Save money and up productivity with trade effluent COD testing

Chemical oxygen demand testing is an essential piece of the puzzle for effective trade effluent discharge. If you want to prevent a backlog of water or delays in processing, having the right meters and a streamlined process is vital for success. In this guide, we cover some of the basics to help improve your COD testing efficiency while saving a few pennies in your budget. Read on to learn all about it:

Why is COD testing so important for trade effluent?

Whatever your trade and wherever you happen to be based in the UK, you’ll need to comply with your local water authority to discharge trade effluent wastewater safely. As a by-product of many different manufacturing and processing workflows, you’re likely already well aware of the importance of complying with trade effluent consent.

COD testing is one of the steps in the process that can easily become costly on your time and your budget if it isn’t well-managed – and we’ve covered some pointers below to help you improve, upgrade and enhance your processes to save on stress.

How to save money on COD testing

How can you get accurate, consistent COD test results without blowing your budget? Here are a few tips to consider:

Stop sending samples to external labs

External labs are the option for choice for many businesses and industries. While laboratories might be suitable for COD testing now and then, as your volume of trade effluent increases, those lab testing fees will quickly add up. Instead, consider bringing COD testing in-house to get all the benefits of fast, reliable testing without the continual cost of sending your water samples elsewhere.

Choose the right meters for your specific requirements

If you're not using a COD meter that suits your needs, then you're not getting most out of your testing. Whether your current instrumentation is slow and outdated or your current kit just isn't user-friendly, investing in the cost of upgrading now will save you time, effort and replacement costs. Planning ahead makes everything easier.

Switch to save on reagents

Reagents are a significant cost in COD testing as a consumable resource, so it only makes sense that you want to get more for your money. Switching to a compatible brand is ideal if you already have a photometer. For example, Hanna Instruments' pre-dosed reagents fit many Hach, Lovibond and Palintest meters, allowing you to access accurate testing at a more affordable price.

Keep your existing COD testing kit in good condition

A well-maintained meter is an accurate meter. Ensuring you're storing your photometer safely and keeping your kit in a clean and dry environment is essential for keeping it in great condition for years after purchase. Regular maintenance can help to prevent inaccuracy, and consistent cleaning saves you plenty of money on replacement parts over time.

Tips to increase productivity when testing COD

Beyond your budget, productivity is essential to get the most out of COD testing as quickly as possible. Here are a few tips to try to boost your productivity when testing chemical oxygen demand:

Choose pre-dosed reagents

Why do the work yourself when it can be done for you? Choosing pre-dosed reagents can be a practical and easy way to improve productivity when testing COD. Without mixing reagents yourself, storing them or running the risk of spillages, COD testing is quicker, easier and far less stressful for everyone involved.

Assign COD testing to a specific staff member

Consistent COD testing can help to keep water flowing and ensure there's no backlog of effluent waiting around to be treated. Assigning regular COD tests to a specific person or team is one way to ensure you're never held up waiting for results. If you have consistent wastewater production throughout the year, you could create a schedule to make COD testing run like clockwork.

Upgrade your meter for faster results

Old or ineffective technology is a bottleneck for any business, leading to delays. In some cases, unsuitable meters require water to be retested repeatedly to ensure accuracy, which results in a lot of waiting to get the information you need. Upgrading to a new COD meter or multiparameter photometer can help you increase the testing speed immediately, with no waiting around required.

Hanna Instruments are the experts in COD testing for trade effluent

As specialists in COD meters and other specialist instrumentation, Hanna Instruments is your ideal choice to improve productivity and save money with COD testing.

To find out how we can help you, contact our experts directly, or browse our full COD testing product range online now.