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), introducing a new pathway for intensified, energy-efficient nitrogen removal in wastewater treatment.
As part of the strategic partnership, Tomorrow Water has licensed Hampton Roads Sanitation District (HRSD) and DC Water’s patented DETOUR™ PdNA technology for implementation within its PROTEUS® technology platform. The integration combines advanced biological nutrient removal with the compact and efficient PROTEUS process, reducing treatment footprint while improving operational efficiency.
Building on Proven Demonstration Success
The partnership builds on the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)-funded PdNA demonstration project led by AECOM at the Linda County Water District in Northern California. The project successfully demonstrated the tertiary PdNA process within Tomorrow Water’s PROTEUS® system.
The demonstration were operated and managed by Caliskaner Water Technologies, Inc. (CWT), supporting validation of process performance and scalability.
Partnership Formalized at IFAT Munich 2026
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 the continued international interest and collaboration behind cutting-edge biological treatment technologies.
Advancing Efficient Nitrogen Removal
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
These advantages support utilities in meeting regulatory requirements while improving overall process efficiency.
DOE Collaboration and Industry Partners
The technology originated through collaborative innovation efforts between HRSD and DC Water and has been further 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.
The collaboration reflects ongoing industry efforts to scale PdNA for mainstream wastewater applications, with a focus on energy efficiency, process intensification, and sustainable infrastructure.
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.