an important challenge for water microbial quality monitoring is the development of a real-time risk-based, rapid, specific and sensitive detection of appropriate microbial indicators and waterborne pathogens, which may include not only bacterial pathogens but also viruses like Norovirus.
A TDE activity with bioMeriéux in France aimed to do just that, by defining a water-specific sampling and preparation module improving on the current detection module and system.
The intention was that the new module would have the advantage of being a single system capable of monitoring the air, surface and water quality on long duration space flight, ultimately reducing the required payload mass.
The activity focused on selecting and demonstrating an efficient bacterial concentration technology from tap water at the terrestrial level and then integrating the future space constraints.