Tomorrow Water Advances Next-Generation Nitrogen Removal with PdNA Technology Partnership

Tomorrow Water announced a strategic partnership to accelerate the development and global commercialization of Partial Denitrification-Anammox (PdNA), establishing a pathway for intensified, energy-efficient nitrogen removal in wastewater treatment. The agreement licenses the patented DETOUR™ PdNA technology from Hampton Roads Sanitation District (HRSD) and DC Water for integration within Tomorrow Water's PROTEUS® platform, uniting advanced biological nutrient removal with a compact process to reduce treatment footprint and improve operational efficiency.

Partnership builds on a U.S. DOE-funded PdNA demonstration project led by AECOM at Linda County Water District in Northern California, demonstrating the tertiary PdNA process within Tomorrow Water's PROTEUS® system. Demonstrations were operated and managed by Caliskaner Water Technologies, Inc. (CWT) to support validation of process performance and scalability.

The strategic partnership agreement was formalized during IFAT Munich 2026 by Mr. E.F. Dongwoo Kim, Founder & CEO of Tomorrow Water, together with Dr. Sudhir Murthy, CEO of NEWhub Water Corporation, and Dr. Bernhard Wett, CEO of NEWport GmbH, with participation from HRSD. Dr. Charles Bott, CTO of HRSD, and Dr. Onder Caliskaner, CEO of CWT joined the ceremony along with other project collaborators and industry representatives, reflecting continued international interest in cutting-edge biological treatment technologies.

By integrating DETOUR™ technology into the compact and efficient PROTEUS® platform, the collaboration provides:

• Intensified nutrient removal in greenfield or brownfield infrastructure
• Increased treatment capacity without major expansion
• Reduced aeration demand and energy consumption
• Lower greenhouse gas emissions
• Reduced capital and operating costs

The technology originated through collaborative innovation efforts between HRSD and DC Water and has been advanced through the DOE-funded project, 'Technological Upscaling of the Partial Denitrification-Anammox (PdNA) Process for Decarbonization with Mainstream Deammonification.' The initiative includes collaboration with leading academic, utility, and industry partners such as AECOM, Cornell University, Northwestern University, Princeton University, The Water Research Foundation, and multiple municipal stakeholders.

About Tomorrow Water

Tomorrow Water develops advanced wastewater and resource recovery technologies focused on energy efficiency, process intensification, and sustainable infrastructure solutions. Through innovative treatment platforms such as PROTEUS®, Tomorrow Water supports utilities in improving performance, reducing environmental impact, and advancing long-term operational sustainability.