What does a particle counter measure?

A particle counter is a specialized instrument designed to measure the size and number of particles present in a liquid, such as water. It operates by drawing a sample of water through a detection chamber, where particles are illuminated (often using lasers) and counted based on their size and number. This information is crucial in water treatment and quality monitoring because the presence of particles can indicate contamination, effectiveness of filtration processes, and overall water clarity. Understanding the particle concentration and size distribution allows water operators to assess the purity of the water and the performance of treatment systems.

The other options relate to different aspects of water quality or characteristics. For instance, measuring temperature pertains to the thermal properties of water, while flow rate addresses the movement of water rather than its particulate content. Additionally, the chemical composition of water involves analyzing various dissolved substances and contaminants instead of the physical presence and quantitative aspects of suspended particles.