Aqua Clara International

Name

Aqua Clara International

Legal name

Aqua Clara International

Website

https://aquaclara.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Water Filtration Systems

akta.pro primary industry

Replacement Filter Cartridges & Consumables (CRAJAJAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Pitcher & Dispenser Water Filters (CRAJAJAB)

Keywords

• Water purification systems
• Household water filters
• Arsenic remediation filters
• Bio-sand filtration
• Clean water nonprofit

Headquarters

HQ city

Holland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Product Sales (Universal Cartridge Filter): Sale of Universal Cartridge Filters directly through aquaclara.co and via Walmart and Amazon marketplaces. Filter proceeds fund ACI's international clean water projects. Sold at a reasonable price for US consumers.
2. Donations and Charitable Giving: Tax-deductible donations accepted via website and mail (check payable to Aqua Clara International). AmazonSmile program donates 0.5% of eligible purchases. Recurring giving program available ($14/year, $28/2yr, $42/3yr, etc.).
3. Social Enterprise Cross-Subsidy: Dual-revenue model: consumer filter sales in the US fund subsidized provision of filtration technologies to populations living on less than $2/day in developing countries.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Aqua Clara International designs, develops, and disseminates science-based, multi-phasic water purification technologies for underserved populations. Its product portfolio includes the Universal Cartridge Filter (sold to US consumers via aquaclara.co, Walmart, and Amazon), the Bio-Sand Filter, household and facility-scale Hollow-Fiber Membrane filters, and specialized Arsenic Remediation systems. Proceeds from US filter sales cross-subsidize deployments in Kenya, Mexico, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, and other regions serving households, schools, clinics, and community water kiosks.

Product overview

Aqua Clara International is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that designs, develops, and disseminates science-based water purification technologies. The product portfolio consists of multiple filtration technologies: the Universal Cartridge Filter (a multi-phasic cartridge fitting most household products), the Bio-Sand Filter for general water purification, and specialized arsenic filtration systems including Household (SAM III), Community (SAM I/Community Filter), and Facility (SAM II/Facility Filter) scales. The company targets populations living on less than $2 per day in developing regions including Kenya, Mexico, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, and other countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Universal Cartridge Filter A multi-phasic household water filter that fits most standard filter products (compatible with Brita and PUR systems), reduces many contaminants including arsenic and PFAS, and includes a rubber seal to protect against contamination. Sold directly via aquaclara.co and through Walmart and Amazon.
• Bio-Sand Filter (BSF) Household and community-scale filtration system using sand mechanical filtration to remove bacteria and physical contaminants from water. Constructed locally using available materials, with training provided to community members on assembly and maintenance.
• Household Filter (1B or 2B HHF) / SAM III Household-level arsenic filtration system using hollow-fiber membrane technology to remove arsenic, bacteria, and heavy metals from household water. Back-washable design for easy maintenance by rural communities.
• Arsenic Filter (+ As) Specialized filtration system for arsenic removal from drinking water, validated to reduce arsenic to 0-1 ppb post-filtration.
• Community Filter (CF) / SAM I Community-scale water filtration system designed for village-level treatment, serving multiple households with arsenic-free and bacteria-free water. Wall-mounted design integrated into community water infrastructure.
• Facility Filter (FF) / SAM II Institutional-scale water filtration system for schools, clinics, and community facilities serving 260+ users with arsenic-free and bacteria-free water.

Quantifiable outcome

• 26,200+ filter systems installed worldwide
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Ford FundminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Ford Fund partnered with ACI for clean water project in Guayacán, Sonora, Mexico. ACI supplied 65 Household Filters as part of the partnership.
• World VisioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Strategic placement of 110+ household arsenic filters in San Juan, Tipitapa, Nicaragua. World Vision identified the arsenic contamination problem and funds the filter provision. ACI designs and builds the filters with community involvement. Plans to fit all 200+ homes in the area.
• CAWST (Centre for Affordable Water and Sanitation Technology)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016CAWST co-led WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) training workshops with ACI Kenya in Kisumu (October 2016) and Nairobi (November 2016). 20+ participants from Kenya, Uganda, Sudan, and Somalia attended. Zambia WET also participated.
• Fintea SaccocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2015MOU signed in February 2015 with Fintea Sacco (tea farmers cooperative in Rift Valley, Kericho, Kenya) to enable distribution of hollow fiber household filters to tea farmers via low-interest loans. ACI trained 13 Community Development Entrepreneurs and hired Regional Coordinator to manage sales.
• Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro (UAQ)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Multi-year partnership with UAQ engineering department for arsenic remediation research and filter installations in Sierra Gorda region of Querétaro, Mexico. UAQ engineers and PhD candidates (Marcela Duhne) collaborate on Bacteria/Arsenic Remediation systems. University trains local communities on filter construction and maintenance. UAQ students use ACI technology as a sustainable water solution model.
• Cold Water InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Cold Water International team installed rainwater collection and filtration system at Syonga Christian School (450+ children in Uganda). Team comprised of Jason and David Brink, and Tom and Jessie Timmermans. Also installed drip irrigation systems at Helping Hands orphan property in Uganda.
• US Embassy in NicaraguaminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2013ACI served as partner scientific organization for US Embassy Nicaragua's second invitational science camp (Tepeyac Science Camp, December 2013). 54 students from across Nicaragua learned about clean water issues and constructed 5 bio-sand filters. Cultural Attaché John Fer and Public Affairs Officer Lizzet Gonzalez organized the program.
• Purdue UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Interdisciplinary service-learning class from Purdue University designed, built, and implemented community-scale water treatment system at Julia Ana School in Las Canas, Dominican Republic. ACI provided technology and coordination support. Students used the Las Canas project as a pilot for future systems in DR.
• Grand Rapids Rotary ClubminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGrand Rapids Rotarians funded and participated in installation of 110 ACI Arsenic Household Filters in San Juan, Tipitapa, Nicaragua in April 2017. Rotarians provided sweat equity in construction alongside community members.
• CONAGUA (Comisión Nacional del Agua, Mexico)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMexico's National Water Commission participated in signing ceremony for arsenic-free water kiosks in Sierra Gorda. CONAGUA endorsed the filter installations in Pinal de Amoles government area alongside UAQ and ACI.
• Universidad de Michigan (BLUELab / NicarAGUA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNine University of Michigan students from BLUELab (Better Living Using Engineering Laboratory) partnered with ACI to build Rain-Harvest and Drip Irrigation System at Rancho Los Alpes in León, Nicaragua. Previously built ACI Facility Filter at Monte Herman School in Managua.
• UPI (Universidad Politécnica de Ingeniería, Honduras)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOnly engineering university in Honduras. ACI attended International Mining and Geology Congress at UPI. Two meetings held with Honduran engineers at UPI to explore arsenic remediation partnerships. UPI identified as continuing partner for Honduras clean water initiatives.
• National Commission of Water, Mexico (CONAGUA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMexico's national water authority participated in acceptance and signing ceremony for arsenic-free water kiosks in Sierra Gorda region, validating government support for ACI filter systems.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• WaterAid: International nonprofit working across Africa, Asia, and the Americas on water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) access. Directly comparable WASH-focused mission, developing-country deployment model, and partnership with organizations like CAWST (which ACI also partners with).
• Water For People: Nonprofit organization working to ensure everyone has access to clean water and sanitation, with a focus on lasting, locally-owned solutions. Comparable mission, developing-country focus, and emphasis on community ownership of water infrastructure.
• charity: water: Leading US-based clean water nonprofit funding water projects in developing countries. Direct peer in mission, donor-supported model, and global project footprint.
• Water.org: Major international nonprofit (founded by Matt Damon and Gary White) focused on expanding access to safe water and sanitation through market-based financing. Comparable in mission, geographic focus on developing countries, and partnership-driven model.

Emerging players

• Waves for Water: Nonprofit providing portable water filtration solutions to communities in need globally. Directly comparable in filter-distribution humanitarian model, though focused more on portable/travel filters and disaster response.
• LIFESAVER (Icon Lifesaver): UK-based company producing ultra-filtration water purification systems for humanitarian, defense, and consumer markets. Comparable in point-of-use filtration technology targeting harsh and emergency environments.

Broad incumbents

• Brita (The Clorox Company): Dominant US consumer water filter brand (now owned by Clorox) producing pitchers, dispensers, and replacement cartridges. Comparable in replacement filter cartridge products; the ACI Universal Cartridge Filter is explicitly designed to be compatible with Brita systems.
• PUR (Helen of Troy): Major US consumer water filtration brand (owned by Helen of Troy Limited) producing pitchers, dispensers, and replacement filters. Comparable in replacement cartridge products; the ACI Universal Cartridge Filter is explicitly designed to be compatible with PUR systems.
• Pentair: Global water treatment and filtration company serving residential, commercial, and industrial markets. Comparable in water filtration technology portfolio, though at much larger scale and across broader applications.

Others

• P&G Children's Safe Drinking Water Program: Corporate philanthropy program by Procter & Gamble providing water purification technology (PURO packets) to communities in developing countries. Comparable in humanitarian water purification mission, though not a separate entity.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=Ke__Ge5yZ-0
• Xx.com/aquaclaraint
• Facebookfacebook.com/AquaClaraInternational

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Aqua Clara International