A new low-cost water testing kit that works with a mobile phone could one day map safe drinking water sources for communities. The app, Caddisfly, takes its name from the fly that inhabits only clean water, and is often used as a bio-indicator of water quality. The testing kit aims to help detect five major contaminants of water: fluoride, nitrate, arsenic, E. coli and iron. Developed in Bangalore, India, by Ternup, a collective of artists, designers and technologists, users only need to fill the phone attachment with source water, insert a reagent cartridge, attach it to the phone and get the test result on the Caddisfly app. Results would then be shared instantly via an online map. The app is currently at an advanced prototype stage.
