Safe Water Gardens
Safe Water Gardens is a Singapore-incorporated social enterprise that develops and deploys nature-based, low-cost circular sanitation systems for tropical village communities across Indonesia, Singapore, and Nepal, monetized through corporate WASH partnerships, direct village sales, and experiential team-building programs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersSingapore, Singapore
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Safe Water Gardens does
Safe Water Gardens (SWG) Pte Ltd is a Singapore-incorporated social enterprise founded in 2015 that develops and deploys nature-based, circular wastewater treatment systems for tropical village communities. Its core product is a single-household sanitation system constructed from locally available materials (bricks, pipes, gravel, and a 500-liter polyethylene drum) that requires no electricity, no chemicals, and no specialized labor, and can be installed by trained villagers in approximately half a day. The design emerged from a two-year research collaboration with Universitas Gadjah Mada, TU Eindhoven, and the National University of Singapore, funded by a Dutch government Nuffic grant, and was certified as a safe sanitation system by the Indonesian government (SNI) in 2019 and globally recognized by Finish Mondial in 2025. The company has built more than 700 systems across Indonesia, Singapore, and Nepal.
The business operates a hybrid B2B and community-led model. Revenue is generated through three streams: corporate WASH partnerships with water-intensive companies (notably Coca-Cola Europacific Partners Indonesia and Sinar Mas Agribusiness and Food) that fund deployments to meet water-replenishment and ESG obligations; direct village sales at approximately $250 per household for sanitation and $500 for complete WASH (financed via village budgets and microloans); and team-building/experiential programs routed through its sister entity, LooLa Eco Adventure Resort. Distribution is anchored by the Model Village Program, in which one village per tribal district is trained as a WASH competence center to install systems in neighboring villages, and by direct enterprise sales to corporate ESG, CSR, and government buyers. The company is led by founder and CEO Dr. Marc van Loo, with a board drawing on senior figures from NUS, L'Oreal, Shell, and Indonesian government sanitation policy. Safe Water Gardens does not disclose revenue, has not announced external funding rounds, and remains a privately held, founder-led entity.
Safe Water Gardens firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Safe Water Gardens
- Legal name
- Safe Water Gardens (SWG) Pte Ltd
- Website
- https://safewatergardens.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Safe Water Gardens is a Singapore-incorporated social enterprise that develops and deploys nature-based, low-cost circular sanitation systems for tropical village communities across Indonesia, Singapore, and Nepal, monetized through corporate WASH partnerships, direct village sales, and experiential team-building programs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Safe Water Gardens industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Decentralized Wastewater Treatment Systems
- NAICS
- Sewage Treatment Facilities (22132), Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213), Remediation and Other Waste Management Services (5629)
- SIC
- Sanitary Services (4950)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) (BPAGABAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) Solutions (BPAGALAI), Water Reclamation & Reuse Production (Tertiary/Advanced Treatment) (EUANADAD), Non‑Potable Reuse Utilities (Irrigation, Industrial, Cooling) (EUANAGAA)
Keywords
Where Safe Water Gardens is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Singapore
- HQ country
- Singapore
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices1 record
Markets served
Safe Water Gardens business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Corporate WASH Partnerships: Partnerships with water-intensive corporations (beverages, agriculture, textiles) to implement WASH solutions in local communities. Companies fulfill water replenishment requirements while advancing sustainability goals.
- Village WASH Solutions: Complete WASH systems sold to village communities at approximately $250 per household for sanitation and $500 total for complete WASH. Funded through village budgets and microloans.
- Team Building and Experiential Programs: Customized team-building experiences where companies and schools construct Safe Water Gardens as part of CSR and service-learning programs. Revenue from event coordination and program delivery through LooLa Eco Adventure Resort.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Safe Water Garden Sanitation System - $250 per household |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Complete WASH System - $500 per household |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Safe Water Gardens product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Safe Water Gardens designs, builds, and deploys nature-based, circular wastewater treatment sanitation systems for tropical village communities. The system is constructed from locally available materials (bricks, pipes, gravel, and a 500-liter polyethylene drum), requires no electricity, and is maintenance-free. SWG also delivers Model Village Programs (MVP) that train villages to become local WASH competence centers, corporate WASH partnerships for ESG/water replenishment, and team-building experiential programs through LooLa Eco Adventure Resort.
Product overview
Safe Water Gardens offers a single unified product: the Safe Water Garden (SWG) sanitation system, a physical wastewater treatment solution designed for tropical village communities. The core product can be enhanced through the Model Village Project (MVP) program, which establishes WASH competence centers in villages. Corporate partners can engage through the WASH+ and SAHABAT programs for broader community impact. Additionally, the Experiences by LooLa service offers experiential team-building programs where organizations participate in constructing Safe Water Gardens. The portfolio is anchored by the SWG core system, with complementary programs enabling scaled deployment and community engagement.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Safe Water Garden (SWG) Sanitation System A single-sized nature-based sanitation system designed for small schools and family groups in tropical villages worldwide. Constructed from bricks, pipes, gravel, and a 500-liter polyethylene drum, it requires no electricity, is maintenance-free, and lasts a lifetime. Closed-loop wastewater treatment with a liquefier tank recycles water safely back to the local water table. Installed in one day by villagers using basic tools. Average cost approximately $250 per household.
- Model Village Program (MVP) A village-to-village deployment and capacity-building program that enables one village in each tribal district to become a local WASH (Water Access, Sanitation, and Hygiene) competence center, training and installing Safe Water Gardens for neighboring villages. Creates a self-sustaining rural distribution model.
- WASH+ Program A corporate-partnered community-based water management program delivered in partnership with Coca-Cola Europacific Partners Indonesia and Water Stewardship Indonesia. Provides comprehensive WASH services to vulnerable families and delivers VWBA-compliant (Volumetric Water Benefit Accounting) volumetric water benefit data to corporate partners for ESG and water replenishment reporting.
- SAHABAT Program A comprehensive WASH initiative in partnership with Sinar Mas Agribusiness and Food that provides access to running water and safe sanitation for Indonesian households and schools. Delivered in partnership with Water Stewardship Indonesia.
- LooLa Experiential Programs Team-building experiences where businesses and schools construct Safe Water Gardens for local village families as part of CSR and service-learning programs. Delivered through LooLa Eco Adventure Resort, combining ESG/CSR objectives with community impact.
Quantifiable outcome
- Three times cheaper than government communal systems ($250 vs $600+ purchase price per household)
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Safe Water Gardens
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Safe Water Gardens technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Safe Water Gardens partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
22 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- Coca-Cola Europacific Partners IndonesiaflagshipPartnership through WASH+ program in Kutamaneuh Village, Citarum Basin. Coca-Cola Europacific Partners Indonesia carries out interventions for 200+ vulnerable families, delivering 50,000 m3 of VWBA-compliant data.
- Sinar Mas Agribusiness and FoodflagshipSAHABAT program provides comprehensive WASH to Indonesian households and schools in Sentabai, Kalimantan. Partnership with Water Stewardship Indonesia enables sustainable community development.
- Water Stewardship IndonesiacoreKey data partner for WASH programs. Heru Hendrayana serves as Chair Founding Board. Collaboration on water stewardship initiatives.
- Global Water Partnership Southeast AsiacoreStrategic partnership for water management initiatives in Southeast Asia region.
- Universitas Gadjah MadacoreIndonesia's oldest and largest higher education institution with 18 faculties, 27 research centers, 55,000 students. Joint research partner on Safe Water Garden design and social engagement model.
- Technische Universiteit EindhovencoreRanked third among European research universities. Secured Dutch government research grant to support SWG research project.
- National University of SingaporecoreSingapore-based university whose Environmental Research Institute (NERI) specializes in R&D on water and wastewater infrastructure. Prof. Dr. How Yong Ng serves as Director.
- Institut Teknologi Nasional Bandung (itenas)corePrivate, technology-focused university in Bandung, Indonesia, known for world-class reputation in environmental engineering. Dr. Iwan Juwana serves as Head of Centre for Research and Community Development.
- Finish MondialcoreWorld's largest sanitation NGO. Provided global recognition to Safe Water Gardens as a safe sanitation system in 2025.
- Temasek TrustcoreSingapore-based philanthropic organization supporting sustainable development initiatives.
- World Business Council for Sustainable DevelopmentcoreGlobal organization of businesses working on sustainable development. SWG member for water stewardship and WASH initiatives.
- RabobankminorBanking partner engaged in CSR team-building activities building Safe Water Gardens for local village families.
- Rotary InternationalminorGlobal service organization supporting SWG initiatives through community outreach.
- LooLa Eco Adventure ResortcoreWorld's leading eco-resort founded by Dr. Marc van Loo. Provides team-building and service-learning experiences for SWG projects. Origin point of the SWG concept.
- Indonesian National Standard (SNI)coreNational standards organization that certified SWG as safe sanitation system in 2019.
- Universitas Maritim Raja Ali HajiminorMaritime university in Kepulauan Riau Province. Henky Irawan serves as Lecturer, Researcher in Marine Biology and Head of Institute for Research and Community Service.
- Witteveen + BosminorEngineering and consultancy firm supporting development projects.
- Golden Agri-ResourcesminorAgribusiness partner contributing to WASH programs and documentation.
- KuritaminorWater treatment company supporting WASH initiatives.
- BorougeminorPetrochemical company engaged in SWG initiatives.
- Banyan Trees Global FoundationminorEnvironmental foundation supporting sustainable development.
- Great Eastern OCBC GroupminorInsurance and financial services group supporting WASH initiatives.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Safe Water Gardens competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Sanergy: Kenya-based social enterprise building low-cost sanitation infrastructure for urban informal settlements and converting waste into fertilizer. Directly comparable to SWG as a mission-driven sanitation social enterprise with a circular-economy model serving emerging markets.
- Loowatt: UK-built social enterprise pioneering waterless toilet systems for off-grid communities. Direct peer to SWG as a sanitation technology innovator for water-stressed, off-grid tropical communities with a circular-waste business model.
- WaterSHED: Cambodia-based social enterprise that builds market-based sanitation businesses serving rural households in Southeast Asia. Direct peer to SWG on geography, target customer (rural Southeast Asian villages), and household-owned sanitation model.
- SOIL Haiti: Social enterprise operating composting sanitation systems in Haiti with a circular model that converts waste into agricultural inputs. Closely analogous to SWG's nature-based, household-scale sanitation approach for low-income tropical communities.
Broad incumbents
- WaterAid: Global WASH-focused NGO operating in dozens of countries to deliver safe water, sanitation, and hygiene. Comparable to Safe Water Gardens as a fellow WASH mission-driven organization, though it operates as a much larger incumbent focused on advocacy and infrastructure rather than a single-product model.
- PATH: Global health nonprofit with significant WASH and water-treatment programs in low- and middle-income countries. Comparable as a large, well-funded incumbent addressing similar water and sanitation challenges through technology and partnership models.
- iDE (International Development Enterprises): Global social enterprise that designs and scales market-based WASH and agriculture solutions for rural households in emerging markets. Comparable to SWG's household-owned sanitation model and village-level distribution approach, though iDE operates across multiple verticals and geographies.
- Vestergaard (LifeStraw): Global manufacturer of household water treatment products (LifeStraw) sold across low-income markets, including partnerships with corporates and NGOs. Comparable to SWG's household-level clean-water ambition and partnership-driven distribution, though focused on point-of-use filtration rather than sanitation infrastructure.
Regional players
- Nazava Water Filters: Indonesia-based social enterprise producing ceramic water filters for households lacking safe drinking water, and an existing SWG partner. Comparable to SWG's household WASH focus in Indonesia, though it sells a discrete filtration product rather than a complete sanitation system.
Others
- Sustainable Sanitation Alliance (SuSanA): International network of organizations advancing sustainable sanitation and WASH solutions globally. Comparable to SWG as an ecosystem participant in the tropical sanitation innovation space, operating as a coordinating network rather than a direct provider.
Market position
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Safe Water Gardens social profiles
Digital presenceSafe Water Gardens compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Safe Water Gardens financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Safe Water Gardens leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles15 records
Safe Water Gardens funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Safe Water Gardens M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Safe Water Gardens
What does Safe Water Gardens do?
Safe Water Gardens designs, builds, and deploys nature-based, circular wastewater treatment sanitation systems for tropical village communities. The system is constructed from locally available materials (bricks, pipes, gravel, and a 500-liter polyethylene drum), requires no electricity, and is maintenance-free. SWG also delivers Model Village Programs (MVP) that train villages to become local WASH competence centers, corporate WASH partnerships for ESG/water replenishment, and team-building experiential programs through LooLa Eco Adventure Resort.
Is Safe Water Gardens a public or private company?
Safe Water Gardens is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Safe Water Gardens founded?
Safe Water Gardens was founded in 2015. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Safe Water Gardens based?
Safe Water Gardens is headquartered in Singapore, Singapore, in the Asia region.
How does Safe Water Gardens make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Corporate WASH Partnerships are the primary driver. The others are village WASH Solutions and team Building and Experiential Programs.
Who are Safe Water Gardens's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Sanergy, Loowatt, WaterSHED and SOIL Haiti. Broad incumbents are WaterAid, PATH, iDE (International Development Enterprises) and Vestergaard (LifeStraw). Nazava Water Filters is listed as a regional player. Sustainable Sanitation Alliance (SuSanA) is listed as an others.
Does Safe Water Gardens have an API?
No public API is recorded for Safe Water Gardens.
What industry is Safe Water Gardens in?
Safe Water Gardens's product category is Decentralized Wastewater Treatment Systems. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGABAC, Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH), with a secondary code of BPAGALAI, Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) Solutions. Its NAICS code is 22132 and its SIC code is 4950.