The Critical Role of Turbidity Monitoring Turbidity monitoring is essential in water quality management, serving as a key indicator of contamination risks such as bacteria, pathogens, and particulate matter. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends turbidity levels in drinking water not exceed 1 NTU (Nephelometric Turbidity Units). Yet many systems struggle to meet this standard, especially at the consumer level. In today’s digital water landscape, where data-driven decisions are crucial, accurate and accessible turbidity monitoring solutions have become increasingly important. Without real-time turbidity data , water quality management remains reactive rather than proactive, exposing consumers to potential risks. Flint, Michigan and the Need for Real-Time Data The Flint, Michigan water crisis of 2014, which exposed over 100,000 residents to lead contamination, highlights the severe consequences of inadequate water quality monitoring. Real-time turbidity data could have provided early warnings, potentially preventing the crisis. Similar issues persist globally, even in advanced economies, where consumer confidence in tap water remains fragile. The post-COVID era has further heightened public demand for transparency and trust in water quality, underscoring the need for real-time, data-driven solutions.   The Economic and Environmental Impact of Tap Water Distrust Distrust in tap water has fueled the bottled water market, which was valued at over $200 billion globally as of 2023, with U.S. sales exceeding $36 billion annually. This reliance on bottled water has significant environmental costs, as over 60 million plastic bottles are discarded daily in the U.S. alone, contributing to pollution. Producing bottled water is also highly resource-intensive. It requires up to 3 liters of water for every liter bottled and uses up to 2,000 times more energy than tap water. Economically, bottled water costs about $1.22 per gallon, compared to $0.004 per gallon for tap water, making it roughly 300 times more expensive. Moreover, incidents like microplastics found in European tap water continue to erode trust, stressing the urgent need for more transparent water quality management.   Smart Meters Without Turbidity Sensors: A Dated Technology In today’s rapidly evolving market, data-driven insights are essential. Just as smartphones replaced feature phones, water meters lacking turbidity monitoring will soon become obsolete. When the iPhone launched in 2007, it revolutionized the market. A similar transformation is set to redefine water metering. Consumers are likely to favor smart meters with turbidity monitoring, driving a shift in the $1.4 billion global smart water meter market. Utility companies that fail to adopt this technology risk falling behind as the market moves towards advanced, consumer-focused solutions.   Why Turbidity Sensors Are a Competitive Advantage For smart water meter companies, integrating turbidity monitoring offers a significant competitive advantage in an increasingly crowded market. By providing real-time water quality data directly to consumers, companies can differentiate their products, adding a layer of value that goes beyond traditional usage monitoring. This not only meets the growing consumer demand for transparency but also positions companies as leaders in the industry. Early adopters of turbidity-monitoring technology can capture a larger market share, enhance customer satisfaction, and build long-term brand loyalty by addressing the critical issue of water quality at the consumer level.   Addressing the Last Mile Problem: The.Wave.Talk ’s Solution A major challenge in water quality management is the "last mile problem": ensuring that water quality at the consumer's tap matches the quality at the treatment facility. Traditional turbidity sensors are expensive, typically priced between $3,000 and $10,000, and require specialized maintenance, including cleaning and recalibration every 3 to 6 months. The.Wave.Talk addresses these challenges with a deep learning-based semiconductor turbidity sensor that is compact, cost-effective, and maintenance-free for up to 10 years. These sensors are up to 100 times more affordable than traditional models while maintaining high accuracy, with a less than 3% error rate certified by the Korea Laboratory Accreditation Scheme (KOLAS). This innovation makes real-time turbidity monitoring viable for every home, effectively solving the last mile problem and making water quality data accessible to consumers and utilities alike.   Expanding Market Applications and Future Growth The.Wave.Talk ’s sensors are already in mass production, with deployments underway for major global corporations. Beyond smart water meters, these sensors can also be used in home water purifiers, drinking fountains, and faucets, directly addressing the last mile problem. Additionally, in water treatment processes, they can measure turbidity in real-time at the output of each membrane vessel, enhancing precision and control across the entire system. This scalability is vital as the smart water meter market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.3% over the next decade, driven by increasing demand for efficient water management solutions in response to climate change and urbanization pressures.   A Call to Action for Water Industry Leaders Now is the time for water professionals and utility leaders to embrace the future of turbidity monitoring. By adopting The.Wave.Talk ’s innovative sensors, utilities can not only meet evolving regulations but also lead the industry towards smarter, more transparent, and consumer-centered water management solutions. The challenge of ensuring safe and reliable drinking water is growing, but with advanced technologies, the water industry can meet this challenge head-on. Data-driven, environmentally responsible water management should become the standard, not the exception

We’re entering a new era of real-time bacteria detection in water! The Wave Talk has developed a groundbreaking method using dynamic speckle imaging at 1/1,000th of a second, providing results 288x faster than traditional culturing methods. It's not only faster but also more cost-effective. Want to know more? Check out the full video for details! #WaterSafety #Innovation #BacteriaDetection #TheWaveTalk #CleanWater #TechInnovation #Sustainability

In developed nations, trust in tap water is still a concern, despite significant investments in treatment systems. Our innovative laser and semiconductor-based sensor is designed to change that. With zero maintenance for 10 years, it's small enough to be built into smart water meters. Our sensor uses advanced light scattering technology to detect impurities and bacteria in real time, even at low concentrations. By integrating this into smart meters, companies can monitor water quality at the pipeline's end, ensuring safer, proactive water management. Watch the video to see how we're redefining water quality monitoring for the future.

This video is part of The Wave Talk’s in-house project, the Digitized Water Project (DWP). Using our advanced water measurement technology, the project aims to provide valuable insights to help society access cleaner water. Starting with this video, the DWP will span several series, during which we will develop prototype products and conduct various experiments to ensure cleaner water across different sectors. Staying true to The Wave Talk’s mission, we hope to make it possible for more people to drink and use clean, pure water. The turbidity of the water used prior to filtration in this experiment was 0.40 NTU. Please note that the results may vary depending on the quality of the water used.

Curious about the challenges of delivering safe drinking water to every home? Our latest white paper dives deep into the "Last Mile Problem" and how the world’s first deep learning sensor-on-a-chip  is revolutionizing water quality monitoring. Download the full white paper to explore how we're tackling these issues and ensuring safer water for all.

Total # of obtained registered patents : 50 cases (ROK - 32, U.S. - 12, Japan - 3, China - 2, Europe - 1, etc.) No Country Registration Date Registration No. Title of invention 1 Republic of Korea 2016.12.18. No. 10-1686766 Apparatus and Method for Bacteria and Microorganism Detection Using Laser Speckles 2 U.S. 2018.06.19. US 10,001,467 B2 APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DETECTING MICROBES OR BACTERIA 3 Republic of Korea 2018.11.15. No. 10-1920852 Containers for Microorganism Detection, System including the Containers for Microorganism Detection, and Method for Detecting the Microorganisms within the Containers Using the System 4 Republic of Korea 2019.01.11. No. 10-1939779 System for Microorganism Detection in Fluids Using Chaotic Wave Sensor 5 Republic of Korea 2019.03.11. No. 10-1959023 Apparatus and Method for Entity Identification Using Chaotic Wave Sensor 6 Republic of Korea 2019.04.16. No. 10-1971272 Apparatus and Method for Pattern Structure Check 7 Republic of Korea 2019.08.05. No. 10-2009370 Apparatus and Method for Speckle Assessment and Amplification 8 Republic of Korea 2019.08.30. No. 10-2018895 Apparatus and Method for Virus Detection Using Chaotic Wave Sensor 9 Republic of Korea 2019.12.06. No. 10-2055310 Apparatus for Testing the Appropriateness of Antibiotics Using Chaotic Wave Sensor 10 U.S. 2020.02.04. US 10,551,293 B2 Apparatus for Detecting Sample Properties Using Chaotic Wave Sensor 11 U.S. 2020.03.10. US 10,585,039 B1 Optical Detection System 12 Republic of Korea 2020.05.14. No. 10-2113311 System and Method for Counting of Microorganisms 13 Republic of Korea 2020.05.14. No. 10-2113312 System for Impurity Detection in Fluids Using Chaotic Wave Sensor 14 Republic of Korea 2020.06.29. No. 10-2130100 Optical Detection System 15 U.S. 2020.12.01. US 10,852,246 B2 PATTERN STRUCTURE INSPECTION DEVICE AND INSPECTION METHOD 16 Republic of Korea 2021.01.19. No. 10-2207043 Measuring Apparatus for Airborne Microorganisms 17 Republic of Korea 2021.01.19. No. 10-2207041 Optical Measuring Apparatus 18 Republic of Korea 2021.01.20. No. 10-2207945 Apparatus and Method for Provision of Information on Microorganisms 19 U.S. 2021.02.09. US 10,914,665 B2 Apparatus for detecting sample properties using chaotic wave sensor 20 China 2021.03.02. ZL201680079041.1 利用混沌波传感器的样品特性探测装置 21 Japan 2021.03.11. 特許第6851468号 パターン構造物検査装置及び検査方法 22 Republic of Korea 2021.04.20. No. 10-2244330 Apparatus and Method for Human Body Injection Transport 23 Republic of Korea 2021.07.05. No. 10-2275361 System for Microorganism Detection in Fluids Using Chaotic Wave Sensor 24 Europe 2021.07.07. EP 3 171 160 B1 APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DETECTING MICROBES OR BACTERIA 25 Republic of Korea 2021.07.28. No. 10-2285089 Apparatus for Microorganism Detection 26 Republic of Korea 2021.08.24. No. 10-2295256 Apparatus for Microorganism Detection Using Testing Sample Block 27 Republic of Korea 2021.09.29. No. 10-2309613 System, Apparatus and Method for Microorganism Detection 28 Republic of Korea 2021.10.14. No. 10-2315435 Microbial Colony Detection System 29 U.S. 2021.10.26. US 11,156,541 B2 Optical Detecting System 30 China 2021.11.05. ZL201780034467.X 图案结构物的检测装置及检测方法 31 Republic of Korea 2021.12.09. No. 10-2339338 Apparatus for Obtaining Visual Information 32 U.S. 2022.01.04. US 11,215,556 B2 OPTICAL DETECTION SYSTEM 33 U.S. 2022.03.01. US 11,262,287 B2 Apparatus for Detecting Sample Properties Using Chaotic Wave Sensor 34 Japan 2022.03.09. 第7037842号 光学検出システム 35 U.S. 2022.03.22. US 11,280,716 B2 OPTICAL DETECTING SYSTEM 36 Republic of Korea 2022.04.04. No. 10-2384408 System and Method for Counting of Microorganisms 37 Japan 2022.04.15. 第7058837号 混沌波センサを利用した試料特性探知装置 38 Republic of Korea 2022.04.29. No. 10-2394135 System for Impurity Detection in Fluids Using Chaotic Wave Sensor 39 Republic of Korea 2022.06.03. No. 10-2407130 Water Quality Tester 40 U.S. 2022.07.19. US 11,391,659 B2 OPTICAL DETECTING SYSTEM 41 U.S. 2022.08.30. US 11,428,629 B2 INTESTINAL MICROORGANISM DETECTION SYSTEM 42 Republic of Korea 2022.10.06. No. 10-2453456 System and Method for Counting of Microorganisms 43 Republic of Korea 2022.11.08. No. 10-2466257 Spectroscopic Apparatus Using Multiple Light Sources 44 Republic of Korea 2022.11.10. No. 10-2467300 System and Method for Precise Turbidity Measurement Using Speckle Patterns 45 U.S. 2022.11.29. US 11,513,049 B2 System, Apparatus and Method for Detecting Microbes 46 Republic of Korea 2023.02.01. No. 10-2496066 Water Quality Tester 47 Republic of Korea 2023.04.26. No. 10-2528000 Optical Measuring Apparatus 48 Republic of Korea 2023.04.26. No. 10-2528012 Measuring Apparatus for Airborne Microorganisms 49 Republic of Korea 2023.06.09. No. 10-2543670 Turbidity meter 50 Republic of Korea 2023.06.16. No. 10-2546325 Gut Microbiota Detection System

The Wave Talk faced challenges in automating and transitioning to IoT sensors due to limitations of water quality sensors. However, they developed a maintenance-free, compact water quality sensor using laser light path technology. This technology measures all impurities accurately at 1/10th the size and 1/100th the cost, and enables data management from anywhere at any time through IoT sensors. This technology revolutionizes water resource management and ensures clean water quality everywhere.

Water sources and resources (oceans, rivers, groundwater, lakes, dams) Measuring the water quality of raw water provides essential preliminary information for water purification. Accurate monitoring of water quality allows early detection of pollution and microbes, contributing to environmental protection and management. Water supply facilities (water treatment plants, water tanks) Water quality management in facilities that can have a wide-reaching impact on the water supply network is crucial and influential. In particular, individual monitoring of hundreds to thousands of membranes for purification will become a key technology for the future of water treatment plant management. Pipeline (distribution networks) The pathways through which water travels require continuous maintenance, including pipe replacement and repair. Practical water quality data enable appropriate maintenance, leading to reduced management costs.

Public and Community Facilities Water quality management in large public institutions and buildings is crucial due to their significant impact, and must be more stringent. Facilities like kindergartens, nurseries, postnatal care centers, and nursing homes, which house individuals vulnerable to infections, must prioritize the management of drinking and utility water quality as it is directly linked to health. Maintenance-free water quality monitoring contributes to cost savings and customer satisfaction, and its ease of use and maintenance allow staff to conveniently utilize it. Ex) Public drinking fountains, smart buildings, hotels and resorts, kindergartens, postnatal care centers, nursing facilities. Food Service Establishments Water quality in food service establishments is an indicator of hygiene and is measured as part of hygiene grading systems. Clean hygiene management not only provides the best service to customers but also pre-emptively manages the risks associated with water quality issues. Water quality management for raw water used in drinking and cooking, and contamination management for appliances like water purifiers, coffee machines, and ice makers, are essential. Reliable data allows staff and managers to organically manage the facility. Ex) Food courts in department stores, large supermarkets, malls, mass catering facilities in schools and military bases, facilities using commercial ice makers (cafes, bars, restaurants) Homes Using a water quality tester at home allows individuals to regularly check and manage water quality, protecting health and safety. It also enables the hygienic management of water-related appliances like water purifiers and humidifiers. Personal water quality testing tools collect high-quality water data at many touchpoints, ultimately enabling everyone to enjoy clean water quality. Ex) Water purifiers, washing machines, dishwashers, air conditioners, humidifiers and other small appliances, smart water meters, smart faucets, smart appliance bacterial monitoring.

Waste Water Treatment IoT sensors for water quality monitoring are crucial for the efficient operation of wastewater treatment plants. They monitor various parameters of incoming wastewater, guide the treatment process, and ensure the treated water meets the required standards for discharge or reuse. By providing real-time data on the effectiveness of treatment processes, these sensors help in adjusting operations to reduce energy consumption, lower operational costs, and enhance the sustainability of water resources.

General Industry Sudden water quality issues in industrial water can lead to product quality problems and reduced factory operation rates. Especially, membranes used for the stable supply of water tailored to the requirements of each industrial sector need continuous maintenance, so rapid response through water quality monitoring is essential for maintaining process quality and productivity. Ex) cooling water monitoring, monitoring the quality and stability of production processes, membrane monitoring in RO and UPW processes, monitoring water for cleaning precision products like PCBs and displays, CIP monitoring, and real-time monitoring of wastewater discharge standards. Hospitals and Laboratories In hospitals and laboratories, water quality sensors are used for hygiene management and equipment cleaning verification, allowing for the rapid and accurate measurement of water and solution turbidity to ensure patient safety and the accuracy of experiments. They can be efficiently utilized within hospitals due to their ease of use and quick result delivery. Ex) monitoring of sterilized water, distilled water, purified water, pharmaceutical water, and water for injection, facilities using medical and laboratory ice makers, rapid tests for urinary infections, etc. Food/Biotech In the food and pharmaceutical sectors, where bacteria management is crucial, continuous quality management of raw water and products is a legal requirement. Sensors that can quickly and automatically measure the total amount of foreign substances in water, and further, the total amount of bacteria in water, are provided to ensure a safety-first environment. Ex) rapid tests for bacterial contamination in aquaculture, heterogenous bacteria tests, digital culturing (presence of bacteria, total count, species differentiation), smart factories (various raw and process waters in the food and biotech industries), smart farms (real-time monitoring of various agricultural waters and nutrient solutions).