SurfPill has delivered a prototype floating platform to the University of Amsterdam for research on decentralized water treatment in urban waterways. The study is led by researcher Willem Morsink and supervised by Petra Visser and Arie Vonk. It examines whether localized treatment can improve water quality in areas used for recreation.
The prototype was handed over in the Houthavens district, which has waterfront access and a swimming pier but no official swimming designation due to water quality. Other locations in Amsterdam face similar conditions. Local favorite Sloterstrand previously lost its official status due to elevated E. coli levels.
SurfPill is developing a floating platform that combines a standing wave with localized water treatment. The system is intended for shallow urban waterways where water quality is variable. The company said the system could be operational within a year if permits are granted.
The research includes collaboration with Swiss company ColiMinder, which provides technology to monitor bacterial contamination. The system detects microbiological contamination in about fifteen minutes, compared with traditional methods that take several days. The approach aligns with requirements under the European Bathing Water Directive for timely public information on water quality.
“Urban water is not a static given. Water quality varies by day and by location,” said Petra Visser, associate professor at the University of Amsterdam. “With this research, we want to understand whether small-scale, decentralized interventions can make a measurable contribution to safer urban water. That knowledge doesn’t exist yet, and it’s urgently needed as more and more cities look to open up their waterways for recreation.”
Frederik van Os, founder of SurfPill, said the concept shows how a different approach can benefit other places that have the same water issues.
“Amsterdam is a water city that barely uses its water for healthy urban living,” said Frederik van Os, founder of SurfPill. “We want to show it can be done differently. Amsterdam can become a model city for a new generation of water-based innovations. If it works here, it’s applicable to dozens of locations in Amsterdam and beyond.”
SurfPill identified additional potential locations including Borneokade, Marineterrein, and parts of the Amstel River.
