International Triathlon Union agree partnership for fast and reliable water quality tests

Tecta-PDS is pleased to announce that it has partnered with the International Triathlon Union (ITU) for delivering fast and reliable microbiological water quality tests in ITU sanctioned events. The Tecta portable laboratory, already implemented in the 2019 ITU World Triathlon Olympic Qualification Event in Tokyo, allows the ITU staff to obtain results of E-Coli and Enterococci bacteria in the body of water tested in less than 12 hours.

“For ITU, the health and safety of our athletes is our first priority, but also is a priority our commitment with the clean environments, sustainability and legacy wherever we go, and with this partnership we show once again that we are not only talking, we are taking actions”, said ITU President and IOC member, Marisol Casado. “Partnering with someone that will help us swim in cleaner environments, work with LOCs to improve the water quality everywhere we go and leave that legacy to the host cities is something of paramount importance not only for our organization, but also should be a priority for all, to do our contribution to make the world a better and cleaner place”, she said.

“For us, partnering with TECTA means that we are able to have results of the water quality tests in such a short period of time allows the Technical team on site to take decisions in the last minute, always according to the quality of the body of water”, said ITU Sports Director, Gergely Markus.

Working with the portable Tecta Lab in the Tokyo Test Event proved to be decisive for us, giving ITU the ability to take decisions by having the latest data available. The portable lab is really easy and simple to use, and gave the ability to know if the water quality levels were above our threshold within 12 hours. The results were completely reliable, and matched the ones we received from the laboratory used by the LOC, which came 48 hours later.

During the four days of the Test Event, as well as the week before, the ITU Team in Tokyo performed two daily tests of the water at Odaiba Bay. Both the tests performed on the Tecta Laboratory and in the LOC Laboratory showed low levels of E-Coli and Enterococci in the days leading up to the event.

But the Tecta results confirmed the breach of the protective curtain on August 16th/17th, providing valuable data for ITU to take the decision of cancelling the swim leg of the Paratriathlon event, as well as the swim familiarization for the Mixed Relay, according to the water quality tests.

The rapid E-Coli results from the portable laboratory proved to be crucial to maintain the health and safety of all athletes, preventing potential illness. The results from the LOC laboratory, which came back 48 hours later, confirmed the ones provided by Tecta.