The Environment Agency has awarded a contract for the supply of multi-parameter water quality instruments worth an estimated £4.5 million.

One of the Agency’s key requirements was that future equipment must require substantially less maintenance than previously required, have a longer working life and help create cost savings in future years.

Scope of the contract was for the supply of both handheld meters and units capable of being telemetry compatible.

The instruments will be used for statutory monitoring, (including spot sampling), European Union Directive and Environment Management investigations. Equipment will normally be transported by vehicle then carried to a sampling /deployment location by a member of staff.

Xylem Analytics has been awarded the contract, one of three companies in the bidding for the work.

Initial contract term, which was tendered in two separate Lots, is two years, with two further annual extension options.