Drinkable Rivers

What Drinkable Rivers does

Drinkable Rivers is a Netherlands-based non-profit environmental organization, registered in Amsterdam and founded by Li An Phoa, that works to restore European rivers to drinkable quality through three interconnected programs: source-to-sea River Walks (multi-week, multi-country walking expeditions engaging local communities), Citizen Science (engaging volunteers to measure 26 water quality parameters and biodiversity indicators and upload data to the data.drinkablerivers.org platform), and Action Communities (watershed-based networks including 'Mayors for Drinkable Rivers' that coordinate political action across municipal boundaries). The organization has executed major source-to-sea walks on the Meuse (2018, 1000+ km, 60 days), Thames (2023, ~255-300 km, 28 days), and Scheldt (2025, 370+ km, 30 days across France, Belgium, and Netherlands), plus tributary walks on the Kleine Nete, Berkel, Vecht, Moselle, and Mark rivers, with Li An Phoa personally accumulating over 15,000 km of river walking across four continents. The technology stack centers on a WordPress-based multi-domain web presence (drinkablerivers.org plus country and river-specific subdomains) supported by GreenGeeks hosting, MailChimp newsletters, Contact Form 7 forms, Disciple Media community features, and a dedicated citizen science data platform developed by Nucleoo; documented commercial technology consists of the published book (English and Dutch editions in global bookstore distribution) and two documentary films ('A Long Walk for Drinkable Rivers' / Drinkbare Maas and 'Our Blue World'). Revenue is generated entirely through donations solicited via the website, book sales through bookstore channels (with bulk orders handled via direct email), paid speaking engagements and event bookings, and film screening fees, with no SaaS pricing or subscription model and no disclosed institutional funding. The organization serves a hybrid audience comprising local river communities, schools and schoolchildren, municipal governments and mayors, environmental NGOs and river trusts, media outlets, and individual donors, supported by a small core team of approximately 10 staff plus regional coordinators across the Netherlands, Flanders, Wallonia, and France.

Name

Drinkable Rivers

Legal name

Drinkable Rivers

Website

https://drinkablerivers.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Drinkable Rivers is a Netherlands-based non-profit that restores rivers to drinkable quality through multi-week source-to-sea river walks, citizen science water quality monitoring, and mayor-led watershed networks, serving European river communities, schools, municipal governments, and environmental NGOs across the UK, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Conservation Services

NAICS

Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Resources & Watershed Protection (BPAGAGAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Water Quality Monitoring, Compliance & Reporting (Sampling, Lab, Regulatory) (EUANAAAG), Water Resources Administration (Watersheds, Rivers, Groundwater) (BPAIAMAE)

Keywords

• River conservation
• Citizen science programs
• Watershed management
• Environmental advocacy
• Community organizing

Headquarters

HQ city

Amsterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Drinkable Rivers is funded primarily through donations from individuals and organizations who support the mission. The website includes a prominent 'Donate' button. The Scheldt Walk was noted as 'organised without funding' and explicitly asks supporters to donate.
2. Book Sales: The 'Drinkable Rivers' book is sold in bookstores around the world in English and Dutch editions. Bulk orders for 10+ books (e.g., as corporate gifts) are handled via direct contact.
3. Speaking Engagements and Event Bookings: The organization offers speaking arrangements and bookings through a dedicated form, generating revenue from events, keynotes, and appearances.
4. Film Screenings: Documentary films ('A Long Walk for Drinkable Rivers', 'Our Blue World') are screened at cinemas and events, with some screenings open to the public for attendance.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Drinkable Rivers is a non-profit organization that organizes multi-week source-to-sea river walks across Europe (Thames, Scheldt, Meuse, Kleine Nete and others), engages citizens in measuring 26 water quality parameters through citizen science programs, and builds watershed action communities including the 'Mayors for Drinkable Rivers' network of municipal leaders. The organization publishes a book (English and Dutch editions), screens documentary films, and operates the data.drinkablerivers.org platform developed with Nucleoo to collect and share water quality data.

Product overview

Drinkable Rivers is an NGO focused on making rivers drinkable again through three interconnected core programs: River Walks, Citizen Science (programs enabling citizens to measure water quality), and Action Communities (networks including Mayors for Drinkable Rivers to drive policy action). Their portfolio includes the data platform (data.drinkablerivers.org) developed with Nucleoo for collecting citizen science measurements, the Drinkable Rivers book documenting their global activism, the documentary film 'A Long Walk for Drinkable Rivers,' and Watershed Workshops. Key river walks include the Scheldt Walk (370km/30 days), Thames Walk, and various tributary walks. They operate across the UK, Netherlands, Belgium, and France.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Drinkable Rivers Book: Published book by Li An Phoa about river walks and drinkable rivers mission, available in English and Dutch editions.
• Drinkable Rivers Film
• Mayors for a Drinkable Thames

Products and services

• River Walks Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 370+ km walked, 1,300+ people encountered, 50+ events organized over 30 days (Scheldt Walk 2025)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NucleoocoreTechnology or IntegrationDeveloped and manages the Drinkable Rivers citizen science data platform (data.drinkablerivers.org) that collects and processes water quality data from citizen scientists. Nucleoo's ToS and privacy policies govern the data platform. The partnership provides the technical infrastructure for the core citizen science mission.
• SyMEAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSymea (French river organization associated with Agence de l'Eau) coordinates the French side of the Scheldt Walk, organizing local support, guides, school engagements, citizen science coordination, and hosting Li An and co-walkers. Marie from SyMEA served as the primary French coordinator for the 370+ km walk.
• Port of Antwerp-BrugescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPort of Antwerp-Bruges collaborated on the Scheldt Walk, hosting a breakfast event for employees, premiering the video impression of the first 10 days, and providing a guided tour of the port. The port is a key stakeholder in the Scheldt watershed.
• Hogeschool ZeelandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of applied sciences in the Netherlands participated in the Scheldt Walk with students joining citizen science measurements at multiple locations along the route. Students from Hogeschool Zeeland cycled to join the walk and participated in water quality data collection.
• Capture / WaterlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCapture (with Waterland) organized events on what science says is needed to reach a drinkable Scheldt, and hosted a community conversation in Ghent with Waterland and Capture. Capture is a key scientific partner providing research context for the Scheldt watershed.
• North Sea PortminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorth Sea Port (Ghent, Belgium) hosted the event on May 6, 2025 with mayors, aldermen, scientists, local organizations from three countries, and co-walkers in the historic North Sea Port building, facilitating the drafting of an 'Our Scheldt river intent' document.
• National Park ScheldevalleiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Park Scheldevallei collaborated on the Scheldt Walk, sharing information about landscape activities, histories, and vision during the walk between Melle and Wichelen, providing scientific and ecological context.
• Join for WaterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoin for Water (Belgium-based water organization) joined the Scheldt Walk, providing a lunch and collaborative engagement during the walk through Ghent and surrounding areas.
• International Scheldt CommissionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe International Scheldt Commission was represented at the final event of the Scheldt Walk in Vlissingen, indicating ongoing institutional collaboration for cross-border Scheldt governance.
• Port of London AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmily McLean from the Port of London Authority shared insights from the Clean Thames Plan and the process behind its development during a December session with the Mayors for a Drinkable Thames network. This established collaboration provides access to established Thames management data and policy frameworks.
• South East Rivers Trust (SERT)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner organization supporting the Mayors for a Drinkable Thames network. SERT works on river restoration and water quality in the Thames watershed.
• Thames21minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThames21 partnered with Drinkable Rivers during the Thames Walk, sharing water sampling results from 20 weeks of bathing season monitoring and organizing community events at the River and Rowing Museum in Henley.
• Water RangersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWater Rangers citizen science organization collaborated with Drinkable Rivers on Thames Walk, monitoring water quality with 5 parameters (phosphate, nitrate, electric conductivity, temperature, pH) and building community engagement around the Thames.
• Leander Sea ScoutsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner in the Mayors for a Drinkable Thames network, supporting river education and youth engagement activities.
• Thames Landscape StrategyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization working on the Thames landscape strategy, with Rebecca Kendrick sharing insights on the 100-year plan to protect and improve the Thames between Weybridge and Kew.
• Thames River Boat ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner supporting the Mayors for a Drinkable Thames network through river-based community engagement.
• Transitie Arena Water / H2050minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFacilitated the meeting between Li An Phoa and Jacob Bossaer that led to the Kleine Nete river walk. Transitie Arena Water coordinates transition experiments around water issues in the Netherlands/Belgium.
• Regionaal Landschap Kleine en Grote Nete (RLKGN)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization for the Kleine Nete walk, with Bas van der Veken representing the organization and sharing about the beauty and value of the Kleine Nete as a lifeline for the Kempen landscape.
• VITO NexusminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVITO Nexus (Flemish research institute) participates through Yves De Weerdt as research coordinator for sustainability transitions, supporting the Kleine Nete initiative.
• Vlaamse WaterdagenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Flemish Water Days co-organized the Kleine Nete walk and film screening event on March 17, 2023, providing a platform for the Drinkable Rivers initiative.
• Regional Landschappen (Regionale Landschappen)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional Landscape Park Schelde-Durme (represented by Koen, Peter, and Robbert) provided guided tours during the Scheldt Walk, explaining the low-lying polder landscapes, tidal workings, and biodiversity.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Surfrider Foundation: International grassroots organization protecting oceans and waterways through citizen science (e.g., Blue Water Task Force), advocacy, and community engagement. Closely comparable citizen-science-plus-advocacy DNA, applied to coasts rather than rivers.

Direct peers

• Water Rangers: Citizen science platform that equips volunteers to test and share water quality data on rivers and lakes. Closely comparable technology and program model — distributed testing, data platform, and community engagement — though operating in North America.
• Thames21: UK charity focused on improving the health of the River Thames through community-led cleanups, citizen science, and river restoration. Direct counterpart and explicit Drinkable Rivers partner on the Thames Walk and Mayors for a Drinkable Thames network.
• South East Rivers Trust: Regional UK river trust working on restoration and water quality in the Thames catchment. Listed partner on the Mayors for a Drinkable Thames network and shares the citizen science, community-engagement operating model.
• Join for Water: Belgium-based water and watershed NGO focused on clean rivers and integrated water management. Joined the Scheldt Walk as a partner and pursues an overlapping European river-protection agenda.

Broad incumbents

• The Rivers Trust: UK umbrella body supporting 80+ river trusts with national policy advocacy, science programs, and community engagement on river catchment health. Comparable mission to make rivers cleaner, but at a national federation scale rather than a single founder-led brand.
• International Rivers: Global NGO protecting rivers and the rights of communities that depend on them, with advocacy across multiple continents. Comparable mission framing around river health as a human/environmental right, though operating at a global advocacy rather than walk-led scale.
• Friends of the Earth: Large international environmental NGO with substantial freshwater and river-quality campaigns, broad policy reach, and significant funder backing. Comparable in water-advocacy goals but operates at a vastly larger institutional scale.

Regional players

• Natuurpunt: Largest Belgian nature conservation NGO, with active programs on river and watershed protection in Flanders. Joined the Scheldt Walk as a partner, making it both a collaborator and a comparable regional conservation player.

Others

• International Scheldt Commission: Intergovernmental body coordinating Scheldt basin management between France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Represents the institutional governance counterpart to Drinkable Rivers' citizen-driven Mayors network on the same watershed.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/drinkablerivers
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCjX2wS65tsnalzrYwvAJj2w
• Facebookfacebook.com/DrinkableRivers
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/drinkable-rivers
• Instagraminstagram.com/drinkablerivers/?hl=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Drinkable Rivers