L2M Validation / Qc Automne 2025 / Ready, Set, Swim: Application of spectrofluorophotometry (FEEM) for better pathogen detection in Quebec’s recreational waters

Municipal beach managers across Canada face an impossible dilemma every summer: close beaches preventively and lose tourism revenue, or risk exposing swimmers to dangerous sewage contamination from aging infrastructure that overflows during heavy rainfall. Current water testing takes 24-48 hours and measures bacteria that poorly indicate actual health risks from viruses, forcing managers to make decisions with outdated, unreliable information. This project will validate the commercial potential of a revolutionary water monitoring system that uses light-based technology to detect viral contamination in real-time, enabling immediate decision-making about beach safety. Through 100+ interviews with municipal managers, public health officials, and regulatory bodies, the intern will assess market demand, understand procurement processes, and develop viable business models for this innovation. The technology could transform reactive, costly emergency testing (currently $28,000 annually per small beach) into proactive risk management, protecting both public health and tourism economies. For partner organization V1 Studio, this project validates their mission to commercialize university research that addresses critical societal challenges while demonstrating their expertise in guiding complex environmental health technologies through market validation in highly regulated sectors, positioning them as leaders in Canadian cleantech commercialization.

Faculty Supervisor:

Stephanie Loeb

Student:

Partner:

V1 Studio

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Clean Technology; Environmental Science and Technology; Water

University:

McGill University

Program: