CheckLight Introduces Automatic Monitoring System For Early Detection Of Water Contamination
A real-time, online solution based on luminescent bacteria sensors for municipalities and water utilities
Tel Aviv, Israel — Checklight, part of the Whitewater Technology Group, introduces a revolutionary monitoring system for municipalities and water utilities that, for the first time, automatically detects water contamination — alerting the SCADA system within minutes. CheckLight's state-of- the-art technology, which has been verified by the EPA's ETV program, utilizes non-pathogenic luminous marine bacteria as early-detection sensors. Operating automatically, CheckLight's exceptionally fast, reliable, and cost-effective solution provides real-time, online monitoring, and enables flexible, unlimited expansion through the simple addition of monitoring units.
Composed of numerous monitoring units — located at monitoring stations throughout the water system, and seamlessly integrated with the SCADA system — CheckLight's solution performs continuous automatic monitoring of water quality at various points in the system, sending immediate alerts regarding problematic areas. Enabling comprehensive coverage of large areas, the system is exceptionally sensitive to very low concentrations of a wide range of toxic chemical agents, provides reliable and consistent results, and requires minimum maintenance and on-site visits.
In line with the Whitewater Technology Group's focus, CheckLight targets water utilities and municipalities in the US, Europe, and Asia. The company's products are of particular interest to early adopters for whom water management and rapid detection of water contaminants are high priorities. For densely populated, potentially high-risk cities — such as New York, San Francisco, and Chicago — this technology can significantly reduce the threats associated with terror attacks, as well as those posed by equipment malfunctions and natural disasters.
The Technology
CheckLight's technology utilizes natural luminescent bacteria as early-warning biosensors, positioned inside the monitoring stations. If water is contaminated, the bacteria react by reducing emitted light, which immediately generates an automatic contamination alert. The benefit of this technology is that, rather than monitoring and analyzing the changing values of various parameters, bacteria respond directly in real time to a wide range of dangerous contaminants by simply dimming or turning off the light.
CheckLight offers broad-spectrum bio-monitoring solutions for drinking water. The company currently sells a manual kit providing early warning of water contamination. One of the largest customers is the Environmental Protection Ministry of China. In the US, where awareness of CheckLight's products is widespread, the company is recognized by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency); in 2003 and 2006, CheckLight was selected as one of the 8 companies whose technologies were verified for use by the EPA's ETV (Environmental Technology Verification) program.
Competitive Advantages
As with the solutions provided by other members of the Whitewater Technology Group, CheckLight's technology is unrivaled in today's market — both in its superior detection capabilities and its cost-effectiveness. Clearly surpassing currently available chemical monitors, it will likely become a global industry standard.
The major disadvantage of chemical monitoring devices — even those that test multiple parameters — is their inability to detect and analyze the combined effects of subtle changes in multiple contaminants, each of which may be within its own acceptable limits. For example, if two values change, but neither of them is, by itself, sufficient to set off an alert, then, even if the combination of the two will cause contamination of the water, a chemically-based solution will not detect the hazard. On the other hand, CheckLight's system will automatically respond to the threat in real time, setting off an alert triggered by reduced light emission.
The biological monitors currently on the market are based on living entities such as algae, clams, or fish, thereby overcoming some of the difficulties inherent in the chemical monitoring devices. However, these solutions require considerably more maintenance than bacteria, and are therefore, more expensive than CheckLight's solutions, which are the most cost-effective on the market today.
Protecting Chinese Population Following Recent Earthquake
CheckLight's bio-assays were used in the immediate aftermath of the recent earthquake in China. Chinese officials selected CheckLight as the best option for the rapid and reliable detection of water contamination. The company's state-of-the-art, portable kits enabled Chinese authorities on the spot to instantly detect potential contamination, following the infiltration of chemicals into the water supply, thus reducing the risk of a humanitarian disaster in the affected areas.
About the Whitewater Technology Group
The Whitewater Technology Group, founded in 2006, is focused on the achievement of a comprehensive global solution for the uninterrupted supply of sufficient amounts of clean, safe water. Based in Israel — a country long recognized as a leader in the field of water management — Whitewater is leveraging Israel's immense capabilities — creating a technological powerhouse through the ongoing identification of, investment in, and acquisition of selected, cutting-edge Israeli companies. Targeting the water utility industry, these companies — in the areas of monitoring and early warning, water security, drilling efficiency, and water controllers — enable the delivery of advanced solutions to municipalities and water authorities in the US, as well as in Europe and other developed areas. CheckLight - founded in 2001 and part of the Whitewater Technology Group - enables global water utilities to supply clean and safe drinking water through the development of automatic, wide spectrum, cost-effective, bioluminescence-based water quality tests and monitors. Additional members of the Whitewater Technology Group are: Whitewater Security (water security), Galcon Computerized Control Systems (water controllers), and Whitewater Well (water drilling). Whitewater will exhibit its innovative solutions at the Weftec exhibition in October.
SOURCE: Whitewater Technology Group