Early warning system for detection of protozoal contamination of source waters

Ensuring water quality is an ever increasing important issue world-wide. Currently, detection of protozoa in drinking water is a costly and time consuming process. We have developed an online, real-time sensor for detection of Cryptosporidium and Giardia spp. in a range of source waters. The novel optical technique, in combination with advanced data analysis, yields a measure for the protozoal content present in the sample. High sensitivity of the system is obtained through a combination of filtration and the use of ultrasound. This gives a fast and reliable detection capability of protozoal contamination of the source. Sample acquisition and analysis is performed real-time where objects in suspension are differentiated into e.g. Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia spp., organic and inorganic subgroups. An alarm system is activated by positive finds, and subsequently (oo-)cysts passing through the system are collected on a filter for further molecular verification. The detection system is a compact, low power, reagentless device and thus ideal for applications where relatively long service intervals and remote operations are desired. The applications envisioned for this system includes early warning of source water contamination e.g. water plants/water distribution networks, filtration systems (water purification), commercial buildings, swimming pools, and industry in general. Data from on-going field tests as well as sensitivity and specificity testing of the system will be presented at the conference.