A powerful new software tool that can accurately predict the performance of biofilters used by the water industry could reduce the challenge of maintaining the purity of tap water.

Researchers from the University of Glasgow’s James Watt School of Engineering developed the tool, called the Environmental Buckingham Pi Neural Network, or EnviroPiNet.

It uses machine learning techniques paired with sophisticated physical modeling to predict the ability of biofilters to remove organic carbon compounds from water with up to 90% accuracy. The tool is now available online for free use.