Water cleansing project 'awarded £1 million'

A total of £1 million in funding has been awarded to a firm that deals in detecting bacteria in water supplies.

EnviroGene, which specialises in equipment with the ability to detect pollution-causing bacteria in water, was awarded the funding by RAB Capital and Finance Wales.

The technology, which is normally used in the development of drugs, has been applied in an industrial and environmental context by the firm, reported Wales Online.

Founder of the organisation Dr Rob Sleat is currently working to expand operations to the US.

He commented: "The funding will primarily be used to commercialise the environmental technology that we have developed as well as continue our in-house research and development programmes."

Some of the money will also be allocated to the development of the firm's PetroGen utility, which assists research into soil and gas.

In other water news, Portobello High school in east Edinburgh was last month recommended its pupils bring bottled drinks as it was found to have "persistent levels" of bacteria in its water supply.