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AQUATEST project

AQUATEST is a research project by the Water and Environmental Management Research Centre at the University of Bristol. It aims to provide a low-cost, easy-to-use water quality testing solution to monitor and ensure safe drinking water. The project involves developing a portable testing kit that can measure various water quality parameters. The goal is to support the achievement of the Millennium Development Goal of providing sustainable access to safe drinking water.

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AQUATEST project

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  1. AQUATEST project Stephen Gundry Water and Environmental Management Research Centre University of Bristol

  2. Community water supply…… IAS Water Workshop October 2006

  3. …looks murky…what about quality? IAS Water Workshop October 2006

  4. …but tastes good…… IAS Water Workshop October 2006

  5. Millennium Development Goals • Water Target: Reduce by half the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water by 2015 IAS Water Workshop October 2006

  6. MDG #7 – progress report IAS Water Workshop October 2006

  7. MDG #7 – progress report IAS Water Workshop October 2006

  8. MDG #7 - Definitions • Access to safe drinking water is estimated by the percentage of the population using improved drinking water sources: • Household connection • Public standpipe • Borehole • Protected dug well • Protected spring • Rainwater collection IAS Water Workshop October 2006

  9. AQUATEST • Preparatory study to establish: • needs • technological feasibility • funding requirements • 12 months analysis (18 month contract) • Mid-2007: full R&D proposal • Funding Euro 446,000 by European Union under FP6:Global change and Ecosystems • 13 participants (Europe 6; USA 3; Africa 3 and WHO) IAS Water Workshop October 2006

  10. Participants • Europe • UK: University of Bristol (Coordinator), University of Southampton and University of Surrey • Eire: Royal College of Surgeons Ireland • France: Chemunex SA • Developing countries • South Africa: University of Cape Town and CSIR Environmentek • Zimbabwe: Institute of Water & Sanitation Development • Third countries and international organisations • USA: University of North Carolina, AQUAYA Institute and MIT • World Health Organization • Oxfam IAS Water Workshop October 2006

  11. University of Bristol • WEMRC / Engineering Management • Stephen Gundry • Chemistry • Prof Tony Davis • FRPERC • Steve James • Policy Studies • Prof Dave Gordon • Computer Science • Walterio Mayol-Cuevas IAS Water Workshop October 2006

  12. What is it for? • Monitoring • Risk assessment and response • Measuring MDG progress • Ad-hoc surveys (inc disasters) • People power ! • Communities take responsibility • Households react: better HWTS • Hygiene educational benefit IAS Water Workshop October 2006

  13. What is currently available? • Static laboratories • Expensive equipment, consumables and high calibre staff • Long chain to get samples from field • Field labs / portable labs • Much cheaper, but also trained staff • Disposable tests • Presence/absence by H2S • Others – expensive IAS Water Workshop October 2006

  14. What do we want to provide? • Low cost • Target price: USD 0.10 per test • Low skill • Zero training e.g. home pregnancy test • Better than P/A • Not full enumeration of E. coli • Bands of water quality: ‘traffic light’ • Links • Water Safety Plans • Risk monitoring systems not compliance IAS Water Workshop October 2006

  15. Who will use it? • Professionals • Environmental health officers • W&S commissioning engineers • Survey technicians (disasters) • Water consumers • Non-specialist staff (e.g. clinic nurse) • Community leaders • Householders IAS Water Workshop October 2006

  16. When? • Mid-2007 Preparatory study complete • End-2007 Full R&D funding • End-2008 Complete prototype design and lab tests • 2009 Beta test in field • End 2009 Evaluation and design modifications • 2010 Limited product availability • 2011 Full product availability and local manufacturing support IAS Water Workshop October 2006

  17. www.aquatest-research.org • Website now online • Not-for-profit organisation, BUT • Follow on water diagnostic products, which may have commercial applications: • Advanced technology version • Other contaminant testing • Biodiversity index IAS Water Workshop October 2006

  18. The Lancet 2006; 368:1212 • Editorial: “It is dangerously short sighted to pour immense time and resources into vaccinating children only for them to die a few years later from diarrhoeal illnesses.” IAS Water Workshop October 2006

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