WaterSense

What it does

Over 63% of EU rivers and lakes are critically polluted. Water quality is still monitored manually and rarely. WaterSense through it's innovative technology enables real-time, precise water quality monitoring accessible for everyone - see on www.watermap.pl

Your inspiration

In summer 2022, a unexpected toxic algal bloom devastated the Oder River in Poland, causing extensive fish kills (360t) and serving as a stark reminder that still inland water quality is measured manually, leading to randomness and an incomplete reflection of changes in ecosystems demonstrating widespread issue across Europe - a dire shortage of technologically suitable solutions for continuous inland water monitoring. To better capture the dynamics of inland waters, more frequent, precise and automated measurements are required. Thus, we initiated WaterSense aiming to bridge this gap, providing a breakthrough innovative solution

How it works

WaterSense is a two-layer system combining advanced hardware with intelligent software. Its core, the WaterStation, is a modular and autonomous platform designed for rivers and lakes. A central unit collects data and transmits it via GSM, while WaterSensor modules carry rolls of printed, disposable sensors, lasting up to 12 months. These sensors monitor over 20 key parameters (e.g., pH, dissolved oxygen, nitrates, chlorides, conductivity). Once a day, the system automatically replaces the used sensor, much like shifting film in an analog camera, ensuring laboratory grade accuracy with no manual servicing. Power comes from hydrogenerator module, allowing year-round, fully autonomous and maintenance-free operation. Data is processed in WaterCloud and visualized publicly at www.watermap.pl for everyone. Proprietary AI WaterForecast Model enable early detection of pollution up to 72 hours in advance, making WaterSense a crucial tool for protecting water ecosystems.

Design process

In less than six months, we developed the first prototype - WaterStation Mini, along with WaterCloud, our cloud-based data platform, and www.watermap.pl, a public tool for visualizing real-time water quality. More than 20 of these solutions are now being actively tested and optimized in collaboration with institutions such as Warsaw Waterworks, Radom Waterworks, City of Warsaw, municipalities and others. Prototypes are deployed in diverse environments to assess long-term reliability and are continuously improved in terms of structural durability, energy efficiency, and biofouling resistance under real-world conditions. Simultaneously, we began developing WaterStation, our flagship modular monitoring station equipped with WaterSensors—proprietary, printed electrochemical sensors. These sensors have successfully reached performance levels for six key parameters: pH, dissolved oxygen, chlorides, nitrates, ammonium ions, and conductivity. Further iterations aim to boost precision and expand capabilities. Our AI-powered WaterForecast module is live in beta at www.watermap.pl, predicting pollution trends 72h in advance with initial 11% accuracy, now being refined for autonomous use and ready for model fine tuning at each WaterStation Mini location to enhance accuracy even more.

How it is different

WaterSense stands out with its unique sensing system that can pump water from three customizable depths directly into the measurement chamber, allowing for precise stratified sampling. It can monitor over 20 different physico-chemical parameters. Each sensor every month or when it's needed undergoes fully automated regular two-point calibration using built-in dosing calibration solutions, ensuring long-term laboratory grade measurements without any human intervention. This enables the system to operate autonomously for months, even in harsh environments. What's even more put WaterSense apart is its integration of an AI-powered prediction model. While conventional solutions merely detect existing anomalies—like thermometers indicating a fever—WaterSense provides full diagnostics. It anticipates changes in water quality before they occur, allowing for early detection of environmental threats and enabling timely, preventive action to protect aquatic ecosystems.

Future plans

The first 20+ WaterStation Mini prototypes are currently being field-tested with partners and results are live at www.watermap.pl. In 2025, we plan to launch the full WaterStation modular construction with more than 20 available sensors and deploy 50 units in Poland. By 2026, we’ll expand across Europe, and in 2027 enter the U.S. market. Our vision: Real-time water quality monitoring accessible to everyone without any excuse, enabling early threat detection and smarter, data-driven decisions for governments, cities, municipalities, companies and the most important - the people. Clean water isn’t just our goal, it’s our promise.

Awards

WaterSense was showcased by Poland’s EU Presidency in #WeDidItInPoland campaign, that you can see here: https://wediditinpoland.eu/en/ and won awards incl. ING Grant Program, Warsaw Booster 25, and Carpathian StartUp Fest 2024 Innovation Challenge.