Measuring water flow using Maxwell's equations

Despite millennia of measuring water flow, this continues to be a difficult challenge, but one which is always important.

The idea is based upon some fundamental principles from electromagnetic.
Recall that a flow of electrical current through a coil of wire induces a current in the wire. Thus, a fluid carrying charged particles passing through a coil of wire would induce a current in the wire, and the faster the fluid flows, the more current is induced.

Water is generically neutral, so that water flowing through a coil would not generate a current. But the water _is_ disassociated to some extent into its H^+ and O^2- constitutents. (This is why the pH of water is 7 - a part in 10^7 is disassociated. ) But since the positive and negative charges are intermingled, there is no net charge.

Recall also that a charged particle moving through a magnetic field is bent by the magnetic field as qv x B. So, water flowing through a magnetic field should have its positive and negative charges separated.

So, the idea is to build a fixture equipped with magnets to pull the charged particles apart, with a downstream arrangement of coils of water for the charged streams to flow through.

Now take this to the next level. If the water contains ions from dissolved materials (such as salts), these ions will also be separated, but possible differentially, due to the difference in mass. So, is it possible to built a sort of water mass spectrometer by careful construction and calibration?

Materials: A pipe to hold the magnets has already been prepared. A set of nice strong magnets has already been purchased. A couple of wire loops are on hand, and it is easy to get more.
Equpment: We have permission from the Civil Engineering dept. to use their flume (water trough) for experimental purposes.
Expenses: Negligible.
Risk: Moderate/high. It may not be possible to get sufficient separation of the particles to measure.

Faculty champion: Dr. Todd Moon