Scientists Have Developed a Real-Time Water Testing Kit

Most traditional water testing methods need processing in a lab and take more than 24 hours for results, process, and by the time they are known, it’s already too late. By then, surfers have either been exposed to dangerous bacteria or opted not to go surfing at all. Most tests also only detect E. coli and Enterococci, and ignore other pathogens like Salmonella and Leptospira, which have been on the increase in recent years. 

“I wanted to make it possible for anyone – from local authorities to everyday water users – to run rapid, easy-to-use tests for bacterial contamination without needing a lab,” said Professor Simon Jackson, from the University of Plymouth, which developed the Bactiquick. 

The UK has some of the poorest water quality in Europe, and untreated sewage is still able to be discharged, legally, into rivers and oceans. According to The Times, the “legal” spills lasted a record-breaking 3.61 million hours in 2025. You might remember that a national club contest was cancelled last year at Porthtowan beach, due to high sewage. 

The beauty of Bactiquick is that it is a simple process. It uses a microbiological detection method, and instead of targeting just one species, it measures endotoxin, a molecule found across all Gram-negative bacteria. All testers need to do is collect a small water sample, dilute the sample in the pre-filled mixing tube and insert it into the device, which runs on a rechargeable battery. After 15 minutes, the easy-to-read results, with a traffic light system with green being low risk, and red showing a high concentration of bacteria, show up. You can log the results on a free app and make the readings available to the public. 

The uses for surfers and community groups are endless. For Boardriders Clubs or anyone running ocean events, simple tests can be run to ensure that the water is safe in real time. Schools and community groups can also use the kit to keep an eye on their local waterways and as an education tool. For activists and concerned citizens, it’s real data they can use as leverage when dealing with polluters, be it public or private corporations.

It does, however, come with a cost. The actual device is a bargain, at around $300, but a pack of 5 testing kits comes in at around $200. Yet considering the potential risks and costs involved in surfers and swimmers getting seriously ill, the relatively small investment spread across the whole community can pay back itself in no time. Bactiquick provide fundraising advice and says that sharing both the cost and the data is key, as when everyone contributes, everyone benefits.

The surf might still be pumping, but at least now you’ll have real information when making your risk assessment of getting pitted or surfing in polluted waters.