distance from the second electrode. Moreover, the contaminant measurement system includes a controller in electrical communication with the sensing circuit. The controller is configured to: receive one or more electric signals from the sensing circuit; determine a parameter value indicative of the concentration level of the preselected contaminant in the volume of water based at least in part on the one or more electric signals; determine the concentration level of the preselected contaminant in the volume of water in the chamber based at least in part on the parameter value; and output the concentration level of the preselected contaminant in the volume of water in the chamber.

In another exemplary aspect, a method for measuring a concentration level of a preselected contaminant in a volume of water disposed within a chamber of a contaminant measurement system is provided. The method includes selectively interacting a detecting agent immersed in the volume of water with the preselected contaminant in the volume of water for a first time period. Further, the method includes receiving, from a sensing circuit comprised of a first electrode and a second electrode both at least partially disposed in the volume of water, one or more electric signals. In addition, the method includes determining a parameter value indicative of the concentration level of the preselected contaminant in the volume of water based at least in part on the one or more signals. In addition, the method includes determining the concentration level of the preselected contaminant in the volume of water within the chamber based at least in part on the determined parameter value. Furthermore, the method includes outputting the determined concentration level of the preselected contaminant in the volume of water within the chamber.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

