AI Is Now Hunting For Toxins In Your Water

The National Science Foundation is funding a project at the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology to tackle a tricky water safety problem. Researchers will use machine learning to analyze and predict the toxicity of countless 'disinfection byproducts' (DBPs) that form when water is treated.

Here's the deal: cleaning our water with disinfectants like chlorine is essential, but it creates a chemical soup of byproducts. It's impossible and wildly expensive to test every single one to see if it's harmful. This means water utilities and regulators are often flying blind, unsure which chemicals pose the biggest health risks.

This AI-driven approach will create a 'most wanted' list of high-risk DBPs. This allows regulators to focus their money and attention on the actual threats, leading to smarter rules for water treatment plants and ultimately, safer tap water for you without the cost of testing everything under the sun.