The future of water analysis: Why innovation can’t wait

Water is under pressure. As Europe grapples with increasingly extreme weather patterns, rising nitrate levels, and pollution from industrial chemicals, the systems we use to monitor water quality are straining to keep up.

According to the European Environment Agency, only 37% of Europe’s surface water bodies achieved a good or high ecological status, 29% achieved a good chemical status. The study concludes that urgent action is required to improve Europe’s water resilience. To take targeted measures, the first step is analysis.

In Europe, water quality is monitored through standardized sampling and laboratory analysis methods, assessing chemical and ecological parameters across surface and groundwater bodies.

These processes are highly proven, standardised and reliable, but they are still largely manual, time-intensive, and costly. Worse yet, results often arrive days after sampling, limiting real-time decision-making.

Smart Water Monitoring needs a tech revolution

At the same time, innovative technologies in other industries are proving that faster, smarter, and more automated systems are possible. So why not in water?

That’s the challenge and opportunity we’re addressing at BRYCK with our industry partner RAG Aktiengesellschaft. Together, we’ve launched a new program to scout startups developing solutions in water sampling and analysis and bring their technologies out of the lab and into real-world use.

RAG’s real-world water infrastructure as a launchpad

For these new technologies, the infrastructure of RAG offers ideal conditions:

• Every year, over 110 million cubic meters of mine water are pumped from underground and discharged into rivers.
• The water quality is monitored at more than 2,400 groundwater measuring points.

This scale offers startups a rare opportunity: to validate and implement their solutions in one of Europe’s most advanced industrial water systems with full operational support from RAG & BRYCK experts.