Award-Winning Irish Water Tech Company Appoints New CEO

6th January 2024

Colm Lynch is the new chief executive of Irish Water Tech Company Aquamonitrix

An Irish technology company specialising in monitoring of drinking water, along with aquaculture and the environment, has appointed Colm Lynch as its new chief executive.

Aquamonitrix develops and sells “next generation” analysers for nitrite and nitrates, to prevent contamination of water.

It recently won the inaugural Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) “Aquatech Business of the Year” award.

Lynch has been chief operating officer with the company. A graduate of UCD and Trinity College, he has 25 years’ experience in the environment industry, and held senior roles in Irish Building Chemicals, Labscan and GKA Technologies before joining TE Laboratories as head of operations in 2018.

The company’s founder and current CEO Mark Bowkett will continue in a director role and will support Lynch on commercial activities.

Based in Tullow, Co Carlow, Aquamonitrix is a spin-off from oil and environmental analysis company TE Laboratories.

The company houses four laboratories and a R&D centre in a dedicated 40,000 square foot facility staffed by an expert, multi-disciplinary team in Tullow.

It currently employs over 50 people, most of whom are chemists, engineers or full-time researchers.

The analysers develop by the company deliver the accuracy of laboratory-based tests in real time on site, with high frequency monitoring and instant alerts for the protection of drinking water, aquaculture and the environment.

The analyser can also support controlling water aeration, helping reduce energy consumption and nitrous oxide (a greenhouse gas) emissions.

Recently Aquamonitrix confirmed that it had agreed a year-long nitrite and nitrate testing trial with Thames Water, Britain’s biggest water and sewerage company with around 15 million customers across London and the Thames Valley.

“Organisations around the world have embraced the need for innovative technologies that provide opportunities for continuous emission reduction, and I am delighted to be working with a dedicated team bringing new products that will make a difference,” Lynch said. 

“If successful, the implementation of our technology in the day to day operations of Thames Water operations could hugely reduce energy consumption and process emissions, and make a serious contribution towards emission reductions,” he said.

Published in Marine Tech, Aquaculture, Marine Science

Published in Marine Tech

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About Marine Technology

Marine technology, as defined by the European association WEGEMT, refers to the use of technology for ensuring the safe use, exploitation, protection of, and intervention in, the marine environment. This includes a wide range of technologies that support naval architecture, marine engineering, ship design, ship building, and ship operations.

In addition to these foundational technologies, marine technology also encompasses oil and gas exploration, exploitation, and production, hydrodynamics, navigation, sea surface and sub-surface support, underwater technology and engineering, marine resources (including both renewable and non-renewable marine resources), transport logistics and economics, inland, coastal, short sea and deep sea shipping, protection of the marine environment, and leisure and safety.

The importance of marine technology cannot be overstated. With over 70% of the earth's surface covered by water, the marine environment plays a critical role in our lives. From transportation to energy production, marine technology enables us to harness the immense potential of the oceans while minimizing the impact on the environment.

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In Ireland, claims are made that the island country "has the potential to be the “Silicon Valley” of the aquatech world". Ireland is at a very exciting stage when it comes to aquatech. There are currently 62 aquatech companies operating here, all using technology to enable sustainable seafood farming at a time when the sector is facing many challenges.”

Ireland’s growing expertise in the developing aquatech sector means it has the potential to become a global leader in the field, with Irish aquatech companies turning over €200m last year.

Over €15m has been invested in aquatic businesses, and over 200 high-tech jobs have been created in the sector over the last six years.

In conclusion, marine technology is a vast and rapidly evolving field encompassing a broad range of technologies and applications. As we continue to explore and exploit the potential of the oceans, marine technology will play an increasingly important role in ensuring the safe and sustainable use of these resources.