Molendotech plans live water quality maps for swimmers

Molendotech, a University of Plymouth spinout, is preparing to launch live water quality maps for Britain and the US as concerns grow over polluted bathing waters and swimmers becoming ill. The company plans to combine daily test results with rain flow and tidal flow data, using AI to build predictive models for contamination risk.

The company’s portable Bactiquick test detects harmful gram-negative bacteria including E coli, Pseudomonas, Legionella and salmonella, producing an on-the-spot readout rather than relying on laboratory culture tests. Molendotech says results arrive in less than 15 minutes, compared with standard testing that typically takes between 24 and 48 hours. Surfers Against Sewage has received 164 reports of sickness so far this year from beachgoers, mostly involving gastroenteritis, ear and skin infections and other health problems.

Bactiquick, launched in May 2025, costs £300, and a test sample costs about £25. Sales revenue has risen to a peak of £94,000 in May, described as a near 30-fold increase over the past year. Molendotech has received £1.4m in grant funding and recently raised £860,000 from investors, taking total investment raised to date to £2.4m.