What Brightwater Tools does

Brightwater Tools, LLC is a Brattleboro, Vermont-based for-profit company founded in 2019 as a commercial spinoff of the nonprofit Rich Earth Institute. It develops and sells onsite wastewater treatment and nutrient recovery systems built around a patented freeze concentration technology that uses purely physical freezing to separate high-strength liquid waste into non-potable reusable water and a nutrient-rich concentrate with 90% nutrient retention and a 5.8x concentration index. Its modular Treatment Train combines vacuum flush toilets and waterless urinals, a digester, the Freeze Concentrator, a patented urine Pasteurizer (capable of sanitizing up to 150 gallons per day to US EPA agricultural standards), and a granular activated carbon filter that addresses PFAS and pharmaceutical contaminants. The integrated system is automated and remotely monitored with minimal active management required.

The company sells equipment directly to multi-family green developers, forward-looking municipalities, green builders/engineers/architects, and off-grid residential customers, while also distributing the Nature Loo Alectura composting toilet as the sole US distributor and registering the U-Grow brand of recovered fertilizer in Vermont and Massachusetts. Revenue mechanics consist of hardware unit sales (eight Pasteurizers delivered in 2023, R100/R200 Freeze Concentrators, Carbon Filters), consumable fertilizer output, e-commerce distribution of Nature Loo, and grant funding; no pricing is publicly disclosed and engagement is via custom consultation. Pilot deployments and customer interest span the University of Michigan (research deployment), Vashon Island WA, Paris France (accessing an 80% subsidy regime), and a Vuna pipeline of 50–60 Swiss mountain lodges.

Brightwater Tools is supported by approximately $1.58M in disclosed funding including NSF SBIR Phase I ($250K, 2020), Phase II ($1M, 2022), and additional $200K (2024), plus a 2024 lead equity investor and sequential accelerator participation in LaunchVT, gener8tor/StartUp Rutland, and SOSV HAX. The 11–50 person team is led by CEO Kimmerly Nace and CSO Jackie Gold, with CTO Michael Jourden heading engineering; the company holds two patents (Freeze Concentrator filed 2019, Pasteurizer filed 2022) and benefits from advisors including a former Water Environment Federation president and the President/CEO of BuildingGreen.

Name

Brightwater Tools

Legal name

Brightwater Tools, LLC

Website

https://brightwatertools.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Brightwater Tools designs and sells patented onsite wastewater treatment and nutrient recovery systems built on freeze concentration technology, serving multi-family developers, municipalities, and green builders seeking to convert human waste into reusable water and concentrated fertilizer. The Brattleboro, Vermont company operates a Treatment Train of Freeze Concentrators, Pasteurizers, and Carbon Filters, distributing Nature Loo composting toilets and U-Grow fertilizer as adjacent product lines.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wastewater Treatment Equipment

NAICS

Sewage Treatment Facilities (22132), Pump and Compressor Manufacturing (33391)

SIC

Water Supply (4941), Sanitary Services (4950), Specialty Cleaning, Polishing And Sanitation Preparations (2842)

akta.pro primary industry

Onsite/Decentralized Reuse Utilities (District/Building‑Scale Reuse as a Service) (EUANAGAH)

Keywords

• Onsite wastewater treatment
• Nutrient recovery systems
• Freeze concentration technology
• Water reuse equipment
• Composting toilets

Headquarters

HQ city

Brattleboro

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Sanitation Equipment Sales: Sale of treatment equipment including Freeze Concentrators (R100 and R200 models for residential scale), Pasteurizers, and Carbon Filters. Equipment is sold individually or as integrated Treatment Train systems. Eight Pasteurizers were sold and delivered in 2023.
2. Fertilizer Products: Sale of concentrated, sanitized fertilizer produced from recovered nutrients. The U-Grow fertilizer has been registered in Vermont and Massachusetts (2025).
3. Nature Loo Distribution: Brightwater Tools is the Sole U.S. Distributor of Nature Loo Alectura composting toilet. Resells composting toilet products through natureloo.com e-commerce.
4. NSF Grant Funding: Non-dilutive funding from National Science Foundation including SBIR Phase I (2020), SBIR Phase II $1M (2022), and $200K grant (2024).

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Brightwater Tools designs, manufactures, and sells an onsite Treatment Train for high-strength wastewater consisting of the patented Freeze Concentrator, a patented Pasteurizer, and a Carbon Filter, sold individually or as an integrated system with vacuum flush collection fixtures. The equipment transforms human waste into non-potable water for reuse and concentrated sanitized fertilizer (sold under the U-Grow brand). The company also distributes the Nature Loo Alectura composting toilet as sole US distributor.

Product overview

Brightwater Tools offers a modular Treatment Train system that combines multiple technologies to process waste into resources. The core product line consists of the Freeze Concentrator (patented freeze concentration technology), Pasteurizer (pathogen destruction via heat exchange), and Carbon Filter (removes PFAS and pharmaceuticals). These components work together as an integrated onsite treatment system: vacuum flush toilets collect high-strength wastewater, which flows through a digester to the Freeze Concentrator (separating water for reuse from nutrient concentrate), then to the Pasteurizer (pathogen destruction), through the Carbon Filter (pharmaceutical removal), producing concentrated sanitized fertilizer. Brightwater Tools also distributes the Nature Loo Alectura composting toilet as a standalone solution. The company expanded in 2025 to include food waste digestion, and produces U-Grow fertilizer as the end product. Products can be purchased individually or combined into a full Treatment Train system.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• U-Grow: Fertilizer brand registered in Vermont and Massachusetts, produced from recovered nutrients through the company's treatment systems.
• Nature Loo

Products and services

• Freeze Concentrator (R100 and R200 models) Patented onsite wastewater device that uses a physical freezing process to separate high-strength liquid waste into non-potable water for reuse and a nutrient-rich concentrate, retaining approximately 90% of total nutrients with a concentration index of 5.8. Sold to developers, municipalities, and research institutions.
• Pasteurizer Sanitization unit using patented heat exchange technology to destroy pathogens in high-strength wastewater, meeting US EPA requirements for agricultural use and capable of sanitizing up to 150 gallons per day. Sold as part of the integrated Treatment Train.
• Carbon Filter Granular activated carbon filtration system that removes organic micropollutants including PFAS and pharmaceuticals from liquid wastewater, reducing contaminant emissions to the environment as part of the integrated Treatment Train.
• Nature Loo Alectura Composting Toilet Self-contained composting toilet with removable solids bins designed for tiny homes, yurts, and dwellings with limited space. Distributed exclusively in the United States by Brightwater Tools via the natureloo.com e-commerce site.
• U-Grow Fertilizer Concentrated, sanitized fertilizer produced from recovered nutrients via the Freeze Concentrator and Pasteurizer treatment train. Registered for agricultural use in Vermont and Massachusetts.

Quantifiable outcome

• Retains 92% of nutrients with concentration index of 5.8
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Rich Earth InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Parent company/non-profit founded in 2012 by Brightwater founders Abe Noe-Hays and Kim Nace. Manages nation's first community-scale urine nutrient recycling program. Spun off Brightwater Tools as for-profit entity. Brightwater CTO Abe Noe-Hays is also Research Director and Co-Founder of Rich Earth Institute.
• VunamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVuna is interested in installing Brightwater's Freeze Concentrators in 50-60 mountain lodges in Switzerland area to promote circular economy. Near-freezing temperatures ideal for freeze-concentration technology. Pilot deployment discussions ongoing.
• DeSaHmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeSaH is interested in piloting the freeze concentration system during beta testing period. If successful, would purchase Brightwater Tools products when available.
• PAE (Architecture firm)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPAE is interested in adding Brightwater Tools products to their list of design solutions for projects. Views technology as connecting buildings to broader ecology.
• Sherwood Design EngineersminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAmelia Luna from Sherwood Design Engineers notes high value of concentrating nutrients in high strength wastewater for clients' infrastructure portfolios.
• University of Michigan (CEE)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFreeze Concentrator technology deployed for use at University of Michigan for research and demonstration purposes. CEE department supports water technology innovation.
• NAWI (National Alliance for Water Innovation)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPeter Fiske, Executive Director of NAWI (a Program supported by the U.S. Department of Energy), endorsed freeze concentration technology as high demand for economically concentrating liquid wastewater.
• Dr. Nancy LoveminorOthersAdvisor with research focused on environmental biotechnology and water quality. Has worked on urine-to-fertilizer technologies with Rich Earth Institute, University at Buffalo, and Hampton Roads Sanitation District.
• Dr. Lynn BroaddusminorOthersAdvisor, 2020-21 President of Water Environment Federation (WEF). Founded Broadview Collaborative Inc. in 2014 for advancing sustainable practices in water sector.
• Nadav MalinminorOthersBoard member. Green building consultant, President and CEO of BuildingGreen. Long-serving former member of national LEED Faculty.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Toopi Organics: French startup that converts human urine into agricultural biostimulants and fertilizers. Directly comparable to Brightwater Tools' U-Grow fertilizer line and nutrient recovery approach, with similar end markets (European farmers and municipalities).
• Cambrian Innovation: EcoTech company providing resource recovery solutions for industrial wastewater, including renewable energy and water reuse. Directly comparable to Brightwater's onsite treatment and nutrient recovery value proposition for industrial and commercial customers.
• Loowatt: UK-based waterless toilet system provider with a focus on resource recovery from human waste. Directly comparable as a circular sanitation startup targeting off-grid and developing-market deployments, with a similar product/customer profile to Nature Loo and the Treatment Train.
• Hydraloop: Netherlands-based company manufacturing decentralized water recycling systems for buildings. Directly comparable to Brightwater's building-scale onsite water reuse model, targeting similar multi-family and commercial customers seeking circular water solutions.
• AquaRecycle: Decentralized wastewater treatment and water reuse systems provider. Directly comparable to Brightwater's onsite treatment train approach with a similar focus on building- and community-scale installations and nutrient recovery.

Broad incumbents

• Anaergia: Larger publicly-traded renewable energy and resource recovery company processing organic waste and wastewater. Comparable as a broader resource recovery player with municipal customers, though its scale and broader portfolio differ from Brightwater's niche focus.
• Veolia: Global water, waste, and energy management giant with significant municipal wastewater operations. Comparable as a broad incumbent in the wastewater treatment space, with the resources to enter nutrient recovery but with a much wider portfolio and centralized infrastructure focus.
• Suez: Global water and waste management major with extensive municipal wastewater and resource recovery operations. Comparable as a broad incumbent in the addressable market, with the ability to out-execute startups on municipal contracts and regulatory influence.

Emerging players

• Organica Water: Provider of decentralized biological wastewater treatment plants using fixed-film activated sludge technology. Comparable as an emerging player in decentralized/onsite treatment for municipal and commercial customers, addressing similar sustainability and regulatory drivers.

Others

• Rich Earth Institute: Parent non-profit of Brightwater Tools, operating the nation's first community-scale urine nutrient recycling program. Strongly comparable in mission, technology, and research, with a longer track record in field deployment that complements Brightwater's commercialization efforts.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/brightwater-tools

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds7 records

Investors5 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Brightwater Tools