Palintest Launches Simplified Monochloramine and Ammonia Testing for Water Systems
Global water testing and analysis specialist Palintest has announced the launch of new monochloramine and ammonia sensors for its Kemio platform, designed to simplify testing across drinking water, wastewater, and large building water systems.
The new sensors address long-standing operational challenges associated with monitoring monochloramine and ammonia—two parameters that play a critical role in secondary disinfection, environmental protection, and regulatory compliance, but which have traditionally been complex and time-consuming to measure in the field.
“Monochloramine control only works when you understand what ammonia is doing at the same time,” said Samantha Lunn, Research Manager at Palintest. “Current test methods are time consuming with several critical care points to ensure accurate readings. What we’ve done here is bring the test method to a platform which compensates for temperature in a simpler to use workflow.”
Monochloramine is widely used as a secondary disinfectant to maintain residual protection throughout distribution systems, while ammonia is both a key component of monochloramine formation and a regulated pollutant in wastewater discharges. Managing these parameters effectively requires accurate, repeatable testing that reflects real-world system conditions.
In drinking water systems, monochloramine and low-range ammonia testing enables operators to maintain correct chlorine-to-ammonia ratios, helping preserve disinfectant residuals while reducing taste, odour, and nitrification risks.
In wastewater treatment, high-range ammonia testing supports final effluent verification, ensuring biological treatment processes have effectively reduced ammonia levels before discharge to the environment. Accurate field testing plays a key role in demonstrating compliance and protecting receiving waters.
The launch also extends to large building water systems, such as hospitals, universities, and commercial estates. These systems often behave like small distribution networks, with multiple sampling points and variable conditions. Simple, repeatable testing allows facilities teams to verify disinfectant performance throughout the system, not just at the point of entry.
The new sensors are designed to work with Kemio, Palintest’s electrochemical field testing platform, built for operators who need reliable results quickly, not just at the lab. Shorter test times support faster decision-making, while non-hazardous test materials improve operator safety and simplify disposal. The platform is designed to perform reliably in challenging conditions, including turbid samples, and supports digital data capture for traceability and audit purposes.
Jesse Carr, Product Manager at Palintest added: “Rather than replacing laboratory analysis, this approach is designed to complement existing compliance frameworks by making routine operational checks faster and more practical. As regulatory expectations increase and water systems become more complex, bringing monochloramine and ammonia testing together on a single platform helps reduce barriers to monitoring and supports more informed operational control across the water cycle.”
Further application-specific guidance covering wastewater final effluent testing, secondary disinfection control, and large building water systems will follow as part of the launch programme.
To find out more visit paltest.org.
