The Driller
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • NEWS
  • CLASSIFIEDS
  • EQUIPMENT
  • SAFETY
  • VIDEOS
  • EDUCATION
  • SOURCEBOOK
  • EVENTS
  • SUBMIT
  • ABOUT
  • SIGN UP
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • NEWS
  • Water
  • Geothermal
  • Construction
  • Environmental
  • Mining
  • All Industry News
  • EQUIPMENT
  • Rigs & Heavy Equipment
  • Consumables
  • Pumps
  • Featured Products
  • VIDEOS
  • Newscast
  • Drill Talks
  • Ask Brock
  • Emerging Drillers
  • EDUCATION
  • Drilling Business Insights
  • Reference Desk
  • Sponsored Insights
  • EVENTS
  • Conferences & Demo Days
  • Newscast LIVE
  • SUBMIT
  • Drillers @Work
  • ABOUT
  • Contact
  • Advertise
The Driller
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
The Driller
  • NEWS
    • Water
    • Geothermal
    • Construction
    • Environmental
    • Mining
    • All Industry News
  • CLASSIFIEDS
  • EQUIPMENT
    • Rigs & Heavy Equipment
    • Consumables
    • Pumps
    • Featured Products
  • SAFETY
  • VIDEOS
    • Newscast
    • Drill Talks
    • Ask Brock
    • Emerging Drillers
  • EDUCATION
    • Drilling Business Insights
    • Reference Desk
    • Sponsored Insights
  • SOURCEBOOK
  • EVENTS
    • Conferences & Demo Days
    • Newscast LIVE
  • SUBMIT
    • Drillers @Work
  • ABOUT
    • Contact
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP
Water Wells

New Water Sensor Technology Detects Contaminants in Seconds

By Valerie King
Junhong Chen

Junhong Chen’s new sensor technology consists of a tiny chip, about 1 centimeter by .5 centimeters. Source: Junhong Chen

Junhong Chen

Using the graphene-based sensor, E. coli detection goes from taking tens of hours to just seconds. Source: Junhong Chen

Junhong Chen
Junhong Chen
July 1, 2015
As the groundwater industry is well aware, millions of households across the country get their water from private wells, which in many cases are not covered by the same regulations as public water resources.

Testing residential wells can be an expensive and time consuming process, particularly when trying to detect E. coli bacteria and heavy metals like lead, mercury and arsenic, according to Junhong Chen, professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He says the typical method for detecting E. coli involves collecting a sample and reading it by growing the bacteria under the appropriate conditions. “This process typically takes 10 to 24 hours, or even longer. … So it’s super slow,” he says.

Since around 2008, Chen has led the development of a sensor technology made up of a layer of carbon sheet called graphene. Thanks to his efforts, it’s now possible to effectively detect E. coli and heavy metals in water within a much shorter time frame. “Our method can detect the presence of bacteria in seconds, so that’s a breakthrough,” Chen says.

For water well drillers who put a lot of time into testing groundwater for safety, the technology is great news. “This would allow them to at least read the results really quickly,” Chen says. “They don’t have to wait. That improves their efficiency.”

According to Chen, while there are technologies in existence that can test heavy metals as fast as his creation, they are not as conducive and can’t be used for continuous monitoring. “Once the well is constructed, if the customers would like to monitor the quality of the water over time, continuously, so that there’s an early warning if there’s something going on, it helps the users. That’s something that cannot be done now, but is potentially doable with this new technology,” he says.

The graphene material used to detect the contaminants is only several micrometers big. The idea is that the contaminants in the water bind to the probe attached to the graphene material and the interaction leads to a change in the electrical conductivity of the material. By measuring the electrical conductivity of the material, the presence and concentration of a particular contaminant can be detected.

The reason it’s been so challenging to quickly detect bacteria like E. Coli in water up until now is because it typically exists at such low concentrations that it’s extremely difficult to sense, Chen says. “Graphene itself has very unique properties that enable us to probe very minute changes in the property of the material. That’s why we need to use it. Because very often we experience contaminants at very low concentrations, the change in conductivity is very small. We need to be able to catch that.”

The microsensor device is placed on a microelectronic platform, like a computer chip, that’s about 1 centimeter by .5 centimeters. Using this platform, Chen says there’s potential to integrate wired communication capabilities that could share sensor results through a wireless device like a smartphone, to the driller or well owner.

The sensor technology is still in the process of commercialization and due to its tiny size, the application potential is limitless. Chen is working with companies interested in installing the sensor into existing water filters and meters. “We are also trying to put together a prototype handheld device. This is particularly beneficial for well drillers,” he says. Similar to a glucose testing meter for diabetic patients, it’s a portable device that drillers could carry in their pockets to quickly test water quality. He says the device would use test strips that could detect the concentration of bacteria or heavy metals upon water immersion. “These sensors are really tiny, with hundreds of micrometers each,” Chen says. “You can put multiple tiny sensors on a single test strip so that you can measure different contaminants simultaneously.”

The handheld device will be ready first, within a year or sooner, according to Chen’s predictions. As for the continuous monitoring, the launch will likely take two to three years. The key challenge with the continuous monitoring application is getting a good lifetime out of it. Right now, the sensor can be immersed in water for several weeks monitoring for bacteria and heavy metals uninterrupted. Chen and his team are working to extend that lifetime to at least a year, making replacement more affordable and convenient for well owners.

Since the sensor is still in the early stages of the development process, it’s hard to say what pricing will look like, but Chen says affordability is a top goal. “Right now, for the handheld device, based on all of the evidence we collect, the entire thing should be around 50 or 60 bucks. Then the test strips, probably $20 each. … These are one-time-use test strips, so every time you use it you need to buy a new test strip. This is the early stage cost, but if we scale up we’re hoping to further reduce the meter cost to $20 or $30. You can use it forever almost. Then the test strip, we’d like to reduce to $5 or less.”

Moving forward, Chen says his creation’s future looks bright and lab test results have been successful. For lead ions, the sensor has demonstrated a very low detection limit, two orders of magnitude below the EPA threshold. For other heavy metals they’ve been able to detect about one order of magnitude below the EPA maximum. As for E. coli, the team is still working toward the EPA maximum contaminant level, but Chen says he’s confident that the desirable low detection limit will be achieved.

“As society becomes more advanced, we cannot afford a single casualty because of water’s unsafety. We have to make sure we are able to control that, so I believe this is the future.”

KEYWORDS: water sampling water treatment water well drilling water well maintenance

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Valerie king 200px

Valerie King was managing editor of The Driller.

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • geotechnical drilling rig

    6 Onsite Phrases Environmental Drillers Hate

    Here are six phrases that highlight common frustrations...
    Environmental Monitoring
    By: Jeff Garby
  • Wayne Nash

    Pipe Stuck? Common Causes and Solutions for Drillers

    If you have drilled for any length of time, sooner or...
    Water Wells
    By: Wayne Nash
  • submersible pumps, water well pumps

    Selecting and Sizing Submersible Pump Cable

    This article helps pump installers and servicers decide...
    Equipment
    By: Bob Pelikan
You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Subscribe For Free!
  • eNewsletters
  • Online Registration
  • Subscription Customer Service
  • Manage My Preferences

The Driller Newscast: Coiled Tubing Drilling and the Future of Geothermal

The Driller Newscast: Coiled Tubing Drilling and the Future of Geothermal

The Driller Newscast: 21st Century Drillers | Part 1 DEMAND

The Driller Newscast: 21st Century Drillers | Part 1 DEMAND

The Driller Newscast, Episode 147: Global Geothermal Collaboration at NY-GEO 2025

The Driller Newscast, Episode 147: Global Geothermal Collaboration at NY-GEO 2025

The Driller Newscast: New York Geo Talks 2025 Conference with Hands-on Driller Education

The Driller Newscast: New York Geo Talks 2025 Conference with Hands-on Driller Education

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the The Driller audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of The Driller or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • demo of a DM450 drilling rig during a customer factory visit
    Sponsored byGeoprobe

    Built for You: Smarter Drill Rigs, Stronger Support, Bigger Opportunities

Popular Stories

MainPhotoTwoBrothers.jpg

Two Brothers' Journey Through the Drilling Industry

AI and Drought Concerns

AI’s Growing Thirst for Water and Power

demo of a DM450 drilling rig during a customer factory visit

Built for You: Smarter Drill Rigs, Stronger Support, Bigger Opportunities

The Driller Classifieds

COMPRESSORS

EAST WEST MACHINERY & DRILLING IS BUYING AND SELLING AIR COMPRESSORS, AIR BOOSTERS, AIR ENDS & PARTS
Company: East West Machinery

DRILL RIGS

LOOKING FOR LATE MODEL TOPHEADS & DRILLTECH D25'S
Company: Spikes’s Rig Sales

DRILL RIG PARTS

MEETING DRILLERS NEEDS AROUND THE WORLD
Company: East West Machinery

ELEVATORS

SEMCO INC. PIPE ELEVATORS
Company: Semco Inc.

GROUTERS

GROUTING EQUIPMENT - GROUT PUMPS & GROUT HOSE REELS
Company: Geo-Loop Inc.

PUMP HOISTS

SEMCO INC. - BASIC PUMP HOISTS
Company: Semco Inc.

WELL PACKERS

LANSAS PRODUCTS - INFLATABLE WELL PACKERS
Company: Vanderlans Lansas Products

WELL SCREENS

WELL SCREENS & SLOTTED PIPE
Company: Alloy Screen Works

Products

Water Quality Engineering: Physical / Chemical Treatment Processes

Water Quality Engineering: Physical / Chemical Treatment Processes

By carefully explaining both the underlying theory and the underlying mathematics, this text enables readers to fully grasp the fundamentals of physical and chemical treatment processes for water and wastewater.

See More Products

Subscribe to The Driller Newscast

Related Articles

  • watertestingPFAs.png

    EPA Developing New Methods to Test for Contaminants in Water

    See More
  • Petroleum Minor

    New Minor in Petroleum Systems at S.D. School of Mines & Technology

    See More
  • nd-bb-sje-water-sensor-web-032022.jpg

    SJE Rhombus Launches Water Sensor Companion Product

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • M:\General Shared\__AEC Store Katie Z\AEC Store\Images\ND\new site\water-and-wastewater-treatm.gif

    Water and Wastewater Treatment: A Guide for the Nonengineering Professional, Second Edition

  • M:\General Shared\__AEC Store Katie Z\AEC Store\Images\ND\new site\drinking-water-disinfection.gif

    Drinking Water Disinfection Techniques

  • M:\General Shared\__AEC Store Katie Z\AEC Store\Images\ND\new site\water-quality-eng.gif

    Water Quality Engineering: Physical / Chemical Treatment Processes

See More Products
×
Junhong Chen’s new sensor technology consists of a tiny chip, about 1 centimeter by .5 centimeters. Source: Junhong Chen
Using the graphene-based sensor, E. coli detection goes from taking tens of hours to just seconds. Source: Junhong Chen

Dig deeper into the drilling and water supply industry!

Build your knowledge with The Driller, covering the people, equipment and technologies across drilling markets.

SIGN UP NOW
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
    • Classifieds
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eNewsletters
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing

The Driller
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
The Driller
  • NEWS
    • Water
    • Geothermal
    • Construction
    • Environmental
    • Mining
    • All Industry News
  • CLASSIFIEDS
  • EQUIPMENT
    • Rigs & Heavy Equipment
    • Consumables
    • Pumps
    • Featured Products
  • SAFETY
  • VIDEOS
    • Newscast
    • Drill Talks
    • Ask Brock
    • Emerging Drillers
  • EDUCATION
    • Drilling Business Insights
    • Reference Desk
    • Sponsored Insights
  • SOURCEBOOK
  • EVENTS
    • Conferences & Demo Days
    • Newscast LIVE
  • SUBMIT
    • Drillers @Work
  • ABOUT
    • Contact
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP