Fecal contamination can reach swimmers and drinking water supplies before laboratory results reveal the problem. Virridy is using optical sensors to help close that reporting gap.
Evan Thomas, CEO of Virridy, explains how its Lume sensor uses tryptophan-like fluorescence—a light signal associated with organic material—and machine learning to estimate E. coli levels. The bacteria are an indicator of fecal contamination.
The unit combines a sensor, battery, and cellular radio, transmitting hourly updates to an online dashboard in the configuration Thomas describes. Conventional culture-based testing typically takes 24–48 hours.
Projects include monitoring in Chicago’s Calumet River and Boston’s Charles River. Thomas also describes deployments at swimming beaches on the Seine in Paris and in drinking water programs in Rwanda and Kenya.
Continuous screening can flag contamination changes between laboratory samples, helping water managers target follow-up testing and respond sooner.
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