The DelAgua Water Testing Kit

The DelAgua kit is designed to carry out five basic tests to measure the quality of drinking-water: microbiological quality, turbidity, free chlorine, total chlorine and pH. The kit is designed for use in the field, but may also be used in a laboratory or other permanent location. The kit can be supplied with a range of accessories that will increase the scope of your water quality monitoring programmes. Please contact us for details.

The Oxfam-DelAgua Water Testing Kit was developed by scientists at the University of Surrey in collaboration with colleagues at Oxfam. The kit is designed to help provide information about the safety of water supplies in difficult situations such as natural disasters and refugee camps, as well as slums and in rural areas where laboratory facilities do not exist. The kit allows five important water quality parameters to be assessed in the field using well-proven and simple methods.

The kit will perform the following tests:

Thermotolerant (faecal) Coliform Count
The kit includes a portable, battery-powered incubator capable of making five cycles of incubation without mains electricity, generator or vehicle power. Thermotolerant (faecal) Coliform counts can be obtained within 14 to 18 hours of sampling giving a reliable indication of sanitary risk without need for transport or laboratory facilities.

Turbidity Test
A measure of the amount of suspended matter in a water supply. Suspended material may consume chlorine disinfectants and require treatment before disinfection.

Chlorine and pH Tests
Many emergency water supplies are dosed with chlorine disinfectant to ensure their safety as drinking water. These tests allow rapid assessment of chlorine levels and aid the efficient control of dosing thereby avoiding waste and ensuring that enough chlorine is present to safeguard the supply.

Total Coliform Count
The dual incubator kit allows microbiological analysis to be carried out at both 37 and 44 degrees Celsius. The lower temperature is used for the determination of total coliforms. Coliform counts can be made within 16-18 hours and give a indication of contamination of water supplies from environmental and other sources.

Other Tests
A conductivity meter is provided as an optional component of the kit. Conductivity provides an indication of contamination e.g. saline intrusion or sewage pollution. Additional equipment can be included on request to test for chemicals that may be of local importance.

Specifications

Dimensions:370 x 140 x 260mm
Weight: Approx 10kg
Incubator: Temperature 44°C, power 12v (internal battery -charger supplied), capacity 16 x 47mm petri dish
The kit is supplied with consumables for 200 tests.

Additional items required for testing:

You will need the following items to start testing:

Pressure cooker or portable steriliser or access to an autoclave e.g. in a hospital.
Methanol (approx 1ml per test)
Distilled water
1 litre measuring cylinder or beaker.

Equipment List

DelAgua single incubator (44°C) test kit with consumables for 200 tests.
DelAgua double incubator (44°C and 37°C) test kit with consumables for 200 tests.
Conductivity meters
Steriliser kits
Turbidity tubes
Comparitor (chlorine and PH) - pool tester type
Chlorine testing and PH testing meters

Consumables

DPD No. 1 tablets - for residue chlorine testing
DPD No. 3 tablets - for total chlorine testing
Phenol red tablets - for PH testing

We also supply all the measuring bottles, scales and sample taking equipment that may be required for water testing in the field.