Monitoring system and method

An abatement apparatus monitoring system 2 comprises a processor 15 and a load cell 11-1, 11-2 suitable for outputting a load cell signal (SCL-1 to SCL-4, Fig. 3) to the processor. The load cell supports a waste tank 6 of an abatement apparatus (1, Fig. 1). The processor monitors a level of liquid in the tank depending on the load cell signal. The processor may have inputs for low liquid level and high liquid level sensors to calibrate low and high liquid levels respectively. The processor may output a fill control signal to initiate a fill cycle when the load cell signal indicates a level less than or equal to a lower threshold, or a drain control signal to initiate a drain cycle when the load cell signal indicates a level greater than or equal to a higher threshold. The tank may be supported by a load plate 10 mounted on guide members (21-1, Fig. 5). An abatement system (1, Fig. 1), a method of monitoring an abatement system where a load cell measures a weight of the waste tank, and a set of processor instructions are also claimed.