Turning local water into luxury product using RO

Austrian-based BWT Water showcased its reverse osmosis (RO)-based water purification technologies at Aquatech Amsterdam and introduced its latest high-quality offering Diamond Mineralised Water, which turns local drinking water into a refined luxury product for the high-end restaurant market.

Technology for the home that makes an impact

BWT's purification and re-mineralisation technology can be applied as point of use in residential and office buildings, as well as in pharmaceutical and medical settings. The goal for Diamond was to produce water of the highest quality that would remove the need for the use of bottled water. It does this by first purifying local drinking water and then adding magnesium and silicate.

Speaking to Aquatech Online at Aquatech Amsterdam 2025, BWT Water's Roberta Polesel said: "We wanted to make water affordable and clean, that was both produced and purified locally. One that was comparable to the best rated water on the market, like Fiji Water, for example. Our goal is that people traveling around the world will recognise the taste of this water. They will ask for it from a restaurant, for example."

On the reason for adding magnesium and silicate, Polesel explained: "Magnesium is good for your when you're tired, you really helps you to get better. Silicate has anti-aging properties, so it'll help you really feel fit if you drink it constantly. And it makes you feel like you want to drink more and more and more."

Purification and re-mineralisation in one place

With filtration taking place under the sink, the filtration and re-mineralisation process means the water can be used for drinking, or even for showers and washing machines. The water is purified and remineralised in the same system, with a bypass taking some of the purified water through the magnesium and silicate areas (in the case of Diamond water).

BWT Water has also released over the counter dispensers for drinking water purposes. These dispensers come with a special device that tells its customers how many plastic drinking bottles they have saved by using water from the device. The devices can also tell consumers how much water has passed through the filter and when the filters need maintenance.

Innovation as a point of difference

Innovation is seen as a point of difference for BWT Water. The company manufacturers its own reverse osmosis filters to use in its products. "We have a very long history in RO. We have a research and development facility that test our products on a daily basis in our headquarters in Mondsee. Everything is produced and assembled internally. Innovation is the base for the future of the company."

Hospitals are a big user of BWT Water's filtration and re-mineralisation technology with the water treated centrally before being distributed throughout the building. The system is complemented with UV-C technology to ensure bacteria is eliminated from pipe outlets. The UV-C technology is designed and developed internally. The company also manufactures purified water, and water for injection, for pharma and biotech industries.

A water mission for the future

The company has taken its filtration and clean water mission to Africa through its Pearl foundation which provides treatment technology to ensure communities can produce clean water locally. For example, the foundation offers free drinking water to schools, as well as regular treated water, in areas where sourcing potable water could well mean a journey of many kilometres.

"We want to change the world, sip by sip, to create a better world for our future generations," Polesel concluded.