Between 4 and 11 July, the WAVE Partnership held a series of in-person workshops and events in the Aconcagua Valley in Chile, kicking off its three-year strategy for bringing the catchment back into balance. 

Water is becoming an ever scarcer resource. The impacts of climate change and overproduction on water security are becoming clear in real time. Agriculture is both a driver and victim of this, representing over 70% of global freshwater withdrawals, whilst increasingly being affected by droughts and other climate impacts.

Yet most projects and programmes in agriculture aimed at addressing this fall into the same trap. They focus heavily on technical solutions at farm level, without adequately addressing the market dynamics or enabling the environment needed to sustain them.

The WAVE Partnership thus focuses on building catchments in balance, where water inflows, outflows, and storage are sustainably managed to support ecosystems, communities, and long-term supply chain resilience. In doing so, it represents a shift from farm-level action to catchment-level water stewardship.

This article was produced in collaboration with New Foresight.

What is the WAVE Partnership

WAVE is a multi-stakeholder partnership consisting of supply chain partners, farmers, and government. Initiated in 2025, it is dedicated to scaling a collective action approach to strengthen water and biodiversity management in agriculture, with a focus on agri-food supply chains.

The WAVE Partnership has a three-tiered strategy focused on action at the level of farmers, supply chain, and enabling environment. It started in Chile and is gradually being scaled to other key origins at water risk, such as South Africa, Morocco, Egypt, and Mexico.

WAVE Aconcagua (2025-2028) is the first project under the WAVE Partnership. The collective action project was initiated through the RVO Partners for Water program, building on pioneering work by Nature’s Pride, the Government of the Netherlands, Greenticket, and NewForesight. The WAVE Aconcagua project is run by Nature’s Pride, Salling Group, Dole Food Company, Westfalia Fruit, the producer-driven Aconcagua Network, and the Government of the Netherlands, and is coordinated by NewForesight.

Learning from Aconcagua, Chile, brought to scale

Supported by the Partners for Water Programme, in 2023, we launched the organisation’s first project in Chile’s Aconcagua Valley – a supplier of high-quality avocado, citrus, cherries, and other fruits to the UK and EU markets – with avocado exports to these regions alone valued at 151.39 million USD per year.

However, the water balance is increasingly negative, as groundwater outflows exceed inflows due to unsustainable water extraction for agriculture and other sectors, coupled with climate change.

The NewForesight team, led by Joost Backer and Susanna Kluiver, together with Greenticket, Partners for Water, the Netherlands embassy in Chile, and Nature’s Pride, convened key actors – farmers, buyers, and government representatives – to help advance the Partnership’s goal of bringing the catchment back into balance. Between 4th and 11th July, the WAVE Partnership held a series of in-person events in Chile to kick off the next three years.

At the farm level we strengthened collaboration with the Aconcagua Network – a group of producers taking an active role in addressing these shared challenges. Together, we began work on the Regenerative Agriculture Guide to help farmers improve, measure, and communicate progress in areas such as water efficiency, water footprint, biodiversity restoration, reforestation, and carbon sequestration.

We also had the opportunity to visit Urmeneta (30 ha), Corporafruit (444 ha), and Jorge Schmidt (2,050 ha). From solar-powered irrigation to reforestation efforts and biodiversity conservation, these producers are actively implementing sustainable farming practices.

At the enabling environment level, we engaged with key government and institutional actors, including Chile’s national water authority (DGA), the Ministry of Environment, CORFO, ProChile, and regional representatives. These conversations signalled growing momentum for public–private collaboration. The WAVE Partnership aims to structurally raise dialogue at this catchment level.

At the buyer level, we engaged with teams from Nature’s Pride, Dole Food Company, and Westfalia Fruit to explore how market players can help drive the transformations needed for more sustainable and resilient supply chains. Buyers increasingly recognize the role they can play in incentivizing more sustainable farming practices and supporting producers through transition.

There is significant interest in understanding evolving demands from European markets, underscoring the importance of WAVE’s role as a bridge between producers and buyers. At the same time, producers expressed a clear need for simplification and alignment across certifications (e.g. RA, GlobalG.A.P., LEAF).

What happens next?

Water is not just a technical challenge, but a systems issue that needs to be addressed at a catchment level. This requires shared responsibility, smarter incentives, and collaborative governance. That is what the WAVE Partnership stands for; starting in Chile, and scaling up to other origins in the fresh fruits and vegetables sector.

The next steps in the partnership include deepening and expanding collaboration by engaging additional producers and strengthening ties with local governments, civil society, and the DGA. The partnership will also continue advancing work with producers on the Regenerative Agriculture Guide to support the measurement, communication, and implementation of sustainable agricultural practices.

Want to know more? Contact Joost Backer from NewForesight, the lead consultant in this work or Thaísa Martins Fernandes Pessanha from Partners for Water.

*WAVE stands for Water, Agriculture, Values, and Ecosystems – the key elements this Partnership aims to integrate into international trade and pre-competitive collaboration

In Kenya, 12.8 million people suffer from excessive fluoride exposure due to contaminated drinking water. This leads to health issues like bone deformation and discoloured teeth, as well as reduced job prospects. Now, for the first time, a consortium of four organisations has developed a unique, low-cost household filter that removes both bacteria and fluoride, without using electricity or wastewater. Funded by Partners for Water, this innovation seems to be a game changer. Nazava Water Filters’ Lieselotte Heederik and Marleen Ophorst explain more.

“Empowering households by giving them the opportunity to take control of their own water quality is the mission of Nazava Water Filters” explains Heederik, the organisation’s co-founder. Pursuing this goal, the consortium (consisting of Resilience BV, Nazava Water Filters Ltd, Harbauer Limited, and Delft University of Technology) has developed an innovative filter. It combines Nazava’s proven ceramic technology for removing bacteria with HAPaqua’s fluoride-absorbing unit, based on hydroxyapatite. Ophorst, Nazava Water Filters’ Project Manager, adds: “We believe in decentralised solutions that make safe drinking water – free from bacteria and fluoride – accessible to households in areas where that is far from guaranteed.”

Social enterprise with a mission

“Nazava is a for-profit social enterprise that has deliberately chosen a commercial model to deliver a social mission,” explains Heederik. “We believe this contributes to product sustainability and customer satisfaction. If our product doesn’t work, our customers will tell us. And if they don’t want it, they won’t buy it. The market keeps us accountable for quality and relevance.”

“Simultaneously, we are driven by a sense of justice,” Ophorst shares. “This combination makes us quite unique. There are very few companies in the water sector that combine a social mission with a commercial approach while focusing specifically on household-level solutions.”

Collaboration is key

According to Ophorst, the collaboration between the four partners runs smoothly: “Each organisation brings its own expertise. We all have a clear role and learn a lot from each other.” TU Delft contributes academic research, Harbauer brings fluoride removal expertise, and Resilience drives the project and oversees management. “We are truly complementary,” confirms Heederik. “That’s what makes the partnership strong.”

Why not reverse osmosis?

“Traditionally, fluoride contamination in drinking water is treated through reverse osmosis. But this isn’t a sustainable solution,” shares Heederik. “It’s expensive, energy-intensive, and produces wastewater.” The consortium’s solution is a true game changer. “Our filter works by gravity, completely without electricity,” says Ophorst. “That makes it much more accessible for both urban and rural households, but also allows NGOs working on water security to reach far more people, simply by reducing costs.”

Users at the centre

A major pillar of the project is involving end users. “For one month we tested our product among 50 households in Nakuru” says Ophorst. “Each week we asked them for honest feedback: ‘Don’t tell us what you think we want to hear, tell us what you really think.’” That open approach paid off. “Users even helped us think through improvements for rural communities lacking basic infrastructure and they also referred new customers who would benefit from this solution.”

“We remain in touch with our 50 first users,” Ophorst continues. “We’re still monitoring long-term performance; the amount of fluoride the filter continues to remove depends on the original water quality and how much is filtered.”

High demand and future prospects

Heederik and Ophorst have presented the project at various international conferences, including World Water Week in Stockholm and the World Water Forum in Bali, as well as events in Kenya. “At every conference, we’re reminded just how high the demand is for a sustainable bacteria and fluoride filter,” says Heederik. “We even received a call from a representative of the Nairobi dental association, showing interest in our product. That really confirms the scale of the problem.”

“People are recommending the filter to friends and family, and demand is growing,” says Ophorst. “This makes me incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved over the past year and of the whole team involved.”

A game changer in the making

Although the product is still in the testing phase, early signs are promising. “We have a solution that is scalable, sustainable, and truly meets people’s needs,” says Ophorst. “People are already calling to ask: ‘Is it available yet?’” The consortium has submitted a new funding application to test the filter with users from diverse socio-economic backgrounds.

Heederik concludes with a clear invitation: “We’re actively looking for financial, technical, and operational partners who want to help bring this game changer forward. So we can bring the smiles back to the faces of children in Kenya.”

Dutch start-up Reefy is making waves in coastal protection with its innovative ReefBlock technology, implementing Nature-based Solutions from Rotterdam to Mexico. The company launched a successful pilot in Rotterdam’s port area in 2023, and scaled up with support of the Partners for Water subsidy by bringing its ReefBlock technology to Mexico’s threatened coastline in 2024.

The ReefBlocks – large, Lego-like structures featuring complex tunnel systems – serve not only as a foundation for reef growth but also as a submerged breakwater to protect the coastline. Their expansion from Rotterdam to Mexico showcases how innovative Nature-based Solutions can be successfully adapted for international challenges.

This article was originally published on the Dutch Water Sector website.

Two years after installing an artificial reef using reef blocks in the Port of Rotterdam to reduce the impact of heavy waves and foster a rich underwater landscape, the project has proven that infrastructure development and nature restoration can go hand in hand.

The reef blocks have notably enhanced the Port of Rotterdam’s busiest shipping channel, giving rise to greater species diversity, cleaner water, and a stronger ecosystem. Monitoring shows that the reef offers shelter to a variety of marine species, increasing the biodiversity.

Modular reef design and installation

In 2023, a Dutch consortium comprising Rijkswaterstaat (Directorate-General for Public Works and Water Management), the Municipality of Rotterdam, Boskalis, and Reefy installed the ‘Rotterdam Reef’, a modular reef structure consisting of 17 three metre long and six tonne concrete blocks featuring tunnels, shaded passages, and rough textures. The structure has created a dynamic ecosystem where fish, crabs, and shrimp can thrive, offering protection for both coastlines and marine life.

Collaboration across stakeholders

In addition, the rough surfaces of the reef blocks have encouraged shellfish and the growth of algae, leading to three times higher biodiversity compared to standard concrete structures. Petra de Groene, Director of Economy and Sustainability at the Municipality of Rotterdam, said that “Learning by doing helped us bridge the gap from lab testing to real-world application, where concrete and biodiversity work hand in hand.” Research involving environmental DNA (eDNA) has confirmed that the Port of Rotterdam’s main channel serves as a crossroads for freshwater, saltwater, and migratory fish species. The reef supports fish migration, promotes continuous water circulation and enhances water quality through natural filtration.

Resilient and Storm-Ready

In terms of technical performance, the reef blocks have proven to be resilient under extreme weather conditions. All 17 blocks remained stable during severe storms, including Storm Poly in July 2023.

Over the last two years, the project has demonstrated that the artificial reef reduces wave action and promotes sediment accumulation behind it, thus increasing coastal protection and preventing erosion. Reef blocks can also make coastlines more resilient to storms and floods and, say project partners, they are ready for broader application at a global scale.

Leon Haines, Co-founder and CTO of Reefy, explained that “This project proves that nature and infrastructure can truly strengthen each other. The reef blocks are a sustainable, scalable solution for water safety and ecological restoration. We are ready to scale the technology globally and are already working on projects ranging from rivers in the Netherlands to the tropical Caribbean in Mexico!”

Partnerships Across Sectors

The project’s success is credited to strong collaboration among partners. Reefy developed the modular technology, seamlessly merging coastal protection with ecosystem restoration. Boskalis managed the installation of the reef blocks, drawing on their expertise in hydraulic engineering and coastal defence. The Municipality of Rotterdam supported innovation and ecological monitoring, gathering valuable environmental data. Rijkswaterstaat championed the initiative for nature-inclusive infrastructure in the Port of Rotterdam.

The reef blocks project aligns with the goals of the European Water Framework Directive, which aims to improve habitats for aquatic plants and animals while enhancing overall water quality.

“Too much fluoride in water can cause brown teeth and other health issues. In Kenya’s Rift Valley, people live with that reality every day.” Begüm Tanis and Guus Wiersma from TU Delft explain how they are working on a practical water solution to provide safe drinking water: a household water filter designed to tackle both excess fluoride and bacterial contamination. Supported by the Partners for Water programme, the project aims to improve water security while reducing costs and plastic waste.

Wiersma, project coordinator, and Tanis, assistant professor, both work at TU Delft’s Water Management Department. They are part of a consortium comprising Harbauer Limited, Resilience BV, Nazava Water Filters Ltd., and Delft University of Technology. Their shared goal? Safe, affordable drinking water—without the environmental cost.

Synergising proven water solutions

“The two components of the solution are both already existing technologies,” explains Wiersma. “We combined Nazava’s ceramic filter, which is highly effective at removing bacteria and viruses, with the HAPaqua system.” The latter is an adsorbent filter designed to reduce fluoride levels, using Hydroxyapatite as its base material.

Tanis adds: “The system operates with granular material through which the water flows, allowing the fluoride to bind to the granules. As the water passes through the filter, the fluoride is captured by the material, resulting in water with significantly reduced fluoride content.”

Addressing a critical health concern

The project targets Kenya’s Rift Valley, where naturally occurring fluoride in the groundwater often exceeds safe levels. “Most people in the region are aware that consuming too much fluoride can lead to health problems, such as brown or mottled teeth—also known as dental fluorosis,” explains Wiersma.
Tanis adds: “In the past, many residents relied on bone char (charcoal made from animal bones) to filter out fluoride. But this method has several drawbacks, including health concerns, inconsistent quality, and limited filtration capacity.”

“The impact on the daily lives of users will be significant,” says Wiersma. He shares that the initial response from the communities has been very open and positive.

Benefits beyond clean water

The filter can be used with various water sources, including rainwater, groundwater, and even surface water. However, the impact of this innovation goes beyond simply providing safe drinking water. “Currently, people buy bottled water when they can afford it. But with the Nazava filter, you can treat up to 7,000 litres of water,” Tanis explains. “That’s quite a lot.” “This saves households money by reducing the need to purchase expensive bottled water, but also significantly cuts down on plastic waste,” adds Wiersma.

Testing in real conditions

Rather than conducting tests in the Netherlands using artificially contaminated water, the team set up a laboratory in Nakuru, Kenya, to test the filters with naturally fluoridated water. “By testing on location, you get the most accurate results, because you’re using the actual water the filters are designed to treat,” explains Tanis.

The team collected water from two different boreholes, each with distinct fluoride concentrations. “We continuously used water from the same sources for each test, ensuring that the fluoride concentration in the inflow remained relatively constant,” Tanis adds. “This allowed us to reliably compare the performance of the filters under consistent conditions.”

The team also collaborated with Egerton University in Nakuru, where a local student joined the project as an intern. In addition, an undergraduate student from TU Delft spent several months in Kenya working with the prototypes and conducting water quality testing.

“It’s a great opportunity for students to work on applied, real-world projects,” says Wiersma. “The students supported us in testing two different prototypes and also conducted additional tests to examine preferential flow,” adds Tanis. “The outcomes of both the students’ tests and our tests were promising, showing that the filters effectively removed fluoride.”

Royal recognition

During a state visit to Kenya, Queen Máxima of the Netherlands and the Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Reinette Klever, were also introduced to the water solution. “Queen Máxima’s response was very positive,” says Wiersma enthusiastically. “It was great to show them our prototype. The Queen’s interest could help raise awareness of the fluoride contamination issues in the Rift Valley.”

Looking ahead: scaling for wider impact

The team has applied for the next round of Partners for Water funding to continue testing and improving the solution before scaling up. “Initially, we’ll focus on Kenya,” says Tanis, “but the Rift Valley stretches from Ethiopia through Kenya and Tanzania all the way down to Mozambique. People face the same issue throughout the region, so if you have a solution that works, why not scale it up?” Wiersma concludes: “Ultimately, our goal is to provide access to safe drinking water for everyone, while simultaneously reducing the plastic burden on the environment.”

Malawi is increasingly grappling with severe flooding. As climate change intensifies, rainfall is becoming more extreme, leaving communities with little time to prepare. While early warning systems exist, they fall short when it comes to dealing with flash floods. Processing takes too long, predictions lack precision and crucial data is often inaccessible due to licensing restrictions and costly software. The result? People receive warnings too late or not at all, resulting in potential loss of life and damage to infrastructure and possessions.

Time for change. With support from the Partners for Water subsidy scheme, an effective collaboration between Royal HaskoningDHV (RHDHV), Malawi’s Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services (DCCMS), the Department of Water Resources (DWR), Malawi Red Cross Society (MRCS) and the Netherlands Red Cross’ data and digital team, 510 (NLRC 510) has developed a revamped early warning system. By integrating improved forecasting models into the open-source Impact-Based Forecasting Portal (IBF), this initiative is setting a new benchmark for flood management in Malawi and beyond. The new system expands on what was already in place, enhancing key aspects that needed strengthening.

Building on the foundation of early warning systems

Malawi has long recognised the importance of early warning systems in protecting communities from flooding. However, many of the existing tools faced limitations that reduced their effectiveness, especially in the case of flash floods:

• Generalised predictions – Global datasets often lacked the local detail needed for accurate, on-the-ground forecasts.
• Delays in processing – In rapidly changing weather conditions, timely data delivery is critical. In the case of flash floods, most warnings arrive too late.
• Limited access – Many systems require costly licenses or are too complex for widespread use.
• Communication gaps – Even when warnings are issued, they do not always reach the right people, or be clearly understood at the community level.

By identifying these areas for improvement, the project team was able to develop a system that is faster, more accurate and inclusive.

The solution: IBF with advanced forecasting models

The team recognised the potential of NLRC 510’s Impact-Based Forecasting Portal (IBF) and wanted to expand its capabilities. Unlike many other tools, the IBF System does not just provide raw data; it offers an intuitive digital environment where all relevant information is consolidated. This enables disaster managers to make timely, well-informed decisions.

To make a real difference, IBF required an upgrade: A Flash Flood Forecasting Module. This new feature integrates local flood models with external rainfall data, significantly improving accuracy. The team had already developed advanced hydrodynamic and hydrological models for Karonga and Rumphi, two flood-prone cities, but they lacked a way to integrate these models into a functioning early warning system.

Partners for Water then stepped in on request, co-financing further development. As a result, IBF can now handle flash floods more effectively and is scalable for other regions facing climate-related challenges.

From forecasting to action: making warnings work

A high-tech forecasting system is great, but if people do not act on its warnings, it is useless. That is why IBF was designed with accessibility and usability in mind. In collaboration with UNICEF, MRCS and NLRC 510, several strategies were developed to ensure warnings lead to action such as:

• WhatsApp alert groups – Local meteorologists and disaster responders send daily updates and emergency warnings in real time.
• Local early warning systems – Megaphones, radio broadcasts and motorbike couriers ensure that even those without smartphones receive timely alerts.
• Warnings in local languages – By translating alerts into regional dialects, everyone can understand what is happening and what they need to do.

Thanks to this combination of digital and traditional communication channels, the system reaches even the most remote villages. People can now take precautionary measures and better prepare for extreme weather events.

Impact so far – and what comes next

With the new IBF System in place, Malawi is now far better equipped to handle flash floods. The system has already proven effective, issuing timely warnings that allowed authorities and residents to take preventive action.
However, there is still work to be done. The next steps for the government and local organisations in Malawi include:

• Expanding IBF to include more cities and rural areas.
• Further improving sensor networks to enhance real-time data accuracy.
• Securing long-term funding and full government adoption.

A system that endures

Where previous projects have struggled due to financial or technical constraints, IBF has been designed with sustainability in mind. The system is open-source and freely accessible, eliminating the need for costly software licenses. Additionally, the project has installed multiple monitoring stations equipped with rain gauges and water level sensors that continuously collect and process data.

However, funding remains a challenge. Sensors require maintenance, SIM cards need replacing and without structural resources, the system’s long-term effectiveness could be at risk. Herman de Jonge (RHDHV) stresses the importance of long-term financing, whether through government support, humanitarian funds, or the Early Action Protocol of MRCS, which releases emergency funding when critical thresholds , such as number of people at risk are reached.

A model for the future

The impact of this project extends well beyond Malawi. Thanks to Partners for Water’s funding, IBF can be rolled out through a broader part of Malawi. However, the impact of this project extends well beyond this East African country. The technology behind IBF is scalable and can be deployed in other climate-vulnerable regions. Moreover, the system is flexible and can be adapted to forecast other disasters, such as droughts, cyclones, or even diseases like malaria and dengue. This aligns closely with the United Nations Early Warnings for All programme, which aims to ensure that all communities worldwide have access to reliable early warning systems.

With an innovative approach and targeted investment in technology and accessibility, this project is setting a new standard in disaster prevention. With sustained resources, its impact could reach far beyond Malawi helping thousands, if not millions, of people prepare for an increasingly unpredictable climate.

To address this issue, Element15 deployed its unique BAR system water solution in Ghana’s Northern Region, in partnership with Partners for Water, and with initial support from Invest International. It contains an innovative filtration process that removes all harmful substances from the water, making it safe for consumption. In addition, the BAR filtration systems eliminate the need for boiling, allowing families to drink safe water straight from the source.

This water solution not only provides safe drinking water but also prevents releasing emissions from the open fire. These avoided emissions are converted into carbon credits, certified by Gold Standard. Revenue from these credits keeps the systems running, funds maintenance, creates local jobs and allows us to expand operations and impact – at zero cost to the communities.

Rapid urbanisation, industrial expansion and agricultural runoff are all contributing to deteriorating water quality around the world. According to a recent report from the European Commission, global urbanisation is the leading factor in landscape changes that are responsible for declining water quality. Rivers and lakes that once provided clean water are now at-risk due to unchecked pollutants entering water systems.

Traditional testing methods rely on periodic manual sampling, which lead to delays in detecting contamination. By the time pollution is identified, it has often already spread, making it difficult to trace its source and to take timely action. However, Planys Technologies (Planys), a company specialising in underwater inspection and monitoring solutions, is set to change that. Through the Partners for Water (PfW) subsidy scheme, Planys is pioneering real-time water quality monitoring, providing authorities with instant data, allowing them to swiftly detect, track and respond to pollution at its source.

Innovative pollution detection: real-time monitoring for cleaner water

At the heart of this innovation is a network of sensors that measure critical indicators such as nitrate levels, chlorine, pH, oxygen content and biochemical and chemical oxygen demand. These sensors transmit data instantly to a cloud-based dashboard, enabling real-time alerts when contamination levels exceed safe thresholds.

This simple, yet ground-breaking solution helps authorities to detect contamination in real time, significantly reducing response time and preventing pollutants from spreading unnoticed. Unlike many existing sensors, which are costly and often come with proprietary software that limits data accessibility, Planys is addressing these constraints by developing a fully integrated, end-to-end solution that is both affordable and scalable.
The system includes:

• Fixed in-situ sensors – Strategically placed in rivers and lakes for continuous water monitoring.
• Solar-powered systems – Providing reliable operations even in remote areas.
• Cloud-based dashboards – Delivering real-time alerts and visual data for swift decision-making.
• Customisable deployment – Adapting installations to meet location-specific challenges.

As Tanuj, the founder of Planys, says: “The biggest challenge is not just developing the technology, but ensuring its seamless deployment—making it accessible, affordable and effective for long-term monitoring.”

Selecting the right location

One of the biggest challenges in implementing such a system is not the technology itself, but rather its deployment and integration. The pilot project in India, will test the system at five carefully selected sites, chosen for both their pollution risks and potential for future scaling-up the technology. “Together with our counterparts we are selecting stakeholders who are serious about long-term adoption,” Tanuj explains.

The selection process takes into account a range of water bodies, including major rivers like the Yamuna and Ganga, which are undergoing extensive clean-up efforts. Additionally, smaller industrial zones and municipal water systems are also included to examine the technology’s adaptability across different contexts. Planys ensures that the solution is tested under a range of conditions, making it more robust and scalable. “The first five sites are critical,” says Tanuj, “as they will serve as a model for future deployments and demonstrate real-world impact.”

A three-way partnership for impact

Planys is leading the initiative in collaboration with:

• Planys BV (Netherlands): A subsidiary of Planys Technologies, specialising in marine robotics and underwater inspection for infrastructure owners in ports, municipalities and industrial plants.
• Varya Tech (India): An experienced player in marine, oil & gas and metallurgical industries, providing sensor deployment, logistics and quality assurance.
• Planys Technologies (India): A leader in marine robotics, holding 25+ patents and developing customised solutions for complex underwater inspections.

This collaboration combines technological innovation, field expertise and operational capabilities, enabling an effective and scalable solution adaptable to diverse environmental conditions.

Looking ahead: deployment and future scaling

The project is currently in the design and procurement phase, with sensor production underway. Over the next 3-4 months, the team will finalise the site selection and prepare for installation. By Q3 2025, the sensors will be fully deployed, followed by a 2-3 month testing and optimisation phase to ensure the system functions effectively in real-world conditions.The entire system is expected to be ready (including problem corrections) by Q4 2025.

However, implementing technology alone is not enough – making sure that authorities can act on the data is equally as important. To make real-time monitoring truly effective, Planys is working closely with local stakeholders to train users, integrate the data into existing regulatory frameworks and provide decision-making support. This ensures that when contamination is detected, authorities have the knowledge, tools and protocols in place to take immediate action, prevent further pollution and improve long-term water management strategies.

“By providing authorities with real-time, reliable data and the ability to act on it, we empower them to enforce regulations more effectively and ultimately improve water quality for millions of people,” says Tanuj. If successful, this initiative could serve as a model for other countries facing similar water quality challenges, paving the way for smarter, faster and more effective water management worldwide.

Innovation in progress series

As part of the Partners for Water 2022 – 2027 programme, several projects that received a Partners for Water subsidy will be followed from start to finish. Over the next few years, they will share their transformative journey providing insights into their promising solutions, innovative processes and collaborations with local partners, as well as their struggles, challenges and valuable lessons learned. Stay tuned and follow their journey through the Partners for Water website and LinkedIn page!

In Kenya’s Rift Valley, millions rely on groundwater containing dangerous levels of fluoride, causing serious health issues in local communities. Julius Kubai, Director of Harbauer Limited, explains how he and his consortium partners are piloting an innovative household water treatment solution that simultaneously tackles both bacterial and fluoride contamination. Funded by Partners for Water, their unique solution aims to transform lives and make safe drinking water accessible to Kenyans.

After spending two decades working in Kenya’s water sector, Julius Kubai has witnessed first-hand the challenges communities face with contaminated groundwater. From his office in Nakuru, he shares how his journey from drilling water boreholes led to developing innovative solutions for fluoride removal. “I used to work with the local Catholic Diocese drilling water boreholes for local communities. While doing so, we consistently encountered dangerously high levels of fluoride. This pushed us to do research on appropriate technology to remove fluoride and provide safe drinking water,” explains Kubai.

In 2018, Harbauer Limited took over the fluoride removal project from the Catholic Diocese. Now, it focusses on providing filters and decentralised filter stations using HAP (hydroxylapatite) filter material for households, communities and public water suppliers. Harbauer Limited, with support from a Partners for Water subsidy together with consortium partners Resilience BV, Nazava Water Filters Ltd. and Delft University of Technology, is developing a fluoride-removing add-on to enhance the existing and widely used Nazava Water Filter, which removes bacteria from water.

Severe health issues

“In many areas, especially the Rift Valley, groundwater fluoride levels are two to six times higher than the World Health Organisation’s guideline that prescribes a maximum of 1.5 milligrams of fluoride per litre of drinking water,” says Kubai. “The impact on communities is severe. Beyond brown teeth, which affects people’s self-esteem and even job opportunities, excessive fluoride can cause skeletal fluorosis – a chronic metabolic bone disease affecting bones and joints. Growing children are particularly vulnerable to these effects.”

Rift Valley where the fluoride problem occurs.

Innovative water filter solution

Harbauer Limited has demonstrated success in cleaning groundwater using HAPaqua, a special adsorbent that significantly reduces fluoride concentration. “We’re now piloting our fluoride removal technology with Nazava Water Filter’s existing ceramic filter system,” Kubai explains. “What makes our solution truly innovative is that we’re addressing two critical water quality issues at once – bacterial and fluoride contamination – at the household level.”

Testing and development

“Currently, we’re running parallel experiments with two different water sources. One in our office compound and one in a nearby community,” says Kubai. “The water source from the community has around 10 milligrams of fluoride per litre, while the one in our office compound has about 5 milligrams. This comparative testing helps us understand how the filter performs under different conditions.” While doing so, the project brings together the expertise from its multiple partners: Resilience BV leads the consortium, with Nazava Water Filters Ltd. contributing their established ceramic water filter technology. The partners are collaborating with TU Delft and Harbauer in designing and testing the new add-on component whilst ensuring community involvement.

Community-centered approach

“Our goal isn’t just to create a filter – it’s to develop a solution that communities will actually use,” stresses Kubai. “By June, we aim to have an affordable household filter that has been tested by the community. Their feedback on design and usability is crucial. We want to ensure the final product meets their needs and is acceptable to them before scaling up.” Looking ahead, Kubai is optimistic about the project’s potential impact. “Once we have a solution that’s both affordable and meets community needs, we plan to expand throughout Kenya’s fluoride-affected areas, making safe drinking water accessible to all Kenyans who need it.”

Nineteen years ago, Haanen sold his software company in the Netherlands and moved to Africa with his wife to work for various NGOs and government organisations. After working in Ghana, Tanzania and Kenya, they settled in Zambia, where they established the Jacana Foundation, which supports small-scale local entrepreneurs. “During our travels, we saw NGOs buying products directly from manufacturers and delivering them by lorry to villages. Often, this forced local shops to dump the same products, creating unfair competition. So, we thought, let’s see how we could do this differently,” Haanen explains. With Jacana, they developed a supply chain that collaborates with NGOs and local shop owners, with the initial focus on an affordable portable solar pump to address water scarcity among Zambian farmers .

The project turned out to be a success. Now, with consortium partner MetaMeta and funding from Partners for Water, they plan to develop and roll out the concept over the next two years across Zambia and beyond.

Innovative solar pomp

In sunny Zambia, Haanen shows Tabitha Bakker, writer of this article, on a digital tour of Jacana’s office grounds, which serve as both a workshop for the innovative pump and a training centre for local entrepreneurs. A water drum and solar panel stand in the middle of the lawn in front of the office. “Look,” says Haanen, lifting a small blue pump from the drum, “the farmer places this pump in a stream or well. The portable solar panel powers the pump, drawing water through the hose from the source.” He explains that not only is the pump innovative, but so is its distribution model.

Changing the supply chain

“We’ve developed a supply chain that connects local distributors, shops and NGOs. The NGOs provide farmers with vouchers to purchase a pump at a local shop for a small fee. This personal contribution is shared between the shop owner and the warehouse. Rather than NGOs delivering pumps by lorry, they now travel by scooter with vouchers in their backpacks, benefiting local entrepreneurs too.”

Affordable irrigation technology

“The innovative aspect of this irrigation technology is that it’s extremely affordable,” explains Haanen. “Typically, pumps are designed for larger water consumption. By adapting the pump to smallholder farmers’ consumption needs, it’s become much more affordable. A farmer can recover the cost with just one good maize harvest – they don’t even need a coupon or credit for that.”

Tracking the impact

The project’s impact reaches beyond the voucher recipients. “Farmers from the recipients’ networks are also buying pumps. They’ve seen the success of the voucher programme, know where to find the shops and because the pump is affordable, they can purchase it without sponsorship.” Through a specially designed app, NGOs can track pump sales from shops and warehouses, monitoring their impact beyond the initial voucher programme.

Scaling up through partnerships

“Currently, we’re working with nine local shops, a local warehouse, MetaMeta and a Chinese manufacturer for large-scale production,” says Haanen. “MetaMeta manages various SMART Centres (Simple Market-based Affordable Repairable Technologies) across Africa. These centres train the local private sector in affordable and repairable technologies for water, irrigation and sanitation. Through this network, we aim to extend our pump and supply chain model to other African countries.”

From testing to expanding

The consortium is six months into this two-year Partners for Water project. “In this first phase, we’re testing seventy Zambian-made pumps to optimise the supply chain and software. In parallel, we’re working with a Chinese manufacturer to develop a version for mass production. Next week, I’m visiting the factory to finalise material choices before production begins. And in a year and a half? We aim to have fully rolled out the concept in Zambia and be ready for international expansion.”