CTG's field-based tryptophan sensor maps drinking water quality in Africa

CTG's field-based tryptophan sensor maps drinking water quality in Africa, article by Dan Lapworth, British Geological Survey for World Water.

An article written for World Water magazine by Dan Lapworth of the British Geological Survey. Dan outlines the ground breaking use of CTG's UviLux sensor to help prevent poor communities in Africa drinking contaminated water.

 Measuring faecal pollution in groundwater

A research team developed a new way to measure faecal pollution in groundwater by using Chelsea Technologies’ UviLux field sensor  that measures the protein tryptophan. Dan Lapworth of the British Geographic Survey reports on recent research in Zambia that shows for the first time the sensor can be used in the field to rapidly assess the biological quality of drinking water.

Many types of bacteria found in wastewater and sewage cause diarrhoeal diseases and cholera, which kill 1.8 million people every year, 90% of whom are children under 5 according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). Waterborne pathogens are typically inferred from the presence of surrogate indicator organisms such as thermo-tolerant coliforms. Their time-consuming analysis requires suitable laboratories, specialist trained personnel, which can limit sampling resolution, particularly during critical pollution events. However, a quick, cheap, accurate method of measuring this type of pollution is urgently need in order to help efforts to provide safe drinking water.

A new solution

A solution may now be available for Kabwe, Zambia and for water supplies throughout the world. A British Geological Survey team led by Dan Lapworth along with colleagues Daniel Nkhuwa from the University of Zambia, Steve Pedley of the University of Surrey, and the Lukanga Water & Sewerage Company Ltd in Zambia have collaborated to develop a new way to measure groundwater pollution by using  a CTG UviLux  field sensor that measures a protein called tryptophan an indicator of wastewater sources. Recently, research published by this team has shown for the first time that this sensor can be used in the field to rapidly assess the biological quality in drinking water sources......

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