11 new innovative projects co-funded by Partners for Water

Curaçao faces significant beach erosion requiring costly sand suppletion and breakwater construction to maintain coastal protection. Current methods demand frequent intervention, placing financial strain on the government whilst providing only temporary solutions to ongoing erosion challenges.

Blue21 Consulting will conduct a feasibility study for an innovative floating breakwater system designed to minimise coastline erosion. The solution uses hydromechanical modelling software to tune and optimise the floating structure, offering a more sustainable alternative to traditional methods. This approach would reduce the frequency of expensive sand suppletion and breakwater construction, enabling the government to achieve significant cost savings whilst providing effective long-term coastal protection for the island.

GreenFresh Aquaponics will pilot a closed-loop aquaponics system combining fish raising with soilless crop cultivation. The technology uses 90% less water than conventional practices whilst eliminating external chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Low-tech locally designed greenhouses powered by solar energy ensure year-round food production in a protected environment, independent of rain and weather patterns. This sustainable agricultural technology offers Ghana an innovative solution for efficient and environmentally friendly food production whilst reducing input costs.

This project aims to develop efficient and sustainable wastewater treatment solutions that can contribute to water and food security whilst supporting agricultural practices in the Jordan’s challenging environmental conditions.

The consortium will pilot photogranular technology, a microalgae-bacteria system developed in the Netherlands that offers significant advantages over existing wastewater technologies. It demands low energy, requires no chemical additions, and recovers valuable resources. The reclaimed water and resulting biomass can be used for irrigation and as organic fertilisers, contributing to local water security and sustainable agricultural practices. Its modular design enables flexible, cost-effective and circular wastewater treatment.

Many areas in Kenya face fluoride contamination in water sources, requiring effective household-level treatment solutions that can operate reliably in rural settings.

Following a successful Partners for Water feasibility study, this pilot project will incorporate HAPaqua into the Nazava Water Filter for fluoride removal. Nazava is Kenya’s only WHO-tested household water filter. It effectively removes dirt and bacteria and is accessible for rural households. The innovation integrates an anti-fluoride add-on filled with hydroxyapatite (HAPaqua) into the existing Nazava system. This pilot will demonstrate the enhanced filter’s effectiveness in providing comprehensive water treatment for rural households.

Santa Cruz Xoxocotlán faces severe water challenges with untreated wastewater discharged into natural waterways and frequent urban flooding due to inadequate stormwater capture systems. The city also lacks sufficient green spaces, worsening the Urban Heat Island effect.

MODULAGUA will conduct a feasibility study for an integrated system combining a Flotation Bio Reactor with Nature-based Solutions to capture, treat, and reuse both wastewater and stormwater whilst expanding urban green areas. The innovative approach eliminates harmful emissions, produces reusable fertilisers, and enables water reuse for irrigation with low operational costs. The study will assess technical conditions, engage stakeholders, and develop implementation roadmaps.

The Mexican coastline of Quintana Roo faces coastal erosion from rising sea levels. Strong waves wash away tourist-attracting sands and damage vital coastal infrastructure whilst threatening marine habitats.

Reefy will pilot its innovative ReefBlock solution, a “Lego-like” block featuring complex tunnels and rugosities designed to assemble into stable submerged breakwater structures. The system addresses both coastal erosion and marine habitat loss by protecting coastlines whilst providing suitable substrate for reef-building organisms. This pilot will demonstrate ReefBlock’s functionality at scale, validating effectiveness in coastal protection and ecosystem restoration in a tropical environment.

Farmers along sand rivers in Mozambique lack accessible irrigation technology to tap into available water resources.

Watt will pilot FlexFLID, a flexible service model for Farmer-Led Irrigation Development along sand rivers. The project promotes a technology package including a hand-drilled well point system and small solar-powered pump, enabling farmers to cultivate small irrigation plots of 2,000 m². This technological innovation is complemented by creating Solar Irrigation Agencies in local towns XaiXai, Chokwe, and Chibuto. The pilot will demonstrate the effectiveness of this integrated approach combining accessible technology with local service provision.

This project aims to improve water security and agricultural productivity for smallholder farmers in Nepal’s Syangja region, particularly during dry seasons when efficient irrigation becomes critical in the challenging mid-hill terrain.

FutureWater will pilot the Smart Sprayer package, combining a low-cost, gravity-fed micro-pivot irrigation system designed for very water pressure with a mobile-based Smart Irrigation Tool. Farmers receive daily, crop-specific irrigation recommendations via WhatsApp or SMS using satellite imagery and weather forecasts. Extension officers access a dashboard version for broader support. The project will demonstrate technical and economic feasibility whilst building local capacity for long-term use.

This project addresses Pakistan’s experiences of flash drought events. FutureWater will pilot I-DIP InfoSequia, a system that combines satellite data with ground-based observations and machine learning algorithms to monitor and forecast flash drought impacts. The system’s modular and flexible architecture allows developers to add new features and indices as needed. This pilot will demonstrate the system’s effectiveness in providing accurate drought forecasting capabilities, enabling better preparation and response to drought conditions.

Conventional water treatment methods face challenges in providing safe and sustainable water production whilst maintaining environmental responsibility.

Following a successful Partners for Water feasibility study, FerrTech will pilot the GREENCHEM project using FerSol®, an innovative green chemical for algae-impaired water treatment. FerSol® provides a sustainable alternative to traditional pre-chlorination enhanced coagulation, delivering improved water quality, lower treatment costs, reduced environmental impact, and simpler engineering. Recognised as the most innovative SME technology of 2023, this pilot will demonstrate FerSol®’s effectiveness in providing safe, sustainable water production through environmentally friendly chemistry approaches.

Lakes often suffer from internal nutrient loading causing eutrophication. Conventional solutions like dredging or chemical dosing are costly, temporary, and often environmentally damaging.

LG Sonic will pilot Phos-Out, a novel technology providing sustainable phosphorus removal from lake sediments without harming ecosystems. The system uses porous, iron-enhanced medium that binds phosphate at the sediment-water interface, placed above the lakebed and maintained using solar-powered mixers with real-time monitoring. Unlike conventional methods, Phos-Out is low-impact, scalable, and regenerative. Once saturated, the media can be regenerated and reused, supporting circular nutrient recovery whilst contributing to climate resilience and biodiversity protection.

The Partners for Water programme (PfW) aims to stimulate innovation, by giving advice and financial support to Dutch companies and organisations. In support of that, we are hosting the Partners for Water Innovation Hub in Utrecht, on Thursday 11 September 2025. Join the Innovation Hub event.