The Chinese State Environmental Protection Agency has placed an urgent order for drinking water pollution testing kits with CheckLight Ltd., a subsidiary of Whitewater Technology Group. The Chinese will use the kits to detect the presence of possible toxins in drinking water sources in earthquake-ravaged Szechuan Province. The quake also damaged chemicals factories. The kits will be flown by special delivery this week.
Several weeks ago, CheckLight announced that it had received an order for 36 kits from the Chinese government. The Chinese placed an additional urgent order for immediate delivery following the earthquake. The kits will help in the rehabilitation of the quake-hit areas and prevent a worse humanitarian catastrophe by identifying contaminated water sources and directing people to safe sources. CheckLight is reorganizing for the delivery and postponing other orders.
CheckLight's technology uses bioluminescent bacteria to identify pollutants in water in real time. The kits are mobile for use in field conditions, enabling rapid response, saving time before significant harm is caused by contaminated water sources. The company's kits are already in use in the US, Portugal, and Hong Kong.
Whitewater, managed by chairman Ori Yogev and Hannah Gertler, specializes in investing in water safety and security companies. In March, it announced that it would invest up to NIS 10 million in CheckLight, depending on the meeting of milestones, until it achieved full control of the company.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on May 19, 2008
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