Building Bathrooms of the Future:
Transforming Waste into Resource

Brightwater Tools is Re‑Imagining Wastewater Treatment

Brightwater Tools is leading the change in how we approach human waste. We’ve developed scalable systems for onsite sanitation– creating circular economies where there were none. Our tools turn toilet “waste” into non-potable water (for reuse) and concentrated plant nutrients (a safe, natural fertilizer product).

Our innovative freeze concentration technology makes onsite sanitation and water reuse more financially viable for green multi-family developers. We help them save money, and the planet too.

Big Problems

23,000

sanitary sewer overflows happen in the US each year¹

Traditional wastewater systems can’t keep up.

15% of US treatment plants are at or have exceeded capacity²
D+ American Society of Civil Engineers report card score for centralized wastewater³

Sources

Clean water is in crisis.

1.2 trillion gallons of drinkable water is used to flush toilets in the US each year⁴
15,000+ bodies of water are impaired by nitrogen & phosphorus pollution in the US⁵

Sources

Excessive nutrients found in

of lake acres

of river & stream miles⁶

300

increase in the price of nitrogen fertilizers since 2021⁷

Synthetic fertilizers aren’t cutting it.

1.8% of global carbon dioxide emissions are caused by synthetic nitrogen fertilizer production⁸
"If implemented worldwide, recycled urine could replace nearly a quarter of all the synthetic nitrogen fertiliser used in agriculture."⁹

Sources

Costs are mounting.

$2.2 billion is spent annually on damage to US freshwaters caused by eutrophication¹⁰
2% of US electricity is expended in pumping & treating water & wastewater¹¹

Sources

250

Billion

is the estimated cost of updating the US wastewater infrastructure¹²

subsidies

are being offered for urine diversion projects in Paris to reduce nutrient loading to wastewater¹³

Municipalities are looking for alternatives.

In Sweden, several communities are experimenting with circular wastewater systems (like RecoLab) to reduce dependence on traditional systems¹⁴

Sources

Innovative Solutions

The Brightwater Tools approach is:

Regenerative

Repurposing valuable nutrients and water resources

Efficient

Lowering water, sewer, transport and energy costs

Practical

Harnessing the power of natural processes & fertilizers

Lightening the load

Diverting nutrient pollutants from the water cycle

Restorative

Mending the gap in the food nutrient cycle

Exemplary

Revealing the future of sustainable sanitation

Real-world applications

Innovative multi-family developers

Forward-looking municipalities

Green builders, engineers & architects

How it works

Investors & supporters

Any technology that can economically concentrate liquid wastewater for reduced transport costs will be in high demand.

Peter Fiske, Executive Director of NAWI, a Program supported by the U.S. Department of Energy

Vuna is interested in installing Brightwater's Freeze Concentrators in mountain lodges to promote a broader circular economy. With near-freezing temperatures for much of the year, mountain lodges are the ideal environment for freeze-concentration. There are 50-60 mountain lodges where we would like to install this technology.

Bastian Etter, Managing Director of Vuna

DeSaH is interested in piloting the freeze concentration system during the beta testing period. And if successful, DeSaH would be interested in purchasing the Brightwater Tools product when it is available.

Sybrand Metz, DeSah

A technology that could concentrate nutrients in a high strength wastewater would be a high value in my clients’ infrastructure portfolios.

Amelia Luna, Sherwood Design Engineers

This technology has the potential to not only help PAE design the highest performing buildings, but connect those buildings to the broader ecology. We hope to add Brightwater Tools product to our list of design solutions for our projects.

Justin Stenkamp, PAE

Vuna is interested in installing Brightwater's Freeze Concentrators in mountain lodges to promote a broader circular economy. With near-freezing temperatures for much of the year, mountain lodges are the ideal environment for freeze-concentration. There are 50-60 mountain lodges where we would like to install this technology.