A fully automated, real-time water quality monitoring system is helping Swiss utility WWZ respond more rapidly to changes in spring water quality, reducing uncertainty and strengthening protection for drinking water supplies.
The system, supplied by water monitoring specialist bNovate, provides continuous monitoring across multiple spring sources feeding the town of Zug in Switzerland. WWZ supplies drinking water to around 66,000 people, drawing from more than 80 springs that feed into four main pipelines prior to treatment and storage.
Located in the Canton of Zug, the utility faces a range of challenges that can affect water quality, including heavy rainfall, nearby construction activity and ageing infrastructure. While protected catchments and treatment processes are in place, conventional monitoring based on periodic sampling limited how quickly potential issues could be identified and addressed.
Continuous monitoring across multiple sources
To improve visibility, WWZ implemented bNovate’s BactoSense analyser in combination with BactoSwitch and the BactoCloud platform. Together, the system enables simultaneous monitoring of four spring sources from a single hub, providing continuous oversight of microbiological water quality.
The BactoSense analyser delivers real-time bacterial measurements within approximately 20 minutes, while BactoSwitch allows multiple water lines to be monitored in parallel. Data is accessed securely via BactoCloud, enabling remote monitoring and rapid interpretation of results.
Karl Zimmermann, Fountaineer at WWZ, said the system has transformed how the utility manages microbial risk.
“Thanks to BactoSwitch and BactoCloud, we gained full visibility of the microbiological quality of all our spring waters,” he said. “The monitoring solution not only highlights differences among springs, but also immediately alerts us in case of abnormal changes. This is crucial to quickly define the right measures and understand how our springs react to influencing factors.”
Early detection of contamination
Shortly after the system was commissioned, an abnormal increase in cell count was detected at the plant inlet from one of the four monitored spring sources. Turbidity levels remained low and below discharge thresholds, meaning the issue may not have been identified through conventional monitoring alone.
Subsequent laboratory analysis confirmed contamination in the incoming spring water, including the presence of E. coli, enterococci and elevated heterotrophic plate counts. Laboratory results also confirmed that UV treatment remained effective and that treated water continued to meet regulatory guidelines.
“Thanks to BactoSense, we can detect contaminations that turbidity would have missed,” Zimmermann added. “The online cell counts guide our actions, and the microbial fingerprint refines our assessment of microbial risk.”
Data-driven water safety
Luigino Grasso, Chief Technology Officer at bNovate, said the integrated monitoring approach provides utilities with a clearer operational picture.
“Our single monitoring hub replaces multiple instruments, streamlining operations and giving WWZ a coherent overview of all sources in parallel for the first time,” he said. “Continuous, multi-source monitoring enables rapid interpretation of events and a clear distinction between routine variability and conditions that require intervention.”
He added that flow-cytometric data helps utilities identify which sources are most sensitive to rainfall and other external influences, allowing resources to be prioritised where operational risk is highest.
The monitoring system has now become a core element of WWZ’s water quality assurance strategy, supporting a more resilient and predictable drinking water supply through continuous, data-driven decision-making.
