Conventional water analysis techniques take several days to identify the bacteria responsible for drinking water pollution. With the solution developed by bNovate Technologies, the number of bacteria present in a water sample can be detected automatically in around 20 minutes. “We have digitalised the manual Petri dish method,” says Simon Künzi, bNovate’s CEO and co-founder. This technology is aimed at the water industry. Not only does it improve health security and help with decision making, it can also be used to optimise water treatment processes, helping to reduce CO2 emissions by the industry.
BactoSense can be installed directly on a water pipe, where it continuously monitors the bacteria concentration of the water passing through it. Another product from bNovate, BactoSense Multi, carries out routine measurements in samples taken from any point in the drinking water production chain. And its Aqu@Sense MB solution is used in the pharmaceutical sector, a major consumer of purified water. These robust, transportable devices are designed for industrial use by drinking water producers, the bottled water industry, in research, and by anyone who needs to measure water quality. “Monitoring water in situ reduces consumption of plastic disposable tests, eliminates the need to deliver samples, cuts electricity and chlorine consumption and results in less pipe rinsing,” adds Simon Künzi. Improving the health security of water should also increase consumer confidence in tap water quality.
Present in 18 countries, bNovate supplies products for the drinking water systems of several major Swiss cities, including Zurich, Basel and Lausanne. Its customers also include food industry giants. The biggest pharmaceutical companies in the world also use bNovate’s devices to analyse and monitor their processes, ensuring they remain safe. With a firm foothold in Europe, the company has plans to expand around the world. bNovate is growing fast – doubling its turnover every year – thanks to a high level of market acceptance and the company’s talent for innovation. “Bacteria and safety standards are always evolving, and we are too,” says Simon Künzi. “bNovate is a major Swiss player, and our aim is to set a new standard in water bacteria measurement all over the world,” he concludes.
bNovate Technologies SA
