At the end of August, the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) brought us all to Stockholm for the second week of their annual World Water Week conference. The Week attracts a diverse mix of participants from many professional backgrounds and every corner of the world. This year Microsaic and Modern Water had the privilege of presenting in one of the talk shows at the event in Stockholm. Victoria Ordsmith from Microsaic Systems and Jon Shepherd from Modern Water discussed the fight to see the unseen in our global water supply, overviewing the collaboration between the two companies and their approach to better detect and respond to threats in water and wastewater.

World Water Week 2022

Organised by the SIWI, world water week has been held every year since 1991 and is the leading conference tackling global water issues. The conference welcomes changemakers from all over the world who understand that overcoming some of the greatest challenges of our time starts with water. World water week offers a broad range of topics all water related and brings people and organisations together to develop solutions to the challenges we face.

This year’s theme for world water week was “Seeing the unseen: The values of water”, offering over 300 sessions over the 2-week conference. The conference took place both online and in Stockholm from 23rd August to 1st September. The session was broken down into 3 categories;

•       The value of water for people and development
•       The financial and economic value of water
•       The value for nature and climate

Microsaic and Modern Water’s fight to see the unseen

Microsaic has been pioneers in the development and commercialisation of point of need analytical solutions for over 20 years. Recently developing a real-time monitoring and screening platform allowing characterisation of key chemical contaminants that threaten whole ecosystems. Microsaic has recently partnered with Modern Water, a cutting-edge technology company, focused on monitoring contaminated water and decontamination of wastewater.

Modern Water has been making recycling of water more efficient for over thirty years. With instrumentation installed globally and six countries across the world authorising that Modern Water monitoring test systems are written into their environmental protection legislation.

‘We’re really working and listening to our customers to really put together bespoke solutions for them’ – Victoria Ordsmith

This strategic partnership between Microsaic and Modern Water offers a range of solutions for automated real-time detection of contaminants. This includes new innovative technology like the Microtox pathogen detector , for the identification of SARS-CoV-2 hotspots and other pathogens in wastewater.  As well as the Microsaic screening platform for a variety of applications and use cases, such as real time PFAS monitoring. Microsaic and Modern Water are now pioneering a mobile “lab in van” platform to deliver data for a variety of tests to customers on a “test as a service” basis.

The priority for this partnership is to integrate instrumentation and artificial intelligence (AI) based software to speed the process of smart detection of the unseen threats in our water. With the combined offerings and expertise from Modern Water and Microsaic we can help utility companies, environmental agencies and industry trying to do better when it comes to the environment. 

Challenges and solutions from world water week

With over 300 sessions spread across 2 weeks, there was a lot on offer at world water week 2022. With all presentations and discussions aimed to shine a light on seeing the unseen and understand the value of water. Here are a couple takeaways from the conference in relation to wastewater management and contamination detection;

•       Use of AI and Digital Twins–

There is a noticeable increase in the use of AI when it comes to routinely model systems, with the implementation of digital twins.  However, to validate and refine these models, real time data is required.  Currently technology providers are struggling to find available data or companies to work with and in many cases, tell us that the data for remote monitoring of contaminants in our water doesn’t currently exist. With the combination of the Microsaic and Modern Water lab in a van and EcowaterOS, real-time datasets can be provided to fill this gap. When this real-time data is implemented into the wider digital twin it becomes easier to predict and model critical parameters for detection, control, and treatment.

•       Global challenges in contamination–

There is an increased awareness and focus on the contamination of our global water supplies and in response governments are increasing legislation and fees for polluters. It was made evident at world water week that there is a real need for the detection of these contaminants and novel means of measuring them. With detection of pathogens, agrochemicals and PFAS all being high on the agenda. There were many solutions put forward to tackle this problem and it is apparent from this conference that there is a lot that can be learnt from the initiatives that have been implemented already in developing countries. At Microsaic and Modern Water our focus is on utilising our online and point of need technology to really be able to see the Unseen in real time and take action when we need to.

‘We mustn’t forget that out of sight does not equal out of mind’ – Jon Shepherd

Microsaic and Modern Water would like to thank the SIWI for allowing us to speak at World water week 2022. Thank you to Åsa Wallin our host for the talk show and all the organisers of the event. If you missed us at world water week, please make sure you watch the talk online. To learn more about our solutions-based platforms contact us directly or see us at an upcoming conference. Microsaic and Modern Water will be attending WEFTEC in New Orleans and WWEM in Telford, UK during the month of October.