Researchers from the Universidad Politecnica de Madrid have developed a new portable water quality assessment system that will be effective for use in developing countries. The new technology is three to five times cheaper than current solutions.
The new system is also reportedly longer-lasting and far more sustainable than assessment systems currently in use. Such systems are vital in developing countries where access to water, and especially clean water, is scarce. Non-potable water and poor sanitation is currently the leading cause of child mortality throughout the world.
Technologically, the system combines an optical turbidimeter, a filtering device and a bacteriological incubator for bacteria detection. Beyond this, the system also involves a meter for dissolved salts, a pH meter and a chlorine meter for different testing. According to members of the research team, maintenance and cleaning of the system are simple, on top of the other benefits the package affords.
“Thanks to an easy-to-build design that allows the self-fabrication and the use of local pieces and recycled materials, we reduced the cost of the existing commercial kits between three and five times,” said Daniel Squittiere and Diego Pelayo of the research team.
