Amirreza Sohrabi and Parmiss Mojir Shaibani are developing a hand-held sensor capable of detecting contaminants in water in minutes, instead of hours or days. The device could save lives in rural and remote communities where water sources are not always safe. Their startup company, Roshan Water Solutions, is currently testing the device with water treatment plant operators.
(Edmonton) Access to safe, clean water supplies is a global challenge. The World Health Organization estimates that more than 3.5 million people die every year due to water-related illnesses. Even in developed countries like Canada, people in rural and remote communities live without secure sources of safe drinking water.
But two Engineering at Alberta researchers have developed new technology that is helping protect people from unsafe water. Parmiss Mojir Shaibani and Amirreza Sohrabi have designed and built a sensor capable of detecting contaminants in water within an hour, as opposed to days.
The ability to get reliable results quickly eliminates the need for water samples to be shipped from a water source to a lab and tested there.
"There are standard techniques that are currently used in standard central labs, and those usually need a sample sent and it takes a few days to get the result," said Sobrabi.
Their hand-held device offers onsite water analysis that delivers fast faster test results, while reducing costs.
The two have formed a startup company, Roshan Water Solutions, and are busy testing the device with waste water treatment plant operators.
"It's really hard for them right now because they have to go drive hundreds of kilometres to take samples to a lab," said Sobrabi.
"But they are comfortable with our products," added Shaibani.
Sobrabi and Shaibani began developing the concept and earned their engineering PhDs while working on the IC-IMPACTS project, an international research project between India and Canada to address issues of water quality in remote communities. Today, they're working as researchers in Engineering at Alberta's Advanced Water Research Lab.
Once Roshan's prototype is complete, their initial target market is water-testing agencies and rural communities. The company is hoping to work in future projects with UNICEF and the World Health Organization.
The two engineering researchers are participating in the Falling Walls Venture pitch competition at the University of Alberta Aug. 29. The winner of the UAlberta competition qualifies for the Falling Walls Venture competition in Berlin, where startups will pitch to international investment managers, venture capitalists, industry leaders and business experts.