Innovations in Microbiology Generating Opportunities in Water
Mar 30, 2021
Real-time online sensors that can detect microbiological contamination in water and wastewater are “closer than people think”, according an expert speaker invited to address the latest Water Action Platform webinar.
Professor Tobias Barnard, a biochemist from the University of Johannesburg in South Africa, gave a rapid overview of innovations that could enhance water treatment.
Barnard said that microbiology “needs to be investigated more” for deployment in a wider range of water and wastewater applications. He shared techniques and approaches that could be deployed, including the use of predatory bacteria in combination solar disinfection to eliminate harmful microbes; and hunting for ‘extremophiles’, bacteria adapted to environments with extreme conditions that may have the characteristics required for specific applications.
The online event took place on 11 March 2021 and was themed Innovation in Microbiology. It is available on the Water Action Platform and is the 25th webinar since the network’s launch to support water utilities grappling with the emerging pandemic a year ago. Today there are some 1,300 members across 92 countries and content is free at point of use.
Breakthrough technologies
Two further microbiology related technologies were presented during the webinar, both of them suitable for onsite analysis. Canadian technology company Tecta-PDS has developed the world’s first rapid microbial test for E coli, coliforms and enterococcal bacteria and is already supplying hundreds of water utilities and municipal labs globally.
Chief executive Doug Wilton explained, “It has incredible ease-of-use and can test the entire water system including drinking water, wastewater, raw water and even sludge.” The system is already in use in Singapore, Kuwait, North America and Australia, where Sydney Water has fitted out an entire fleet of mobile labs to improve their testing turnaround times.
QBiowater, a proprietary technology from the UK, uses autonomous wastewater monitoring to gain insights that reduce the spread of disease during pandemics. Chairman and co-founder Vito D’Ancona said that the enzymatic molecular assay has been developed to passively gather information on a targeted population to monitor and prevent the spread of future pandemics.
“It can be delivered fully configured for easy installation and is telemetry controlled,” he said.
More News and Articles
Apr 13, 2021
News
DuPont Provides Sustained Healthy Water Solutions for South African School
Community-based purification project at Reneilwe Primary School inaugurated on World Water Day
Apr 12, 2021
News
MC-Bauchemie Once Again Awarded the Top Job Employer Seal of Approval
Following recognition in 2018, MC-Bauchemie has again been awarded the Top Job seal of approval this year, identifying it as one of Germany’s best employers. The award presented by Zentrum für Arbeitgeberattraktivität (Centre for Employer Attractiveness – zeag GmbH) goes …
Apr 09, 2021
News
Xylem Smart Technology Supports Water Conservation and Delivers Value for Utilities
This years World Water Day, Sensus, a Xylem brand, celebrated the work of our customers globally to drive more value from their water systems using smart utility network technology.
Apr 08, 2021
News
Watts and Planet Water Bring Clean Water to Vietnam
Watts Water Technologies, Inc. – a leading global manufacturer of plumbing, heating, and water quality products and solutions – recently sponsored the installation of an integrated water system that will provide clean water to residents of Da Nhim Commune in …
Apr 07, 2021
News
New American Society of Civil Engineers National Infrastructure Report Reinforces Need to Act on Updating and Maintaining U.S. Water Systems
The American Society of Civil Engineers’ latest Report Card for America’s Infrastructure, issued every four years since 2001, recently gave the nation’s drinking water systems a C- grade and its wastewater systems a D+ grade.
Apr 06, 2021
News
Chicagoland Research Institutions Look to Transform the Water Industry
The Midwest is leading the nation as a hub for water innovation with state-of-the-art research facilities and world-renowned researchers at the University of Chicago, Argonne National Laboratory, and Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab).
Apr 01, 2021
News
“Not-a-Boring Competition”: TUM Student Group Reaches the Final
At stake: a science-focused high-tech race that happens underground. TUM Boring – a student group at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) – is taking part in the contest, launched by US billionaire Elon Musk, to develop the world’s fastest …
Mar 31, 2021
News
European Utilities Successfully Trial Multi-Parameter Sensors
Water network monitoring trials carried out with utilities in France, Switzerland, Germany and the UK are demonstrating the potential of machine learning and artificial intelligence in achieving resilience, explains Steve Willis, chief executive of UK technology company Intellitect.
Mar 29, 2021
News
Sedaru Joins Aquatic Informatics & Danaher Water Platform
Sedaru Inc., a leading provider of water utility management software, has been acquired by Aquatic Informatics, and will join Danaher’s Water Quality platform.
Mar 26, 2021
News
The Water Circle
Polymer pipe systems: high performance in every part of the water cycle!
Mar 25, 2021
News
Valuing Water: Bonn Water Network Celebrates World Water Day 2021
In order to raise awareness about and foster action to address the global water crisis, World Water Day on March 22 every year became a UN observance day in 1993.World Water Day 2021 focuses on the theme 'Valuing Water'. This …
Mar 24, 2021
News
World Water Day 2021 “Valuing Water” - The Value of Groundwater
The United Nations has declared “Valuing Water” to be the motto for World Water Day on March 22. But in order to appreciate water, it is necessary to understand that drinking water is a precious resource.
Contact
Isle Utilities
Louise Elliott
2nd Floor, 89 Albert Embankment
SE1 7TP London
United Kingdom
Phone:
+44 7714 489232