Modern Water
Modern Water is a UK-based water technology company (division of Deepverge plc) that develops bioluminescence-based toxicity analyzers, voltammetry trace metal detectors, and optofluidic pathogen detection systems for municipal, industrial, and environmental monitoring customers across 60+ countries.
- Company typePublic
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersGuildford, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Modern Water does
Modern Water is a UK-based water technology company founded in 2006, currently operating as a division of Deepverge plc (AIM: DVRG) following the parent's 2021 acquisition. The company develops and supplies advanced water monitoring products built on three proprietary technology platforms: (1) bioluminescence-based acute toxicity testing using a proprietary strain of Aliivibrio fischeri bacteria (the Microtox product line, including LX laboratory, FX portable, and CTM continuous monitors); (2) stripping voltammetry for trace heavy metal detection across 23–27 metals (the MicroTrace PDV portable analyzer and OVA online monitor with detection limits as low as 0.1 µg/L); and (3) optofluidic nanochip pathogen detection with aptamer/affimer coatings (Microtox PD) validated to 100% specificity for SARS-CoV-2. Supporting offerings include the QuickChek SRB immunoassay for sulfate-reducing bacteria, Luminultra ATP test kits, the All-Membrane Brine Concentration (AMBC) zero-liquid-discharge technology, and the ecowaterOS AI-enabled water quality platform developed with parent Deepverge.
The business monetizes through a mix of capital equipment sales — with big-ticket online monitors (Microtox CTM and MicroTrace OVA) priced at approximately $50,000 per unit and portable/benchtop units at lower price points — and recurring consumables revenue from proprietary reagents consumed by every test. Distribution is hybrid: direct sales teams in the UK (York and Wetherby), US (New Castle, Delaware), and China (Shanghai) supplemented by a network of 20+ channel partners across Latin America, the Middle East, Europe, Africa, and Asia Pacific. The installed base exceeds 3,000 instruments across 60+ countries and is supported by reagent manufacturing in ISO9001/ISO13485-certified facilities in the UK and US.
Customers span oil and gas (MIC prevention, fracking, produced water), municipal wastewater, drinking water utilities, mining and metallurgy, power generation and waste incineration, food and beverage, and pharmaceutical/personal care end markets. Named commercial accounts include Qatar's Kahramaa utility (10-year water toxicity monitoring commitment, 27 CTM units with potential expansion to 44 units, ~£30,000/month recurring consumables rising above £50,000/month), the Philippines Department of Environment and Natural Resources (MicroTrace PDV validation), and a major mining customer in Peru (MicroTrace OVA 7100 for arsenic, cadmium, iron, and selenium monitoring). Manufacturing and operations span the UK (York, Wetherby), Ireland (Charleville, Co Cork), the US (Delaware), and China (Shanghai), with current headcount in the 11–50 range.
Modern Water firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Modern Water
- Legal name
- Modern Water
- Website
- https://modernwater.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Modern Water is a UK-based water technology company (division of Deepverge plc) that develops bioluminescence-based toxicity analyzers, voltammetry trace metal detectors, and optofluidic pathogen detection systems for municipal, industrial, and environmental monitoring customers across 60+ countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Modern Water industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Water Quality Monitoring Instruments
- NAICS
- Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516), Testing Laboratories and Services (54138)
- SIC
- Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Laboratory Testing & Analytical Services (in-house/contract labs; microbiology, metals, organics) (EUANAJAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Emerging Contaminants Testing & Risk Management (PFAS, microplastics, pharmaceuticals) (EUANAJAF), Water & Utility Testing (PW/WFI/Steam/Gases) (HLAGADAO), Water Sampling, Testing & Laboratory Analysis (Legionella/Microbiology) (BPABAJAB), Release Testing & Batch Certification (QC) (HLAGADAC)
Keywords
Where Modern Water is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Guildford
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices7 records
Markets served
Modern Water business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Toxicity Monitoring Equipment Sales: Sale of Microtox analyzers (LX, FX, CTM), QuickChek SRB kits, MicroTrace PDV and OVA instruments. Capital equipment sales with varying price points from portable units to high-end continuous monitors.
- Consumables and Reagents: Proprietary bioluminescent bacteria reagents and consumables for Microtox systems. Recurring revenue from reagents as each test consumes reagents. ISO9001 certified manufacturing in UK and US. Lead times 2-3 weeks typically.
- Monthly Consumables Revenue: Recurring monthly consumables revenues from installed base. Qatar project generating ~£30,000/month at current installed base, expected to rise above £50,000/month if second phase proceeds.
- Software and Data Analytics: AI data analytics added to new equipment. Software upgrades enabling optimised collection and organisation of data for real-time surveillance. ecowaterOS platform for water quality monitoring with AI.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Microtox LX Analyzer Trade-In from M500 |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Microtox FX Analyzer Trade-In from Deltatox |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Microtox Acute and Solo Reagents |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Big-ticket Online Monitors |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels11 records
Modern Water product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Modern Water develops, manufactures, and supplies analytical instruments, proprietary reagents, and immunoassay test kits for monitoring water quality. Its core products are the Microtox line of bioluminescent bacteria-based toxicity analyzers (LX, FX, CTM, PD) and the MicroTrace line of voltammetry-based trace metal analyzers (PDV, OVA), supported by QuickChek SRB immunoassay kits, ATP test kits, and the ecowaterOS AI analytics platform, sold to utilities, oil and gas, mining, and industrial customers globally.
Product overview
Modern Water is a pioneering technology company specializing in advanced water monitoring products. The company operates two main technology platforms: (1) Microtox bioluminescence-based toxicity monitoring systems (Microtox LX, FX, CTM, PD, BT) for detecting acute toxicity and pathogens in water, and (2) MicroTrace trace metal analyzers (PDV, OVA) for heavy metal detection. Supporting products include QuickChek SRB test kits, Luminultra ATP tests, SmartReader photometers, Mobile Monitoring Units, and Microsaic LC-MS systems. The portfolio also includes All-Membrane Brine Concentration (AMBC) technology for zero liquid discharge applications. These products serve drinking water, wastewater, oil and gas, power generation, mining, food and beverage, and pharmaceutical industries across global markets.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Microtox: Bioluminescent bacteria-based toxicity monitoring technology using Aliivibrio fischeri bacteria for acute toxicity testing
- MicroTrace
- Microtox PD
- ecowaterOS
- QuickChek SRB
Products and services
- Microtox LX Laboratory-based toxicity luminometer using Microtox bioluminescent bacteria for rapid acute toxicity screening and analysis; positioned as the industry standard for lab-based rapid toxicity analysis for utilities, wastewater, and industrial laboratories.
- Microtox FX Portable toxicity luminometer using Microtox bioluminescent bacteria or ATP reagents for rapid on-site acute toxicity screening and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) testing, designed for drinking water emergencies, chemical spill response, and field investigations.
- Microtox CTM Site-based continuous toxicity monitor using Microtox bioluminescent bacteria for 24/7 monitoring of hazardous chemicals and compounds in water; priced at approximately $50,000 USD per unit and used for continuous early-warning surveillance at water utilities and industrial sites.
- Microtox PD Real-time optofluidic wastewater surveillance system using photonic sensing with nanochips coated with Aptamers or Affimers to capture pathogens such as SARS-CoV-2 at femtogram/ml levels with 100% specificity, providing community-level pathogen surveillance for towns, hospitals, ports, and utilities.
- QuickChek SRB Immunoassay tube, strip, and plate test kit for on-site detection of Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria (SRB) by targeting the APS reductase enzyme unique to SRB; requires no pipetting or serial dilution, delivers results in under 10 minutes, and is used by oil and gas, cooling water, and pipeline operators.
- MicroTrace PDV Portable trace metal analyzer using stripping voltammetry to detect 27+ heavy metals in field or laboratory settings, featuring an Android tablet interface and used by mining, drinking water, and environmental applications customers.
- MicroTrace OVA Series Fully automated online metal monitor based on voltammetry (ASV/CSV) providing continuous or intermittent monitoring of metals in process streams, effluent discharges, rivers, and potable water, with detection of up to 23 metals at limits as low as 0.1 µg/L.
- ecowaterOS AI-enabled Ecological Water Operating System platform that aggregates and analyzes water quality data for real-time surveillance, integrating Modern Water's toxicity, metal, and pathogen sensors with software analytics to support community and industrial water monitoring programs.
- Luminultra ATP Test Kits Second-generation adenosine triphosphate (ATP) test kits that detect total bacteria in water samples in under 15 minutes, used as the first step in biocide treatment decision trees for cooling water, oil and gas, and other industrial water systems.
- All-Membrane Brine Concentration (AMBC) Zero liquid discharge membrane water treatment technology that significantly reduces the cost of brine concentration for industrial water treatment plants, offered to industrial clients seeking to minimize liquid waste discharge.
Quantifiable outcome
- Results in 15 minutes vs 96 hours for conventional bioassays
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Modern Water
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments10 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Modern Water technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature10 records
Modern Water partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
30 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor, standard and strategic.
- Ali Al Sinan Group (Ali Salman Al Sinan Trading Est. + Ali Al Sinan Trading Services W.L.L.)coreModern Water partnered with Ali Al Sinan group as authorized distributor across Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. Ali Salman Al Sinan Trading Est. covers Saudi Arabia (Dammam) while Ali Al Sinan Trading Services W.L.L. covers Bahrain (Manama). Partners bring strong regional knowledge, established customer relationships, and experience delivering technical solutions in oil and gas, desalination, and municipal water sectors. They provide technical consultation, application support, and after-sales service.
- Eco WatersminorAwarded fresh 25-year contract by Gibraltar government in June 2024 for wastewater treatment plant at Europa Point. Awarded after Modern Water's previous JV contract collapsed.
- Northumbrian WaterminorJoint venture for Gibraltar wastewater treatment project in 2018. Contract collapsed after Modern Water subsidiary entered liquidation. Project later awarded to Eco Waters in 2024/2025.
- SENTECH (Services Environnement Technologies)standardDistribution partner for Senegal covering West African market. Located at 11500, 125 Rue SC 93, Dakar 10700.
- Baires AnaliticastandardDistribution partner for Argentina. Located at Av. General Paz 517, B1674AOA, Saenz Peña Buenos Aires.
- Lach-Ner d.o.o.standardDistribution partner for Bosnia, Croatia, and Slovenia. Located at Ulica grada Vukovara 271, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
- Greenson Technology Sdn. Bhd.standardDistribution partner for Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei. Located at 26-05, Stellar Suites, Jalan Puteri 4/7, Bandar Puteri, 47100 Puchong, Selangor, Malaysia.
- Intertrade Technical Supplies (ITS)standardDistribution partner for Qatar. Located at P.O. Box 200222, Doha, Qatar. Tel: +974 4431 9999.
- Alco Automation Pte LtdstandardDistribution partner for Singapore. Located at 9 Tagore Lane, #01-09, 9@Tagore, Singapore 787472.
- Equipos Para Diagnostico Analitico (EDIASA)standardDistribution partner for Mexico. Located at Av. De las Torres 10, Lomas de San Agustin, 53490, Naucalpan Estado de Mexico.
- Nordtest S.R.L.standardDistribution partner for Italy. Located at Via Liverno, 11, 15069 Serravalle Scrivia AL, Italia.
- Geneq IncstandardDistribution partner for Canada. Located at 10700, rue Secant, Montréal QC H1J 1S5.
- AmbriexstandardDistribution partner for Brazil. Located at R. Traipu, 247 – Pacaembu, São Paulo, SP 01235-000.
- Modern Water Technology (Shanghai) Co., LTDcoreChina subsidiary handling sales, final assembly, and localization. Located at Room 1702, 888 Yishan Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai 200233. 80% of Q1 2021 production earmarked for Chinese market.
- Airmetal (Air Metal Ltd)standardDistribution partner for Greece. Located at Aegeou 75, Kalamaria, 55133 Thessaloniki.
- LabSysWare KftstandardDistribution partner for Hungary. Located at 1172 Budapest, Kristály u. 3.
- Tigret SP. Z.O.O.standardDistribution partner for Poland. Located at Ul. Warszawska 27, 02-495 Warszawa.
- AmbiFirst LDAstandardDistribution partner for Portugal. Located at Rua Silva Evaristo n.º 58, 2860-462 Moita.
- Teksol SRLstandardDistribution partner for Uruguay. Located at La Paz 2162, Montevideo.
- Labib Demian Youssef & CostandardDistribution partner for Egypt. Located at 12 Mahmoud Badr El Din Street, Mohandessin, Giza, Egypt 12311.
- Microsaic SystemsstrategicPartnership to apply mass spectrometry to water quality monitoring challenges. Microsaic's compact MiD series mass detectors will be integrated with Modern Water's monitoring solutions for innovative products solving difficult water quality monitoring challenges.
- Aptamer GroupstrategicDevelopment partner for multiplex nano-chip technology to test for range of infectious viruses and bacteria (SARS-CoV-2, E.coli, Legionella, Cryptosporidium) on single chip for MicrotoxPD range.
- Tyndall FoundriesstrategicPartner for development of multiplex nano-chip technology and MicrotoxPD system enhancement.
- University of AberdeenstrategicResearch partner for SARS-CoV-2 virus testing using Labskin with Modern Water equipment.
- Public Health EnglandstrategicResearch partner for SARS-CoV-2 testing validation with Modern Water technology.
- University of LiverpoolstrategicResearch partner for SARS-CoV-2 testing using Modern Water equipment.
- Cork Institute of Technology (MTU)strategicResearch partner for SARS-CoV-2 testing and Labskin validation with Modern Water equipment.
- Kyoto UniversitystrategicAcademic partner for Chernobyl water monitoring project. Professor Yoko Fujikawa presented at Japan Society on Water Environment 2023 conference on Fe analysis methodology.
- Boston Home IncorporatedstandardLocal representative for Philippines. Completed MicroTrace PDV instrument validation and staff training for Philippines DENR in Manila.
- Advent Envirocare TechnologystrategicPartner for zero liquid discharge installation completed in 2020 for client operating production facilities on 4 continents.
Scale indicators17 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Modern Water competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Metrohm: Direct competitor in trace metal analysis using voltammetry; Metrohm's 797 VA Computrace and online metal analyzers overlap directly with Modern Water's MicroTrace PDV and OVA lines for environmental and mining applications.
- Accepta: Direct peer in industrial water treatment and monitoring — supplies testing equipment, reagents, and chemical solutions to cooling, boiler, oil & gas, and mining markets that overlap with Modern Water's QuickChek SRB, Luminultra ATP, and Microtox CTM product lines.
- Hach (Danaher): A direct peer in water quality testing instruments, offering portable and laboratory analyzers (toxicity, metals, BOD) for drinking water, wastewater, and industrial customers — Modern Water's Microtox and MicroTrace lines compete head-to-head with Hach's toxicity and metal analyzers.
- Tintometer (Lovibond): Direct peer in water testing kits and portable photometers/instruments across drinking water, wastewater, and industrial markets — particularly overlapping with Modern Water's reagent-based testing and SmartReader photometer product lines.
- Palintest (Halma): Direct peer in portable water quality testing, particularly for drinking water, pool/spa, and environmental field testing — competes in the reagent-based, colorimetric/photometric testing market adjacent to Modern Water's reagent kits and SmartReader.
- Xylem Analytics (YSI, WTW, OI Analytical): Direct peer in water quality monitoring instruments with broad portfolios in portable/online water testing for environmental, municipal, and industrial applications, overlapping with Modern Water's drinking water, wastewater, and mining verticals.
Broad incumbents
- Horiba: Broad incumbent in analytical and process instruments, including water quality analyzers (pH, conductivity, turbidity, metals, TOC) — overlaps with Modern Water's industrial water monitoring product lines for power generation and municipal customers.
- ALS Limited: Large global testing services provider with environmental water testing laboratories serving mining, municipal, and industrial customers — adjacent to Modern Water's instrument-based water quality business with a contract-lab model that competes for monitoring budgets.
- Eurofins Environment Testing: Global environmental testing laboratory network with extensive water quality testing services; competes with Modern Water's analytical instrument approach via a service-based model targeting the same regulated drinking water, wastewater, and mining end markets.
- Endress+Hauser: Broad incumbent in industrial process measurement offering online water analyzers for pH, conductivity, metals, and toxicity in power, chemical, and wastewater — adjacent to Modern Water's Microtox CTM and MicroTrace OVA online monitors but with a much broader portfolio.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Modern Water social profiles
Digital presenceModern Water compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Modern Water financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Modern Water leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Modern Water subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Modern Water funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Modern Water M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A5 records
Investments1 record
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Modern Water
What does Modern Water do?
Modern Water develops, manufactures, and supplies analytical instruments, proprietary reagents, and immunoassay test kits for monitoring water quality. Its core products are the Microtox line of bioluminescent bacteria-based toxicity analyzers (LX, FX, CTM, PD) and the MicroTrace line of voltammetry-based trace metal analyzers (PDV, OVA), supported by QuickChek SRB immunoassay kits, ATP test kits, and the ecowaterOS AI analytics platform, sold to utilities, oil and gas, mining, and industrial customers globally.
Is Modern Water a public or private company?
Modern Water is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was Modern Water founded?
Modern Water was founded in 2006. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Modern Water based?
Modern Water is headquartered in Guildford, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Modern Water make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Toxicity Monitoring Equipment Sales are the primary driver. The others are consumables and Reagents, monthly Consumables Revenue and software and Data Analytics.
Who are Modern Water's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Metrohm, Accepta, Hach (Danaher), Tintometer (Lovibond), Palintest (Halma) and Xylem Analytics (YSI, WTW, OI Analytical). Broad incumbents are Horiba, ALS Limited, Eurofins Environment Testing and Endress+Hauser.
Does Modern Water have an API?
No public API is recorded for Modern Water.
What industry is Modern Water in?
Modern Water's product category is Water Quality Monitoring Instruments. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUANAJAB, Laboratory Testing & Analytical Services (in-house/contract labs; microbiology, metals, organics), with a secondary code of EUANAJAF, Emerging Contaminants Testing & Risk Management (PFAS, microplastics, pharmaceuticals). Its NAICS code is 334516 and its SIC code is 3826.