Both its hardware and software are open source. Akvo Caddisfly will set a new standard in effective gathering and sharing at scale of data relating to drinking water quality, using the best available tool for this purpose – the smartphone.
For water quality monitoring to be scaled up to national level, we need to be able to test water quality on the ground in a fast, affordable, and scalable way. Akvo’s low cost, open source, smartphone-based water quality testing system measures 29 water quality parameters for SDG 6 combining four different technologies: colorimetry, sensors, microbiology, and test strips. Connected to third party hardware and an online data platform, this system allows you to combine water quality data with GPS data, metadata and qualitative data. This means that you can easily interpret test results, create interactive maps, and generate insights for decision making at regional or national level. Testing can be scaled up affordably with data immediately accessible and shareable via an online dashboard. Test results from various locations will be shared online enabling communities to evolve locally relevant and sustainable systems for better drinking water. The Caddisfly Water Quality Test Kit aims to help detect major water quality parameters like Fluoride, Nitrate, Arsenic, Coliforms, Electrical Conductivity, etc.
===Why is Akvo Caddisfly needed?===
Globally, over 780 million people do not have access to clean water. In India and elsewhere, fluorosis is a serious health issue and more than 100 million Indians are at risk because they drink water containing fluoride or other contaminants such as arsenic or coliform bacteria. Existing water quality-testing procedures fall short in a number of ways. Field-test equipment is often hard to use and unreliable and lab tests are costly and slow. Resulting data is generally stored locally and not shared effectively. This makes it hard to quickly collect, analyse, present and efficiently use data to resolve drinking water issues.
===What is needed to make Caddisfly a success?===
Akvo Caddisfly is looking for partners keen to invest in a breakthrough technology with potential for strong and rapid market penetration, to set a new standard for drinking water quality testing. We seek strong partners with the capability to fund and support the execution of the 2015-2016 research and development phases.
Akvo FLOW already has a strong user base of international development teams, in organisations such as Unicef, WSP/World Bank, Millenium Water Alliance, SNV and ICCO, enabling fast upscaling of Akvo Caddisfly. Akvo, a non-profit foundation that builds and supports open source web and mobile tools, is leading the technical development of Akvo Caddisfly in cooperation with TernUp India.
===Testing drinking water has never been so easy===
* The Akvo Caddisfly app analyses the water sample photograph against a calibrated range, giving an accurate and reliable result after one minute.
* The smartphone’s GPS accurately identifies the location and the results can be integrated and reported via Akvo FLOW.
===Testing methods===
* '''Colorimetry''': Lovibond MD610, Photometer, CHECKIT comparator, Pooltester
* '''Test strips''': Quantofix, Hach, Merck
* '''Sensors''': Lovibond SD70, Lovibond SD50
* '''Microbiology''': Aquagenx Compartment, Bag Test
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|<font size="3">Benefits of Akvo Caddisfly</font>
* Low cost'''Cost effective'''* Immediate '''Fast''': Receive results, anywhereinstantly on your smartphone and translate them into real-time decision making dashboards. Give water quality feedback directly to communities.* '''Accurate and reliable'''* '''Small and easy to handle'''* '''Extensive''': Test over 29 parameters for a range of purposes. Choose from colorimetry, sensors, microbiology, and test strips. Add context to your data by combining it with other types of data
* Lets you map your findings and monitor them over time using Akvo FLOW
* Data is shared easily '''Accurate''': Choose your required accuracy based on your needs. For example, use a portable photometer for high accuracy measurements. Conduct data validation checks to monitor accuracy on the go.* '''Scalable''': Run the system on any number of devices and quickly so responses can be rapid support the submission of thousands of forms. Share your results instantly, even during data collection, and effectivekeep an overview on your online dashboard.
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===History and current status of the concept===
In August 2012 [http://caddisfly.ternup.com/ Ternup Research Labs] was set up in Bangalore, India, to develop products aimed at solving drinking water problems in India and elsewhere. In 2013, TernUp partnered with Akvo to develop Caddisfly and became Akvo’s R&D hub, in India.
By mapping the quality of water sources and presenting the results in an effective way, Ternup and Akvo aim to support access to safe drinking water.
===Changing the future of drinking water quality testing===
After piloting the fluoride test and the temperature / EC sensor in the field, Akvo plans to upscale and further realise the potential of the tool by:
# Developing tests for arsenic, nitrate, coliform bacteria, chlorine and other critical contaminants.
# Developing hydrogeological testing: e.g. pH, electrical conductivity and water levels.
# Developing the Akvo FLOW dashboard to support easy online sharing of water quality testing data.
# Fine tuning the industrial design, manufacturing and set up distribution channels.
===Contacts===
hans(at)akvo.org +31 6 19 82 10 96 www.akvo.org
[[Image:akvo logo.png|none|100px|link=http://akvo.org]]
'''Research and development Ternup'''<br>
Samuel Rajkumar (Bangalore, India)<br>
srajkumar(at)ternup.com +91 98452 90855 http://caddisfly.ternup.com
[[Image:caddisfly logo.png|none|100px|link=http://caddisfly.ternup.com/]]
