USALCO has acquired SENTRY Water Monitoring, adding continuous bio-electrode sensing technology to its Decision Blue treatment intelligence platform.
SENTRY’s technology, customers and employees will join USALCO’s Digital Solutions Division. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
The acquisition expands Decision Blue’s wastewater monitoring capabilities by adding a continuous signal related to biological activity. USALCO plans to combine that information with operational data, treatment chemistry, process modelling and artificial intelligence tools.
SENTRY monitors biological activity in wastewater
SENTRY Water Monitoring develops bio-electrode sensors for municipal and industrial wastewater processes. The sensors use a microbial biofilm to monitor how microorganisms respond to the organic material present in wastewater.
The resulting electrical signal can be correlated with parameters including biochemical oxygen demand, biodegradable chemical oxygen demand and volatile fatty acids. Data is updated frequently, giving operators an indication of biological changes between conventional sampling and laboratory tests.
SENTRY’s documentation describes the system as providing minute-by-minute information about microbial metabolism and the treatability of wastewater. Applications include influent monitoring, biological nutrient removal, industrial discharge detection and anaerobic digestion.
The continuous signal may help operators identify unusual organic loads, toxicity events or changes in microbial activity earlier. Site-specific calibration and laboratory analysis may still be required, particularly where a regulated test method must be used for compliance reporting.
Technology will join Decision Blue platform
USALCO will integrate the sensing technology into its Decision Blue platform. The company says the platform combines treatment data, operating conditions, predictive analysis and water-treatment expertise to support decisions at municipal and industrial facilities.
SENTRY sensors can connect with supervisory control and data acquisition systems and other plant platforms. This should allow their biological signal to be viewed alongside existing flow, chemistry, equipment and water-quality information.
USALCO said combining the sensor data with machine learning and process modelling could support earlier investigation of treatment changes. The intended applications include identifying unexpected loads, assessing biological imbalances and reviewing potential adjustments before a process upset develops.
Megan Glover, chief digital officer at USALCO, said bio-electrode monitoring could provide additional information within an operator’s existing workflow.
“When we combine that real-time biological signal with chemistry data, machine learning and AI, Decision Blue can help operators understand not only what is happening in their treatment process, but what to do about it,” Glover said.
SENTRY team joins USALCO
SENTRY founder Patrick Kiely and other members of the company’s team will transfer to USALCO as part of the acquisition. Kiely will become vice president of technology and strategic growth.
The integration will be overseen by Decision Blue’s product and engineering team under Chris Miller, vice president of digital innovation. Miller founded Fontus Blue, the business from which the Decision Blue platform developed.
Kiely said joining USALCO would allow SENTRY’s monitoring technology to be combined with a wider range of chemical, operational and digital capabilities.
“By combining our monitoring technology with USALCO’s operational and chemical expertise, we can turn real-time data into practical solutions that deliver value to operators quickly,” Kiely said.
SENTRY is based in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada. Its technology has been deployed in municipal and industrial applications including treatment plant influent, collection networks, biological nutrient removal systems and anaerobic digesters.
USALCO expands digital water business
USALCO established its Digital Solutions Division earlier in 2026 as part of an expansion of Decision Blue. The company said its aim was to connect treatment chemistry with sensing, software, operational knowledge and data analysis.
The SENTRY acquisition adds physical monitoring hardware and biological data to that strategy. USALCO said reliable, high-frequency data would be necessary as it develops AI-supported wastewater monitoring and operational recommendations.
Ken Gayer, chief executive of USALCO, said the transaction brings both sensing equipment and wastewater expertise into the platform.
“This acquisition brings critical hardware and biological data into our platform, and it brings talented people who share our commitment to helping operators do their jobs with more confidence,” Gayer said.
Digital monitoring is becoming more common across wastewater treatment and collection systems. H2O Global News recently covered rapid bacterial monitoring using BactoSense ID and the US launch of Grundfos Connect Sewer Insights.
The acquisition follows a broader trend in which water-treatment companies are combining sensors, telemetry and predictive analytics with established treatment products. These systems are intended to give operators earlier visibility of changing conditions, although their recommendations remain dependent on reliable data, suitable calibration and operational review.
Frequently asked questions
What company has USALCO acquired?
USALCO has acquired SENTRY Water Monitoring, a Canadian company that develops bio-electrode sensors for municipal and industrial wastewater treatment.
What does SENTRY’s technology measure?
The sensors monitor microbial activity and generate a continuous biological signal that can be correlated with parameters including biochemical oxygen demand, biodegradable chemical oxygen demand and volatile fatty acids.
What is Decision Blue?
Decision Blue is USALCO’s treatment intelligence platform. It combines water-treatment data, operating context, predictive analysis, process models and treatment expertise to support operational decisions.
Will the SENTRY team remain with the business?
SENTRY founder Patrick Kiely and other members of the team will join USALCO’s Digital Solutions Division. Kiely will become vice president of technology and strategic growth.
Were the financial terms disclosed?
No. USALCO did not disclose the purchase price or other financial terms of the SENTRY acquisition.
