Fluid monitoring apparatus and method

1. A fluid monitoring apparatus for monitoring a fluid in a fluid mains supply, the apparatus comprising means for connecting the apparatus to the mains supply, a testing chamber, a fluid tester for testing a variable of a fluid in the testing chamber and a purger for purging a volume of fluid from the testing chamber which volume of fluid is substantially larger than the volume of the testing chamber, thereby replacing the fluid in the testing chamber with a new fluid volume, in which the apparatus comprises a pressure sensor for measuring the fluid pressure, the apparatus comprises a purge controller for controlling the purger to determine the volume to be purged and the purge controller uses the measured pressure to determine the period for which the purger should operate, wherein the period is determined by comparing the pressure in a look-up table for a suitable purge time.

2. A fluid monitoring apparatus according to claim 1 , in which the apparatus is adapted for coupling to a hydrant connected to the mains supply.

3. A fluid monitoring apparatus according to claim 1 , in which the purge controller comprises a microprocessor.

4. A fluid monitoring apparatus claim 1 , in which the purger is configured to act for a purge time such that the fluid from the mains supply enters the testing chamber.

5. A fluid monitoring apparatus according to claim 1 , in which the fluid tester comprises a turbidity tester.

6. A fluid monitoring apparatus according to claim 1 , in which the apparatus comprises an electrical conductivity tester.

7. A fluid monitoring apparatus according to claim 1 , in which the apparatus comprises a temperature tester.

8. A fluid monitoring apparatus according to claim 1 , in which the apparatus is configured whereby purged fluid is purged from the apparatus to atmosphere.

9. A fluid monitoring apparatus according to claim 1 , in which the apparatus comprises a memory for storing fluid test information.

10. A fluid monitoring apparatus according to claim 1 , in which the apparatus comprises data download means to enable data from the memory to be downloaded to an external device.

11. A fluid monitoring apparatus according to claim 1 , in which the apparatus comprises a power cell.

12. A fluid monitoring apparatus according to claim 1 , in which the fluid comprises a liquid.

13. A fluid monitoring apparatus according to claim 1 , in which the liquid comprises water.

14. A fluid monitoring apparatus according to claim 1 , in which the mains supply is a mains water supply.

15. A fluid monitoring apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the fluid monitoring apparatus is coupled to a fluid mains containing a fluid mains supply by the means for connecting the apparatus to the fluid mains supply.

16. A fluid mains according to claim 15 , in which the fluid mains is a liquid mains.

17. A fluid mains according to claim 16 , in which the liquid mains is a water mains.

18. A method of operating a fluid monitoring apparatus for monitoring a fluid in a fluid mains supply, which method comprises the steps of connecting the apparatus to a mains supply, testing a variable of a fluid in a testing chamber and purging a volume of fluid from the testing chamber which volume of fluid is substantially larger than the volume of the testing chamber, thereby replacing the fluid in the testing chamber with a new fluid volume, in which the fluid pressure is measured by a pressure sensor, a purge controller controls the purger to determine the volume to be purged and the purge controller uses the measured pressure to determine the period for which the purger should operate, wherein the period is determined by comparing the pressure in a look-up table for a suitable purge time.

19. A fluid monitoring apparatus for monitoring a fluid in a fluid mains supply, the apparatus comprising means for connecting the apparatus to the mains supply, a testing chamber, a fluid tester for testing a variable of a fluid in the testing chamber and a purger for purging a volume of fluid from the testing chamber which volume of fluid is substantially larger than the volume of the testing chamber, thereby replacing the fluid in the testing chamber with a new fluid volume, and in which the fluid tester comprises a turbidity tester.