Wasser 3.0 gGmbH

What Wasser 3.0 gGmbH does

Wasser 3.0 gGmbH is a German nonprofit (gemeinnützige GmbH) founded in May 2020 and headquartered in Karlsruhe. The company develops technologies and services to detect, remove, and reuse microplastics and trace micropollutants in water, serving municipal wastewater treatment plant operators and industrial clients with relevant wastewater streams. Its core capabilities target three problem areas: detection, removal, and reuse of microplastic and trace contaminants, with a focus on bringing solutions to TRL 8-9 maturity. The company is led by Dr. Katrin Schuhen as sole managing shareholder and CEO, with a small 1-10 person team.

Name

Wasser 3.0 gGmbH

Legal name

Wasser 3.0 gGmbH

Website

https://wasserdreinull.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Wasser 3.0 gGmbH is a German nonprofit that develops and deploys technologies to detect, remove, and reuse microplastics and trace micropollutants for municipal wastewater operators and industrial clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Water Treatment Technology

NAICS

Sewage Treatment Facilities (221320), Remediation Services (56291)

SIC

Miscellaneous Chemical Products (2890), Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826)

akta.pro primary industry

Effluent Polishing & Filtration (MBR/UF/RO/GAC) (EUANADAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Municipal Wastewater & Sewage Treatment Chemicals (IMAEAJAB), Water & Wastewater Treatment Plant Equipment (Clarifiers, Aeration, Membrane Systems) (IMAHAEAJ), Industrial Water Reuse Utilities (ZLD/MLD & Process Water Recycling) (EUANAGAG)

Keywords

• Microplastic removal technology
• Water pollution treatment
• Microplastic detection
• Wastewater treatment
• Water purification technology

Headquarters

HQ city

Karlsruhe-hagsfeld

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Research and Pilot Projects: Earnings from conducting feasibility studies and pilot projects jointly with wastewater treatment plant operators and industrial partners. These are project-based engagements involving technology validation and process optimization, representing a core revenue stream for the gGmbH.
2. Public Funding and Grants: National and EU-level public funding for research and environmental projects. Includes participation in EU projects such as REMEDIES and UPSTREAM, as well as national innovation competitions.
3. Donations and Corporate Sponsorship: Private and corporate donations as well as corporate sponsorships support the non-profit mission. Donations are tax-deductible in Germany.
4. Innovation Competition Revenues: Prize money and recognition benefits from participation in startup and innovation competitions.
5. Product Sales (Analytical Kits and Services): Sale of Wasser 3.0 detect analytical kits through abcr GmbH, and full-service microplastic analysis (sampling, laboratory analysis, reporting) directly through Wasser 3.0. Also includes book sales (Kriminalfall Mikroplastik, Rebellin des Wassers).

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Wasser 3.0 develops and deploys integrated technologies to detect, remove and reuse microplastics and micropollutants in water. The core offerings are the proprietary Wasser 3.0 PE-X® hybrid silica gel with the Clump & Skim separation process for removing microplastics from municipal and industrial wastewater, the Wasser 3.0 detect fluorescence-based analytical method using the patented MP-1 marker for rapid microplastic analysis, and full-service microplastic analysis and pilot/feasibility studies sold directly to wastewater treatment plant operators and industrial clients.

Product overview

Wasser 3.0 gGmbH is a German non-profit organization offering a integrated suite of water purification technologies and analytical solutions focused on microplastic and micropollutant removal. The product portfolio centers on three pillars: detect (Wasser 3.0 detect - fluorescence-based microplastic analysis), remove (Wasser 3.0 PE-X® with Clump & Skim technology - agglomeration and surface skimming), and reuse (circular economy approach for recovered materials). Supporting offerings include the Global Map of Microplastics data platform, the Wasser 3.0 App for citizen science, and educational materials for schools. The technologies are designed for municipal wastewater treatment plants, industrial facilities, and surface water applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Wasser 3.0 PE-X: Proprietary procedure using hybrid silica gels for agglomeration and removal of microplastics and selected micropollutants from water.
• Wasser 3.0 detect
• Global Map of Microplastics
• Wasser 3.0 reuse
• WASoMI

Products and services

• Wasser 3.0 PE-X® Microplastic Removal Technology Proprietary hybrid silica gel technology that agglomerates microplastic particles and micropollutants into larger, buoyant clumps which are skimmed from the water surface via the Clump & Skim process. Removes over 95% of microplastics independent of polymer type. Designed as a downstream treatment stage for municipal wastewater treatment plants and industrial wastewater streams, retrofit-able to existing facilities without membrane filtration.
• Wasser 3.0 detect Microplastic Analysis Service Standardized fluorescence microscopy-based microplastic detection and quantification service. Uses the patented MP-1 fluorescence marker that selectively binds to synthetic polymer particles. Delivers results in minutes rather than days/weeks and is up to 90% more cost-effective than FT-IR or Raman spectroscopy. Offered as a full-service engagement (sampling, laboratory analysis, reporting) to municipal operators, industrial clients, and research institutions.
• Feasibility Studies and Pilot Projects Project-based engagements where Wasser 3.0 validates its PE-X® and detect technologies under real-world conditions at municipal and industrial wastewater treatment plants. More than 15 feasibility studies and more than 10 pilot applications over one-month testing periods have been completed as of 2025.
• Wasser 3.0 detect Analytical Kits (via abcr GmbH) Commercially available analytical kits for fluorescence-based microplastic detection, distributed through abcr GmbH. Includes the patented MP-1 fluorescence marker reagents for research institutions and industrial customers to perform microplastic analysis in-house.
• Kriminalfall Mikroplastik (Book) Authored book published by Dr. Katrin Schuhen covering the topic of microplastic pollution. Sold through Wasser 3.0's own Shopify e-commerce storefront to consumers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 95% microplastic removal rate, independent of polymer type, validated across municipal, industrial, surface, and seawater applications
• +3 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• abcr GmbHcoreTechnology or Integrationabcr GmbH is the commercial distribution partner for Wasser 3.0 detect analytical kits and co-development partner for the patented MP-1 fluorescence marker. The partnership enables the kit-based sale of Wasser 3.0's microplastic detection technology to research institutions and industry clients.
• Solar Impulse FoundationsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Solar Impulse Foundation certified Wasser 3.0 PE-X® as an Efficient Solution, granting use of the Solar Impulse label and access to the foundation's network of clean technology advocates and decision-makers.
• World Economic Forum / UpLinksupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerWasser 3.0 was selected as a Top Innovator on the WEF UpLink platform, gaining visibility within the World Economic Forum's global innovation and sustainability network and access to high-level stakeholders.
• Global Plastics HubsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerWasser 3.0 is a member of the Global Plastics Hub, an international platform coordinated by UNEP/UNDP for sharing knowledge, solutions, and collaborations on plastic pollution. Membership enables cross-border visibility and partnership opportunities.
• BNW Bundesverband (Bundesverband Nachhaltige Wirtschaft)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerWasser 3.0 is a member of BNW (German Association for Sustainable Business), connecting the organization with the sustainable business community in Germany.
• Mission Ocean WaterssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMission Ocean Waters is a European platform for ocean and water protection initiatives. Wasser 3.0 participates as a member, aligning its microplastic removal mission with broader ocean conservation efforts.
• Municipal and Industrial Wastewater Treatment Plant OperatorscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerOngoing operational partnerships with municipal and industrial wastewater treatment plant operators for conducting feasibility studies and pilot projects, validating Wasser 3.0 PE-X® technology under real-world conditions. More than 15 feasibility studies have been completed.
• Van Remmen UV TechnologysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerVan Remmen UV Technology became a kilometer sponsor of DONAU 2850, the first complete microplastic mapping of the Danube river, supporting 100 river kilometers of the project. This Dutch UV-C pioneer supports cross-border clean water efforts.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Suez Water Technologies & Solutions: Suez provides municipal and industrial water and wastewater treatment solutions, including advanced treatment and analytical services. Overlaps with Wasser 3.0 on municipal compliance upgrades and industrial process water treatment.
• Calgon Carbon (Kuraray): Calgon Carbon, now part of Kuraray, supplies activated carbon and advanced water treatment solutions for contaminant removal in municipal and industrial applications, including PFAS and trace organics. Comparable to Wasser 3.0 in addressing trace micropollutants in WWTP effluents.
• MANN+HUMMEL: MANN+HUMMEL is a global filtration specialist actively developing microplastic filtration solutions for wastewater and industrial applications. It represents a direct competitive threat via established membrane-based alternatives to Wasser 3.0's non-membrane Clump & Skim approach.
• Veolia Environnement: Veolia is a global water and wastewater utility and solutions provider whose foundations already fund Wasser 3.0's data2impact project. Both serve the municipal and industrial wastewater compliance market, but Veolia operates at vastly larger scale across the full water value chain.
• Xylem: Xylem is a major water technology company with filtration, treatment, and digital water products serving municipal WWTPs and industrial customers. It competes with Wasser 3.0 for municipal upgrade budgets and is developing microplastic-related filtration offerings.
• Ovivo: Ovivo provides advanced water and wastewater treatment solutions, including membrane bioreactors and tertiary treatment for municipal and industrial customers. It competes in the same downstream polishing and advanced treatment segment where Wasser 3.0 PE-X would be installed.
• Ecolab: Ecolab is a global leader in water, hygiene, and process chemicals for industrial and municipal customers, with growing presence in wastewater treatment chemistry and digital water management. Its industrial water treatment chemicals business directly overlaps with Wasser 3.0's chemical-based removal approach.
• Pentair: Pentair manufactures water filtration and treatment equipment for residential, commercial, and industrial markets, including municipal customers. Overlaps with Wasser 3.0 in the municipal and industrial water treatment equipment space.
• Hydac International: Hydac manufactures filtration, fluid conditioning, and process technology, increasingly including microplastic filtration products for industrial and mobile applications. Comparable to Wasser 3.0 in industrial water treatment but uses membrane/filtration rather than silica-gel agglomeration.

Direct peers

• The Ocean Cleanup: The Ocean Cleanup is a non-profit focused on removing plastic pollution from oceans and rivers, directly aligned with Wasser 3.0's mission. While it concentrates on macroplastic removal at scale in water bodies, both share a non-profit structure, citizen science engagement, and circular-economy framing of recovered plastic.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCxIjxkLwhNPoaA
• Facebookfacebook.com/wasser3null
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wasser-3-0
• Instagraminstagram.com/wasser3.0

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 Wasser 3.0 gGmbH