University spinout to launch water quality app for UK and US waters
Molendotech will collate data from daily tests that detect E coli and other bacteria amid reports of swimmers falling ill A UK university spinout behind a rapid bacterial water testing kit is planning to launch live water quality maps, as scores of beachgoers report falling ill after swimming. Molendotech, a spinout from the University of Plymouth, sells a portable test that detects E coli and…
A UK university spinout named Molendotech is set to launch water quality mapping technology for both the UK and US markets, addressing growing concerns over water pollution and health incidents related to swimming. Molendotech, founded by Simon Jackson, a professor at the University of Plymouth, offers a portable kit called Bactiquick that detects harmful bacteria like E. coli in water within 15 minutes, a significant improvement over traditional lab-based methods that can take 24-48 hours.
The company's goal is to provide real-time, portable water testing solutions to individuals, businesses, and local authorities. Molendotech's app will use AI to analyze daily testing data, including rainfall and tidal flows, to create predictive water quality models. The launch is scheduled for October, with increasing pressure from environmental groups like Surfers Against Sewage, which has recorded 164 cases of beachgoers falling ill this year.
Water quality testing is crucial, especially as climate change leads to warmer waters and the proliferation of vibrio bacteria, posing a risk to public health.
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