Firm's septic technology 'peace of mind for your behind'
A P.E.I. company has received $100,000 in provincial special funding to take its septic system technology to market.
Kelly Galloway's company Engineering Technologies Canada has designed the Septic Sitter, a device that uses sound waves to determine the water level in a septic system.
The monitor uses Wi-Fi to upload the information to the internet so the homeowner can check instantly by mobile device or computer to find out if their septic system is at risk of backing up.
"It's taking a reading on what the level is in the drainfield underground," said Galloway.
"[It takes] the guesswork out of it so homeowners don't have to worry whether they might be overloading their system. And to, most importantly, alert of a problem before it becomes a $20,000 failure."
The unit will cost about $500 per system, says Galloway.
ETC is currently running two test cases at homes in Stratford and monitoring the septic systems from its office.
"It's peace of mind for your behind," jokes Galloway.
5 companies received $100K
Innovation and Advanced Learning Minister Allen Roach announced Tuesday that the province was giving special funding to ETC and four other companies under the Development and Commercialization Fund to help get their projects into the public's hands.
Each company will receive $100,000 and must match the investment.
"Approval by this committee and support from our development and commercialization fund represents a vote of confidence, from your peers in business and research, as well as from the government of Prince Edward Island," said Roach.
The other successful applicants are:
- MAXIMUS Canada Services (Deltaware Systems) — enhancement of its existing public sector benefits management solution Medigent for use in the United States Medicaid market;
- Somru Bioscience — development of medical test kits for patients suffering from Crohn's disease and rheumatoid arthritis;
- Mugisha Enterprises — development of Video Assistant, a wireless communication tool for film and TV crew collaboration;
- Frontier Power Systems — designing and building control systems and wind turbines for small, remote markets that are cost-effective, easily deployed and installed.
