Detection system and method for determining contaminant concentration in feed water stream

A method for determining contaminant concentration in a feed water stream, the method comprising:

• receiving a wastewater stream from a waste outlet of a water treatment module, the water treatment module receiving the feed water stream;
• measuring a concentration of the contaminant in the wastewater stream;
• measuring a water quality parameter of the wastewater stream;
• obtaining a known efficiency value for the water treatment module;
• and
• using a processing unit, determining a concentration of the contaminant in the feed water stream using the water quality parameter, the concentration of the contaminant in the wastewater stream, and the known efficiency value.

A water contaminant detection system, comprising:

• a wastewater input in fluid communication with a waste outlet of a water treatment module, the water treatment module receiving a feed water stream;
• a pH reduction module for lowering the pH of a wastewater stream received from the waste outlet, the pH reduction module generating a reduced pH wastewater stream;
• a contaminant sensor configured to measure a concentration of a contaminant in the reduced pH wastewater stream;
• a water quality sensor module configured to measure a water quality parameter of the reduced pH wastewater stream;
• and
• a processor programmed to:
• receive a measured concentration of the contaminant in the reduced pH wastewater stream from the contaminant sensor;
• receive a water quality parameter from the water quality sensor module;
• obtain a predetermined efficiency value for the water treatment module;
• and
• determine a concentration of the contaminant in the feed water stream based on the measured concentration of the contaminant in the reduced pH wastewater stream, the water quality parameter, and the predetermined efficiency value.