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| Emily Bedell calibrates the fluorimeter before running a test |
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In low-income countries, unsafe drinking water is a leading cause of preventable disease and higher mortality, particularly through diarrheal infections, which overwhelmingly affect children in low and middle-income countries. Real-time assessment of water quality is needed to provide early warning alarms of contamination.
In response, Emily Bedell and her research team at the Mortenson Center are working on a new device that will detect bacterial contamination in a flowing pipe. The team will measure the amount of bacteria using fluorescence spectroscopy, a well-tested method. The device will then transmit data remotely, and alert regulators and water service providers when water supplies are unsafe to drink.
The project will focus on delivering a product that is affordable and can be deployed in remote areas of low-income countries. Additionally, the group hopes to cut down the time it takes to get results, from 24-48 hours to real-time. Once the new technology is implemented, it is expected to reduce the incidence of water-borne disease, and improve trust and reliability in water services.
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