The release, designed for use in harsh environments, is waterproof, dustproof, drop tested and shock resistant to ensure reliability.

The DR 900 has a backlit display option, allowing use in low light areas, and the unit can store data from up to 500 tests.

An included USB port permits easy transfer of the data collected to any PC or laptop.

Hach said time savings were the main driver behind its launch.

The DR 900 colorimeter has the ability to undertake 90 of the most commonly used water tests while keeping favorite methods at a user’s finger tips.

“The DR 900 is a great improvement on our very successful DR/800 series of handheld colorimeters,” global product manager for handheld instruments Tom Siller said.

“By improving the user interface and menu selections, we have made it very easy for operators to access the most standard water testing methods in fewer than four clicks, which is a huge time saver when testing in the field.”

The 1.32-pound (0.6 kilogram) device uses four AA-size alkali cell batteries and has a typical battery life of six months assuming five readings daily.