TAPP X · Project

Smart Water Filter With Real-Time Sensors Replaces Bottled Water for Households

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Imagine a water filter you attach to your kitchen tap that not only cleans your water but also tells you exactly what's in it — like a fitness tracker, but for your drinking water. The team behind TAPP Water already sold simpler filters in 5 countries, and with TAPP X they added tiny sensors that measure water quality in real time. The idea is to show people hard proof that their filtered tap water is safe, so they stop buying plastic bottles. The data also gets shared with water utilities so they know where water quality dips in their network.

By the numbers

1 billion

Plastic bottles targeted for replacement by 2020

2 billion

Bottles per year targeted for reduction at full scale

62 million

Target households in Europe and North America

1 billion

Households worldwide with tap water access

50+

Filter technologies tested during development

Countries where TAPP filters were already sold

EUR 1,239,945

EU funding received for TAPP X development

The business problem

What needed solving

Consumers distrust tap water quality and buy billions of plastic bottles instead — generating massive waste and cost. Water utilities lack granular, real-time data about water quality at the point of consumption, making it hard to identify distribution problems before customers complain.

The solution

What was built

TAPP Water built the world's first household tap water filter with embedded sensors for real-time water quality analysis. Deliverables included a demo unit for events, beta prototypes, and pilot prototypes assembled with a production factory — covering the full path from concept to manufacturing readiness.

Audience

Who needs this

Water utilities seeking distributed water quality monitoring dataHotel and restaurant chains looking to eliminate bottled water costs and plastic wasteSmart home device companies wanting to add connected water appliancesProperty developers offering premium healthy-living amenitiesPlastic waste reduction and sustainability consultancies advising corporates

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Water utilities and municipal water providers

enterprise

Target: Municipal water utility or regional water authority

If you are a water utility struggling to monitor tap water quality across your distribution network — this project developed a sensor-based household filter that collects real-time water quality data from end users. That means crowd-sourced water quality mapping without deploying expensive fixed monitoring stations. TAPP Water already tested over 50 filter technologies and assembled pilot prototypes with a production factory.

Hospitality and food service

mid-size

Target: Hotel chain or restaurant group concerned about water quality and plastic waste

If you are a hospitality company dealing with rising costs of bottled water and guest complaints about tap water taste — this project built a compact tap-mounted filter with real-time quality sensors that proves water safety to consumers. The system targets 62 million households in Europe and North America, but the same technology fits commercial kitchens and hotel rooms. The sensor data gives you documented proof of water quality for health and safety compliance.

Consumer electronics and smart home

any

Target: Smart home device manufacturer or IoT platform company

If you are a smart home company looking for new connected appliance categories — this project created the first household water filter with embedded sensors that analyse water quality in real time and transmit data. The technology combines filtration hardware with IoT data collection, fitting into existing smart home ecosystems. TAPP Water received EUR 1,239,945 in EU funding to move from beta prototypes to production-ready pilot units.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What does this system cost compared to standard water filters?

The project data does not disclose per-unit pricing for TAPP X. However, the company positioned it as an affordable alternative to bottled water for 62 million households in Europe and North America. Based on available project data, pricing details would need to come directly from the company.

Can this scale to industrial or commercial water monitoring?

The project focused on household use, targeting 62 million households initially. The sensor and data collection technology could potentially serve commercial buildings or distributed water quality networks, but the prototypes were designed for tap-mounted consumer units. Pilot prototypes were assembled with a production factory, suggesting manufacturing scale-up was underway.

What is the IP situation — can I license this technology?

TAPP Water SL is the sole consortium partner and likely holds all IP from the project. The company tested over 50 filter technologies before developing TAPP X, so there is significant proprietary know-how. Licensing terms would need to be negotiated directly with TAPP Water.

Is this technology tested and certified for drinking water safety?

The project conducted tests with water institutes and blind test panels. Deliverables included beta prototypes and pilot prototypes assembled with a production factory, indicating significant validation. Based on available project data, specific drinking water certifications are not mentioned but would be expected for market launch.

How quickly could we deploy this in our operations?

The project ran from 2018 to 2020 and is now closed. Deliverables progressed from demo versions through beta prototypes to pilot prototypes with a production factory, suggesting the technology reached near-production readiness. Current availability should be checked via the company website at tappwater.co.

What data does the sensor actually collect and how is it transmitted?

TAPP X analyses tap water quality in real time, though the project data does not specify which exact parameters the sensors measure. The data is intended both for consumers (to build trust in filtered tap water) and for water providers and municipalities to understand water quality in their area.

Consortium

Who built it

This is a single-company project: TAPP Water SL, a Spanish SME that received EUR 1,239,945 through the EIC SME Instrument Phase 2. The 100% industry consortium with no university or research partners signals a commercially driven project — this is a company that already had products on the market and used EU funding to develop and scale a specific next-generation product. For a business partner, this means you are dealing with a company focused on getting to market, not a research lab. The lack of academic partners suggests all IP sits cleanly with one entity, simplifying any licensing or partnership discussions.

How to reach the team

TAPP Water SL is based in Spain. Contact the founders Magnus Jern and Alex Schwartz via the company website tappwater.co.

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Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want an introduction to the TAPP Water team to explore licensing, distribution, or technology integration? SciTransfer can arrange a qualified meeting — contact us for details.

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