Mr. Manop Thamsirianan, Chief Executive Officer of Silicon Craft Technology Public Company Limited, a leader in the design and production of smart microchips for RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology, announced that the company has developed a portable smart water quality testing card (Water Card) that operates without batteries. This card is designed to assess the suitability of water for consumption, utilizing microchip technology based on NFC (Near Field Communication) that allows readings via mobile phones, connecting to a smart sensor for quick and easy measurement of various components.

Water Card is beneficial for consumers who are concerned about the quality of water for drinking and cooking, especially in light of the severe drought conditions that have persisted, leading to critically low water levels in major reservoirs. This has resulted in insufficient water to push back saltwater during high tide, as well as issues with salinity in the Chao Phraya River, which affects the production of tap water in Bangkok and surrounding areas. Although the current tap water quality meets World Health Organization guidelines, there are times when the taste of tap water in certain areas may become brackish, posing risks for vulnerable groups such as kidney and heart patients, and young children.

Additionally, during the rainy season, flooding raises concerns about potential chemical contaminants in various water sources, which could impact health and increase the risk of foodborne illnesses. The preliminary water quality testing provided by this card will help instill a certain level of confidence that the water is clean and safe for consumption,” Mr. Manop stated.

The portable smart water quality testing card Water Card is used to analyze the chemical purity of water, focusing on one of the key indicators of drinking water quality: TDS (Total Dissolved Solids), which measures the amount of suspended or dissolved solids in water, including minerals, salts, metals, and various molecules and particulates. It provides a total analysis of TDS only, and according to World Health Organization (WHO) standards, the safe level of TDS in drinking water should not exceed 500 ppm.

The procedure for checking water quality is as follows:
1. Drop the water to be tested, such as tap water, groundwater, or rainwater, onto the Water Card at the designated reading area.
2. Open the Liquid Meter or Smart Care application, available for download on Android and iOS.
3. Place a mobile phone with NFC on the card.
4. The processing time is quick, taking no more than 5 seconds, after which the TDS value will be displayed in the application, indicating whether the water meets the established safety standards.

Moreover, the Water Card can be used up to 100 times and allows for easy data storage both on mobile devices and in the cloud.