Water Technology Centre

What Water Technology Centre does

Water Technology Centre (TZW: DVGW-Technologiezentrum Wasser) is a German non-profit water research and testing institution established in 1991, operating as the applied-research and laboratory-testing arm of the DVGW (Deutscher Verein des Gas- und Wasserfaches, founded 1859). The organization serves the water sector through three primary service lines: accredited laboratory testing (44% of revenue), technical-scientific consulting and expertise (44%), and applied research contracts (12%). TZW is headquartered in Karlsruhe with a second site in Dresden, and employs 211 staff (2025) supporting approximately 1,200 water utility customers across Germany and select international markets.

The institution operates an accredited laboratory complex covering 200+ product standards under DIN EN ISO 17025, positioning it as a primary testing and certification body for water-sector products, materials, and processes. TZW has developed proprietary software products including RiskPlus, PrognEAU, K2I-Xplore, TRINK-PREDICT, HOT-TARGET, and BAK-IDENT, supporting utilities in risk assessment, non-target analytics, and operational decision-making. TZW is a member of the Global Water Research Coalition (GWRC) and runs cooperation projects in Peru (NEWA2), Israel (ELARIA), and China (ChloroBioRem), giving it a modest international footprint beyond its domestic German base.

TZW operates a fee-for-service business model that generated €25.8 million in 2025 revenue, up from €18.7M in 2021 (an ~8.3% CAGR). Revenue is generated through per-test laboratory fees, contracted technical-scientific expertise for utilities and public agencies, and project grants for applied research. As a non-profit under DVGW, surpluses are reinvested into research, laboratory infrastructure, and staff rather than distributed. The 2025 Karlsruhe-Hagsfeld office expansion signals continued capacity investment rather than a strategic pivot.

Name

Water Technology Centre

Legal name

TZW: DVGW-Technologiezentrum Wasser

Website

https://tzw.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Water Technology Centre (TZW) is a German non-profit water research and testing institution serving approximately 1,200 water utilities through accredited laboratory testing, technical consulting, and applied research, with 211 employees and €25.8M in 2025 revenue.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Dresden

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Testing Services: Revenue from accredited product and material testing for products in contact with drinking water. Type tests and monitoring tests according to DVGW standards. Revenue mix: 44% of total revenue.
2. Technical-Scientific Expertise: Scientific consulting, expert opinions, and technical expertise for water utilities and authorities. Revenue mix: 44% of total revenue.
3. Research Contracts: Funded research projects from government bodies (BMBF, EU Horizon programs, federal states). Revenue mix: 12% of total revenue.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

TZW operates an accredited laboratory and test centre providing physical-chemical and microbiological water testing, product certification for materials in contact with drinking water, applied research on treatment technologies and emerging contaminants, and scientific consulting to water utilities, government authorities, and water technology manufacturers across the entire water cycle from resource protection to drinking water supply.

Product overview

TZW (Technologiezentrum Wasser) is a water research institute and competence centre that operates as part of the DVGW (German Technical and Scientific Association for Gas and Water). It offers a comprehensive portfolio of services spanning water analysis (Wasseranalytik), product and device testing (Prüfung von Produkten und Geräten), treatment technologies (Aufbereitungstechnologien), micropollutants and microorganisms research (Stoffe und Mikroorganismen), network management (Netzmanagement), risk management, drinking water resources protection, environmental biotechnology, digitalisation, and practical projects. The institute also develops specialized software products including RiskPlus for risk management, PrognEAU for water demand forecasting, and research tools like K2I-Xplore, TRINK-PREDICT, HOT-TARGET, and BAK-IDENT. TZW provides consulting, testing, and research services to water supply companies, operating accredited laboratories and a test centre for more than 200 product standards according to DIN EN ISO 17025.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• RiskPlus: Software solution for risk management in water supply and catchment areas
• PrognEAU
• TZW: Review

Products and services

• Wasseranalytik (Water Analysis) Physical-chemical and microbiological water testing performed and evaluated in accordance with the German Drinking Water Ordinance (Trinkwasserverordnung) and other relevant regulations; serves water utilities, authorities, and product manufacturers requiring certified water quality data.
• Prüfung von Produkten und Geräten (Testing of Products and Devices) Initial testing of products and materials in contact with drinking water; the test centre is accredited for more than 200 product standards according to DIN EN ISO 17025 and serves manufacturers seeking certification of products and devices for the drinking water market.
• Aufbereitungstechnologien (Treatment Technologies) Development of sustainable drinking water supply concepts and implementation, monitoring, and optimization of new technologies for drinking water treatment; serves water utilities seeking practical technology deployment and performance validation.
• Risikomanagement (Risk Management) Support for water supply companies in establishing continuous risk management for water supply facilities, based on comprehensive expertise and regulatory frameworks; serves water utilities requiring systematic risk assessment and compliance support.
• RiskPlus Software Digital risk management software for water supply facilities that enables the digital implementation of complex evaluation processes for drinking water catchment areas and supports compliance with the Drinking Water Catchment Area Ordinance; serves water utilities and municipal authorities.
• PrognEAU Software Software solution for short-term drinking water demand prognosis that helps water utilities forecast water demand; serves water supply companies seeking operational planning optimization.
• Digitalisierung (Digitalisation Consulting) Solving complex questions and problems of water supply companies in digitalisation through technical support or practical research projects; serves water utilities undergoing digital transformation.
• Stoffe und Mikroorganismen (Micropollutants and Microorganisms Research) Development and improvement of determination procedures for trace substances; investigation of occurrence, behavior, and fate of inorganic and organic micropollutants; serves utilities, authorities, and researchers addressing emerging contaminants such as PFAS.
• Netzmanagement und Trinkwasserinstallation (Network Management and Drinking Water Installation) Advice on safeguarding drinking water quality in the distribution system and support in developing specific network management strategies; serves water utilities and municipal operators managing distribution networks.
• Trinkwasserressourcen und Einzugsgebiete (Drinking Water Resources and Catchments) Protection of drinking water resources by assessing potential hazards in water catchment areas, catalogues of measures, monitoring concepts, and databases; serves utilities and authorities responsible for source water protection.

Quantifiable outcome

• 33,000+ water samples analyzed annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and major.

• Global Water Research Coalition (GWRC)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2005TZW is a founding member of GWRC, a global network of leading water research institutions including PUB (Singapore), Water Research Foundation (USA), Water Research Australia, and Water Research Commission (South Africa). The coalition brings together international expertise to jointly develop solutions for key challenges in water supply. TZW contributes scientific findings from German research projects as well as practical experience from cooperation with water utilities and authorities.
• DVGW (Deutscher Verein des Gas- und Wasserfaches e.V.)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1859TZW is an institution of DVGW, the German Technical and Scientific Association for Gas and Water. DVGW promotes the gas and water industry with focus on safety, hygiene, and environmental protection. With over 13,700 members, DVGW elaborates the generally recognized technical rules for gas and water. TZW operates as the technology center of DVGW, benefiting from the association's framework of technical rules and regulatory standing.
• Technische Universität München (TUM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in the Nutzwasser (water reuse) BMBF research project. TUM's Chair of Urban Water Management provides expertise in water reclamation and treatment technologies for agricultural irrigation research.
• IWW Rheinisch-Westfälisches Institut für Wasserforschung gGmbHmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner in the Nutzwasser project, contributing expertise in water treatment and water quality assessment.
• Mekorot (Israel)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIsraeli national water utility partner in the ELARIA German-Israeli joint project for advanced wastewater treatment research.
• Ministry of Health Public Health Laboratory, Water Quality Research Lab (Israel)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment research partner in the ELARIA project focusing on water quality research and advanced treatment assessment.
• Universität StuttgartcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead academic partner in the NEWA-LIMA and NEWA2 projects for managed aquifer recharge and membrane technology research in Lima, Peru.
• SEDAPAL (Lima, Peru)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal water utility partner in Peru for demonstration plants investigating water reuse solutions in the Chillón-Rímac-Lurín valley.
• BadenovaNETZE GmbHmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociated partner in the ArNO groundwater research project for assessing nitrate contamination in catchment areas.
• Zhejiang-Universität (China)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in ChloroBioRem project for metagenome analyses and mechanistic process studies on chloroethene degradation.
• Jiaotong-Universität Shanghai (China)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in ChloroBioRem project providing expertise in metagenomic analysis for bioremediation research.
• Landesamt für Umwelt Baden-WürttembergmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerState environmental authority partner in ArNO project providing groundwater monitoring data and regulatory perspective.
• BMBF (Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung)coreOthersFederal Ministry of Research and Technology provides funding for multiple TZW research projects including Nutzwasser, ZeroPM, ArNO, and international cooperation projects.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Eawag (Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology): Swiss water research institute with end-to-end water cycle expertise comparable to TZW. Conducts drinking water quality, micropollutant, and treatment technology research; one of Europe's leading water science institutes.
• Water Research Foundation (WRF): US-based water research foundation and co-founding member of GWRC. Operates the same collaborative research and subscription model funding applied drinking water and wastewater research for utility members.
• KWR Water Research Institute: Dutch water research institute conducting applied research, water quality testing, and technology development for utilities. Like TZW, it operates a cycle-oriented research model and serves as a hub between regulators, utilities, and academia.
• Water Research Australia: Australian water research organisation and fellow GWRC founding member. Comparable non-profit model delivering collaborative research, utility advisory, and water quality science in the Australian market.
• IWW Rheinisch-Westfälisches Institut für Wasserforschung: German water research institute operating in similar drinking water, wastewater, and water reuse research space. TZW actively partners with IWW on the Nutzwasser project; both serve as contract research and consulting providers to German utilities.

Regional players

• WESSLING (WESSLING Group): European environmental and water testing laboratory group with strong DACH presence. Comparable accredited water, soil, and contaminant testing services; competes with TZW on routine and emerging contaminant analysis for utilities and industry.

Others

• UBA (Umweltbundesamt, German Environment Agency): German federal environment agency that funds research and sets water-related regulations. Acts as a counterparty and policy-setter rather than a competing service provider, but closely intertwined with TZW's research agenda.
• DVGW (Deutscher Verein des Gas- und Wasserfaches): Parent association and ecosystem sponsor of TZW. Not a competitor but defines the technical rules framework that TZW helps develop and against which TZW's testing and certification services are evaluated.

Broad incumbents

• SGS Water Services: Global testing, inspection, and certification company with water analysis offerings. Competes with TZW for utility and industrial water testing, but operates at much broader scale and geographic reach.
• Eurofins Water Testing (Eurofins Environment Testing): Global commercial laboratory network providing water, soil, and environmental testing at scale. A larger, commercially-oriented competitor to TZW's accredited water testing services, especially for utility and industrial clients.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@tzw-dvgw-technologiezentrum
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tzw-dvgw-technologiezentrum-wasser

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

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 Water Technology Centre