Real-time detection of contaminants in drinking water using scintillating fibers

The security of drinking water is increasingly recognized as a major challenge for municipalities and water utilities. The safety and or security of drinking water can be threatened by natural disasters, accidents or malevolent attacks. Contaminated drinking water can induce major epidemics, disrupt economic life and create mass panic.

The European FP7 project SAFEWATER aims at developing online sensors to manage drinking water security and mitigate against major deliberate, accidental or natural CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear) related contaminations.

The radioactive threats are covered by partner CEA Saclay using a technology based on plastic scintillators. To manage the challenge of Beta radiation detection, and possibly also Alpha radiation, CEA has involved SEDI-ATI in the design and fabrication of a new plastic scintillator light collection system. CEA has also developed the associated high velocity electronics and data processing algorithms.

The first release of the system was built and is now under evaluation for detection of Beta radiation. A novel approach is used where the scintillator is implemented as scintillating optical fibers, to come close to the bulk of the water, in order to increase the area detection. The scintillating fiber will convert the radiation into light that will travel through each optical fiber to finally be detected by the PMT (Photon Multiplier Tube).

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Seventh Framework Program for research, technological development and demonstration under grant agreement no. 312764.