A UK university spinout, Molendotech, is developing live water quality maps for launch in the UK and US in October. The app will collate data from daily water tests, rain flow, and tidal flows, using artificial intelligence to create predictive models.
Molendotech, a spinout from the University of Plymouth, sells a portable test called Bactiquick. This device detects E coli and other bacteria in water, delivering results on the spot, typically in less than 15 minutes, compared to the 24-48 hours often required for standard lab tests.
The company's chief scientific officer, Simon Jackson, a professor of environment and human health at Plymouth University, founded Molendotech in 2018. He stated that the test provides a tool for companies, individuals, or groups to repeatedly test water and get real-time results.
Bactiquick detects harmful gram-negative bacteria such as E coli, Pseudomonas, Legionella, and salmonella, using a colour-change reaction that converts into electrical signals and a numerical readout. A smartphone app uses a traffic light system to indicate bacteria levels relative to UK and EU water quality thresholds.
Molendotech has received £1.4m in grant funding and recently raised £860,000 from investors, including the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Investment Fund, QantX, and private investors. This brings their total investment to £2.4m, intended for expansion in North America, New Zealand, and Australia.