What WATER PARTNERS does

Water Partners is an Italian for-profit company founded in 2023 by Franco Traverso (Chairman) and Anton Szpitalak (Director), with Luigi Pesce as CFO, headquartered in Carmignano di Brenta, Padova. The company develops, owns, and operates distributed solar-powered reverse osmosis desalination projects under a 'water as a service' model, targeting water-scarce, high-impact regions with off-grid infrastructure needs.

The company's core technology is a highly automated reverse osmosis desalination system powered by solar energy, enabling distributed potable water production without grid dependency. It currently operates two projects: Progetto Fonton in Praia, Cape Verde, producing 100 m3/day of potable water branded 'Nos Água' for direct customers and a network of community water distributors; and Progetto Pingwe in Zanzibar, Tanzania, producing approximately 400 m3/day of potable water supplied to hotels and resorts via pipelines and water trucks, with a portion of pumped water donated daily to the local agricultural community. Strategic operational support is provided by Genius Watter, an Italian water purification specialist.

Water Partners monetizes through usage-based potable water sales and recurring water-as-a-service contracts, with quote-based pricing for both enterprise hospitality and community supply arrangements. Its go-to-market combines long-term ownership and development of distributed infrastructure with community-led engagement, including local training and sustainable job creation. The customer base spans enterprise hospitality (hotels and resorts), SMB community water distributors, and local agricultural communities across two African countries.

Name

WATER PARTNERS

Legal name

Water Partners

Website

https://waterpartners.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Water Partners is an Italian developer and operator of distributed solar-powered reverse osmosis desalination projects, delivering potable water as a service to underserved communities and hospitality businesses in Cape Verde and Tanzania.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Water Infrastructure Services

NAICS

Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (22131), Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213)

SIC

Water Supply (4941), Water, Sewer, Pipeline, Comm & Power Line Construction (1623)

akta.pro primary industry

Desalination Plant Construction (IMAFAGAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Advanced Treatment & Purification Utilities (MF/UF, RO, AOP, UV) (EUANAGAD)

Keywords

• Solar desalination systems
• Water infrastructure services
• Reverse osmosis technology
• Potable water supply
• Distributed water systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Carmignano Di Brenta

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Water Potable Sales: Sale of potable water to direct customers and through distribution networks serving communities. Water is produced via solar-powered desalination and distributed to end users including hotels, resorts, and local community water distributors.
2. Water as a Service: Service-oriented model providing sustainable water access to communities and businesses with strong community alignment.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Water Partners develops, owns, and operates distributed solar-powered reverse osmosis desalination infrastructure that produces potable water in off-grid, high-impact regions. It sells the produced water under a "water as a service" model to enterprise customers (hotels and resorts) via pipelines and water trucks and to underserved communities through a network of local water distributors.

Product overview

Water Partners operates as a single unified water infrastructure platform offering solar-powered reverse osmosis desalination systems under a 'water as a service' model. The company develops, owns, and manages distributed solar-powered water desalination projects in high-impact regions, primarily in Africa. Key projects include Progetto Fonton in Cape Verde (providing Nos Água brand potable water) and Progetto Pingwe in Zanzibar, Tanzania. The company collaborates with Genius Watter for water purification technology and distribution operations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Solar-Powered Reverse Osmosis Desalination Systems Distributed solar-powered reverse osmosis water desalination systems that produce potable water in off-grid, high-impact regions, particularly in Africa, delivered to communities and local businesses.
• Progetto Fonton (Nos Água) Solar-powered desalination project in Praia, Cape Verde producing 100 cubic meters per day of ultra-pure potable water (Nos Água brand) supplied to direct customers and a capillary network of water distributors serving the most underserved communities.
• Progetto Pingwe Solar-powered desalination project in Zanzibar, Tanzania providing approximately 400 m3 per day of reliable clean potable water to a group of hotels and resorts via pipelines and water trucks, with part of the pumped water donated daily to the local agricultural community.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100 m3/day of potable water produced in Praia, Capo Verde (Fonton project)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Genius WattercoreTechnology or IntegrationStrong collaboration with Genius Watter, an Italian leader in water purification and worldwide expert in clean water technology. This partnership provides Water Partners with a highly scalable and reliable field distribution and operations model for their solar desalination projects.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• BBOXX: UK-headquartered solar energy and clean utility provider focused on off-grid African markets. Comparable in deploying distributed, pay-as-you-go solar-powered infrastructure to underserved African customers, though focused on electricity rather than water.

Direct peers

• Source Global: US-based company producing drinking water from sunlight and air using solar-powered hydropanels. Comparable as a distributed, solar-powered clean water platform, though focused on atmospheric generation rather than desalination.
• GivePower Foundation: US-based nonprofit deploying solar-powered desalination WaterBoxes in underserved coastal and island communities, including in Africa. Closely comparable mission, technology (solar desalination), and target customer profile.
• Solar Water Solutions: Finnish company developing solar-powered desalination systems for off-grid and island communities. Directly comparable to Water Partners' distributed solar RO architecture and water-as-a-service deployment model.
• Desolenator: Netherlands/UK-based developer of solar-powered desalination units for off-grid water production. Direct peer in distributed solar RO technology for water-scarce regions.
• Genius Watter: Italian water purification specialist and Water Partners' core technology and field-operations partner. Highly comparable as a clean water technology provider targeting distributed, off-grid water infrastructure globally.

Broad incumbents

• WaterAid: Major international NGO focused on sustainable access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene in developing countries. Comparable customer base (underserved communities in Africa) and impact thesis, though operating as a charity rather than a commercial utility.
• IDE Technologies: Israeli global leader in water desalination and treatment technologies with large-scale plant deployments worldwide. Comparable desalination technology stack, but operates at much larger, centralized scale.
• Acciona Agua: Spanish global water infrastructure business operating desalination and treatment plants under concession models. Comparable as an established water-as-a-service operator, but at centralized utility scale.

Emerging players

• WaterStep: US-based nonprofit deploying low-cost water purification systems in developing regions. Comparable mission and end-user profile (underserved communities), though using different purification technologies.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 PARTNERS