Abstract: A method for detecting and identifying a particle in a liquid, the system comprises controlling the provisioning of a water sample using a computer controlled metering pump; mixing the water sample with particle free filtered water to provide a diluted water sample when required; at the end of a measurement interval, determining a Total Counts Per Minute (TCPM) for the diluted water sample; determining an additional counts per minute from the sample (SCPM) for the diluted water sample; if the SCPM is greater then a Lower Optimum count Rate (LOCR) and less than a Upper Optimum Count Rate (UOCR), then setting a dilution ratio (DR); and correcting an events classification based on the DR.