DCU Water progresses sensing technology to detect unclean bathing water

Researchers at Dublin City University are pioneering a cutting-edge solution to identifying poor quality bathing water. With more people than ever enjoying open-water swimming across Ireland, the need for fast, accurate, and operationally useful water quality data has never been more urgent. Dangers associated with poor quality bathing water include skin irritation and gastric upsets. 

This World Ocean Day (June 8th), a global reminder of the vital role oceans play in sustaining life on Earth, DCU Water Institute has announced the next phase of funding for the RESTART project, which is developing a novel, modular sensing technology that promises to transform how we monitor bacterial contamination in bathing waters, particularly E.coli, a key indicator of faecal pollution. The project is moving to the prestigious GROW phase of the Research Ireland Challenge programme.

The system is designed with three key innovations:

1. A module to culture and identify E. coli contamination, detecting potential risks early.
2. A sensor-based detection system to measure contamination levels automatically.
3. A scalable sampling framework, allowing for high-frequency monitoring at multiple sites.

The key innovation relies on the use of a dual detection module, seamlessly integrated. The first module is used for rapid screening using a bio-marker enzyme for E. coli and will trigger the second module when pollution events are recorded. The second module will use a culture-based method and zero-waste multifunctional cartridges, providing a definitive, actionable result obviating the need for grab sample collection.

As the world comes together to celebrate and protect our oceans, DCU Water Institute reaffirms its commitment to advancing marine science and solutions as part of the UN Ocean Decade and Sustainable Development Goals.

Professor John Doyle, Vice President for Research at DCU, states:
“As we celebrate World Ocean Day, the DCU Water Institute proudly reaffirms its commitment to marine science in this Ocean Decade. Through our Horizon Europe-funded research and strong multidisciplinary collaborations, we are delivering real-world impact on pressing marine challenges. By engaging with diverse stakeholders—from local communities to international policy makers—we ensure our science informs decisions, drives innovation, and contributes meaningfully to global sustainability goals. The marine environment underpins our economy, our ecosystems, and our well-being—and our work is dedicated to protecting and understanding it for future generations.”

Now in its tenth year, DCU Water Institute’s Marine Research Theme brings together cross-disciplinary expertise to develop science-based solutions that support ocean health and address some of the most urgent challenges facing our seas.

Professor Blánaid White, Dean of the Faculty of Science and Health, explains:
 “Our marine research at the DCU Water Institute uniquely positions DCU to respond to critical developments in marine energy, biodiversity, coastal pollution, and the monitoring of bathing water quality. Through our collaborative EU projects, we are advancing cutting-edge solutions such as biosensing for harmful algal bloom toxins, contaminants of emerging concern, and environmental DNA detection of invasive species.”

Researchers at the Institute are pioneering the development of sustainable ocean energy technologies, using advances in materials science and engineering to drive a cleaner, renewable future. In parallel, work on contaminants of emerging concern (CECs)—including pharmaceuticals, microplastics, and biocides—is yielding innovative detection tools and a Zero Pollution Index to support evidence-based regulation and cost-effective monitoring.To safeguard marine biodiversity, the Institute employs environmental DNA (eDNA), advanced sensors, and high-resolution imaging to track species changes and ecosystem health. These methods support the goals of the EU Water Framework Directive and the High Seas Treaty to protect 30% of the ocean by 2030. Meanwhile, AI and predictive modelling are being used to analyse pollutant pathways in a changing climate, enhancing risk assessment and decision-making for marine management.

World Ocean Day serves as a reminder of the ocean’s fundamental role in sustaining life on Earth—and the shared responsibility we all have in protecting it. The ocean serves as the planet’s life support system, the ocean regulates climate, produces over half of the oxygen we breathe, and powers much of the global economy. As the largest and most diverse ecosystem on the planet, it is home to a range of marine life and habitats. Beyond its environmental and economic value, the ocean holds deep cultural, recreational, and spiritual significance for communities worldwide.