AquiSense Achieves US-EPA Disinfection Validation and NSF 61 Certification for Groundbreaking LED Ultraviolet Disinfection System

Kentucky, US ─ AquiSense, Incorporated, the leader in UV-C LED solutions, announced that its full-scale UV-C LED product, the PearlAqua Kilo has been awarded the NSF/ANSI/CAN 61-2024 certification and successfully completed the rigorous validation process required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) UV Disinfection Guidance Manual (UVDGM). This dual achievement provides water utilities and industrial users with a new, highly effective tool for protecting public health.

“Achieving both UVDGM validation and NSF 61 certification is a major milestone not only for our company, but for the water treatment industry globally,” said Oliver Lawal, CEO at AquiSense. “This is not just a regulatory achievement; it’s a profound promise to the communities our customers serve. With these 3rd party validations, water operators can install the PearlAqua Kilo System with complete confidence, knowing they are deploying a solution that has been independently and stringently verified for both performance and material safety.”

The EPA UVDGM validation is the gold standard for validating UV reactor performance for large municipal drinking water applications. It scientifically proves that the PearlAqua Kilo reliably inactivates harmful, chlorine-resistant microorganisms like Cryptosporidium and Giardia under a wide range of water quality and operational conditions. The rigorous testing was conducted by an independent third party and confirmed the system’s ability to consistently deliver the required UV Dose.

The NSF mark, issued by the National Sanitation Foundation and verified by IAPMO Research and Testing, certifies the safety and performance of products in contact with drinking water, ensuring these products are manufactured with materials that are safe. Products that are certified as meeting NSF/ANSI/CAN 61-2024 standards have been rigorously tested and meet the criteria for use in public water supply systems. This standard is recognized and enforced by regulatory agencies across North America and globally. It is a requirement for many municipal and industrial projects.

“Our commitment to safety, innovation, and quality products is a priority,” says Jennifer Pagan, AquiSense CTO. “Validation is an important component to innovation, and we are proud to provide certified LED solutions to serve municipal and industrial markets, ensuring broader market access and competitive advantages for mercury free drinking water applications.”

Key features and benefits of the PearlAqua Kilo system includes:

• Proven Performance: UVDGM validation provides assurance of effective disinfection against  harmful pathogens for large-scale water treatment plants.
• Enhanced Public Safety: NSF 61 certification
  guarantees that the system’s materials are safe for use in drinking water
  applications, ensuring consumer protection.
• Operational Excellence: The system is designed for ease of use and maintenance, with advanced monitoring features that ensure compliance and consistent performance.
• Sustainable Solution: The Kilo offers a chemical and mercury-free disinfection method, aligning with a growing demand for sustainable water treatment practices.                   

###

About the NSF/ANSI/CAN-61 Mark 

NSF/ANSI/CAN-61 is a North American standard that establishes health-based criteria for materials and products in contact with drinking water, ensuring they don’t leach harmful contaminants. Products undergo rigorous third-party testing to confirm they meet safety thresholds for metals, non-metals, and other leachables, providing confidence in the safety and integrity of drinking water systems. 

About the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) UV Disinfection Guidance Manual (UVDGM) 

The United States Environmental Protection Agency has a mission to protect human health and the environment and works to have clean air, land and water for all Americans. The Ultraviolet Disinfection Guidance Manual provides technical guidance for the application of ultraviolet light for the disinfection of drinking water by public water systems.

About AquiSense

AquiSense stands as the global leader in UV-C LED systems design and manufacturing, delivering innovative solutions for water, air, and surface disinfection. As the world’s largest supplier of UV LED disinfection systems, we are committed to protecting public health through chemical-free, mercury-free technology.

With decades of collective experience in UV disinfection, our team brings together deep expertise in UV LED research, reactor design, and engineering. This comprehensive knowledge enables us to develop the industry’s most advanced, energy-efficient disinfection systems while maintaining the highest safety standards.

Our strategic position between LED device manufacturers and market-specific original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) allows us to serve as a crucial bridge in the UV LED market, delivering tailored solutions across multiple industries.

AquiSense, Inc. is a privately held company. For more information about AquiSense products, visit the company’s website at: https://aquisense.com/

***

Syrene Lawal

Public Relations Director

+1 859 630 5345

Syrene.Lawal@aquisense.com

Konrad Kowalk

Marketing Manager

+1 859 869 4700  

Konrad.Kowalk@aquisense.com

Andrea Martinez – Uniting Passion and Profession: My Journey in Clean Water Innovation

“Everyone’s journey is shaped by unique passions and experiences that drive them forward. For me, water has been a constant thread, influencing my path and purpose. This is a little bit of my story—how my life experiences have guided me to where I am today and deepened my commitment to working towards solving one of today’s most vital challenges: access to clean water. How has water shaped your life?”

Growing up in Venezuela, I was made keenly aware of the scarcity of water and its limited access for the average person. According to the World Health Organization, in 2019, it was reported that 1 in 3 people did not have access to safe drinking water.[1] Thankfully, my family and I were privileged enough to have access to safe, clean drinking water, even when we moved back to our home country, Colombia. However, many people face significant challenges in securing this basic necessity.

During my time as a student at Louisiana State University, I pursued a degree in environmental engineering and became formally educated about the global challenges surrounding water quality and access. One course that left a profound impact on me was Water Treatment in Developing Countries. It highlighted the immense technological gap in the water sector between developed and developing nations and inspired me to dig deeper into solutions for these issues.

This led me to pursue a master’s degree, where I focused my research on UV-C LED water disinfection technology, working under Dr. Samuel Snow. I was captivated by the technology’s potential to make a tangible difference, especially in off-grid and underserved communities. In 2022, I had the opportunity to present some preliminary findings at the IUVA Americas Conference in Cincinnati. There, I connected with Oliver Lawal and learned about AquiSense and their innovative work in UV-C LED disinfection systems.

Fast forward to today, I have been working at AquiSense for almost 2 years. It’s been an incredible journey working alongside leading industry experts on projects I never imagined I’d have the chance to tackle—from working with NASA to addressing challenges in pharmaceutical processes. Yet, one of the most fulfilling aspects of my role has been contributing to the expansion of clean water access and equity in Latin America.

Last year, Bogotá, where I am from and where my family lives, experienced severe droughts that led to citywide water rationing. My family, like many others, relied on holding tanks for water storage, a common and essential practice to get through the allotted days without access to running water. While water conservation is essential, it comes with unintended consequences: the increased risk of waterborne illnesses. Storing water in tanks, especially over extended periods, creates conditions where pathogens can thrive, turning a lifeline into
a potential hazard. Untreated, stagnant water significantly increases the likelihood of contamination, putting families at risk of illnesses such as diarrhea, cholera, and other infections. Witnessing this challenge firsthand reinforced the importance of accessible water treatment solutions.

As an engineer at AquiSense, I realized I had access to technology that could help mitigate these risks. UV-C LED disinfection systems are highly effective at inactivating pathogens without the need for chemicals or complex infrastructure. After learning more about the growing concerns around water quality, I discussed with them the benefits of this technology and how an AquiSense system could provide an additional layer of safety for the home. When I went to my family’s home in Bogotá for Christmas last year, I brought an AquiSense PearlAqua Deca 24C4 with me. With the help of my uncle Fernando, we retrofitted the existing water storage system and installed the UV-C LED unit, providing the necessary disinfection for the home. It was a simple, yet impactful solution, and being able to directly help my family while also showcasing the potential of this technology in my home country made the experience incredibly meaningful.

The opportunity for this application of my education and professional experience to directly protect my family reinforced the core reasons I do this work. Providing my family with access to safe, clean drinking water felt incredibly rewarding, as it showed the real-world impact of UV-C LED technology. However, as fulfilling as this experience was, I am also keenly aware that millions of others are still facing similar challenges when it comes to accessing clean water.

At AquiSense Inc., we are dedicated to expanding the reach of UV-C LED technology and improving water quality for communities across Latin America and throughout the world, to make safe water more accessible and reliable for those who need it. As our technology continues to evolve and our presence in Latin America grows, we hope to help more families, like mine, have access to safe drinking water. Ultimately, our goal is to provide technology and awareness of solutions to empower communities and individuals with the tools they need to safeguard their health and well-being through better water management and disinfection practices.

Because everyone deserves access to safe, clean water.

[1] “1 in 3 People Globally Do Not Have Access to Safe Drinking Water – UNICEF, Who.” World Health Organization, World Health Organization,
www.who.int/news/item/18-06-2019-1-in-3-people-globally-do-not-have-access-to-safe-drinking-water-unicef-who. Accessed 28 Jan. 2025.

AquiSense CTO and Co-Founder, Dr. Jennifer Pagán Receives Bayh-Dole Coalition Award for Inventive UV-C Water Disinfection Technology

• Jennifer Pagán began her UV-C LED research at UNC Charlotte while pursuing her Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering.
• The Bayh-Dole Act of 1980 enabled Pagán’s technology to be licensed to Dot Metrics
  where she joined them in 2005 to help commercialize her work.
• Pagán received support from UNC Charlotte and Federal funding to push her innovation with Dot Metrics forward.
• Pagán Co-Founded AquiSense with Oliver Lawal, Founder and CEO in 2015.
• AquiSense UVC-LED systems are used in residential, commercial, industrial, and municipal applications to disinfect and provide clean water to a wide range of uses and industries.

Kentucky, US – AquiSense, Chief Technology Officer and co-founder, Dr. Jennifer Pagán received the 2025 Bayh-Dole Coalition American Innovator Award in Washington, D.C. on June 4th for her groundbreaking work with UV-C LED water disinfection technology created as a Ph.D. student at UNC Charlotte.

Pagán was featured in the Bayh-Dole Coalition’s 2025 “Faces of American Innovation” report honoring researchers, entrepreneurs, and administrators, whose innovation is made possible by the Bayh-Dole Act, impacting millions of lives both in the United States and around the globe. 

https://bayhdolecoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/2025-Faces-of-American-Innovation-Report.pdf.  

Dr. Jennifer Pagán had the opportunity to meet with members of Congress to discuss water quality and enforcing the Minamata Convention ruling to eliminate the use of mercury. “It was a privilege to present the AquiSense success story to members of Congress, their staff, and key policy stakeholders. Our mercury-free, U.S.-manufactured water treatment systems exemplify how domestic innovation can drive both environmental stewardship and sustained technological leadership.”

Dr. Pagán invented a water disinfection technology that uses UV-C LED light, offering a compact and energy-efficient alternative to traditional mercury-based methods while pursuing her Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering at UNC Charlotte. Using funds from the federal Small Business Innovation Research program, she worked with UNC Charlotte spinout Dot Metrics Technologies to develop and commercialize the world’s first UV-C LED water disinfection system. In 2015, she became the co-founder and chief technical officer of AquiSense Technologies, now AquiSense Inc, whose water disinfection systems have since been deployed around the world — from the United States to Antarctica and even the International Space Station.

###

AquiSense Inc closes Series A investment to build on success of full-spectrum UV-C LED disinfection solutions

• Investment demonstrates the viability and availability of ASI’s UV-C LED solutions
• Reinforces dedication of investors in UV-C LED technology, a future-proof, sustainable alternative to traditional mercury-based lamps.

Kentucky, US – The world leader in UV-C LED disinfection systems, AquiSense, secures Series A investment led by Burnt Island Ventures, following a recent management buyout.  Additional investment comes from a local Kentucky Capital Fund and returning private seed investors led by Randy Knapmeyer. Funds will be used to accelerate growth in a broad range of water treatment applications including beverage, pharmaceutical, oil & gas and municipal.

Founded in 2014, AquiSense was one of the first to commercialize UV-C LED
(Ultraviolet-C Light-Emitting Diode) technology for water disinfection applications and now have over 500,000 installations globally. They currently provide UV-C LED disinfection solutions for point of use, point of entry, laboratory and full-scale industrial and municipal applications.

AquiSense founder and CEO, Oliver Lawal said “UV Disinfection has been a star performer
in water treatment for the past couple of decades and this investment validates
our position that UV-C LED technology isn’t a future abstract notion, but the core driver to continue this growth”. Lawal added “We have strong customer partnerships in the US, Europe and Asia that value the full life-cycle benefits of our products and it’s refreshing for us to know that the Burnt Island team understand that completely”. 

Steve Kloos, Partner at Burnt Island Ventures, added: “There are several reasons why we
were drawn to AquiSense: 1) the executive team, led by Oliver, has been together for several years and are highly effective and their pace and quality of decision-making is really good; 2) AquiSense is the clear market and technology leader in LED tech for water and wastewater UV treatment with deep know-how and strong patent IP; 3) UV LED systems offer a wide range of benefits over legacy mercury UVs and are on a Moore’s Law type performance & cost trajectory – we like to skate to where the puck is going and AquiSense has a bright future ahead.”

Increasingly users of UV technology are seeking alternatives to traditional mercury-based lamps, as they prioritize sustainability. Currently, the majority of the UV disinfection market uses mercury-based lamp technology, but these face global usage restrictions, with an eventual new mining ban in 2032, as set out by the UN Minamata Convention on Mercury. The convention, adopted in 2013 and entered into force in 2017, aims to reduce mercury pollution which is one of the World Health Organization’s top 10 chemicals of ‘major public concern’.

###

About AquiSense Incorporated

AquiSense stands as the global leader in UV-C LED systems design and manufacturing,
delivering innovative solutions for water, air, and surface disinfection. As the world’s largest supplier of UV LED disinfection systems, we are committed to protecting public health through chemical-free, mercury-free technology.

With decades of collective experience in UV disinfection, our team brings together deep expertise in UV LED research, reactor design, and engineering. This comprehensive knowledge enables us to develop the industry’s most advanced, energy-efficient disinfection systems while maintaining the highest safety standards.

Our strategic position between LED device manufacturers and market-specific original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) allows us to serve as a crucial bridge in the UV LED market, delivering tailored solutions across multiple industries.stands as the global leader in UV-C LED systems design and manufacturing, delivering innovative solutions for water, air, and surface disinfection. As the world’s largest supplier of UV LED disinfection systems, we are committed to protecting public health through chemical-free, mercury-free technology.

***

Syrene Lawal

Public Relations Director

+1 859 630 5345

Syrene.Lawal@aquisense.com

Konrad Kowalk

Marketing Manager

+1 859 869 4700  

Konrad.Kowalk@aquisense.com

Norwegian Drinking Water Utility Moves Forward with UV-C LED for Large Scale Water Disinfection

• Norwegian drinking water supplier moves forward with UV-C LED for large scale water disinfection
• Glitrevannverket leads the way in Norway’s first municipal UV-C LED pilot project
• Collaboration with Rambøll marks AquiSense’s first large-scale utility project in Europe following company buyout
• UV-C LED technology likely to replace traditional UV systems over the next decade with mercury use facing strict restrictions and a total mining ban by 2032.

Kentucky, US – An international collaboration linking the US and European water industries is helping to accelerate the use of UV-C LED technology for municipal scale water disinfection.

Norwegian utility Glitrevannverket is working with Danish engineering consultancy Rambøll and UV-C LED market leader AquiSense, Incorporated to test multiple units designed for municipal and industrial water disinfection. The innovation project is partly funded by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health.

The pilot project at the Setervann water treatment facility near Asker, Norway, is conducting extensive testing and analysis to assess the technical, operative, and economic performance and implications for deploying UV-C LED technology. This site was chosen for its comparable water quality to many of Norway’s water sources.

Outcomes will provide valuable insights and recommendations into adapting and the potential of implementing UV-LED technology across Norwegian water treatment systems and beyond.

A PearlAqua Kilo unit integrates LEDs into a unique and compact design without the use of chemicals or mercury-based UV lamps. This will ensure the water treatment in the facility is future-proofed against any regulatory changes affecting mercury usage. The PearlAqua Kilo offers municipal and industrial level disinfection with flowrates up-to 6 MGD (22,712 m3/D).

The Glitrevannverket project follows the first municipal scale UV-C LED installation from the company in North America to the Las Vegas Valley Water District.

Alternatives Top Mercury-based Lamps

UV-C LED disinfection is gaining traction as water companies seek alternatives to traditional mercury-based lamps, with mercury use and mining facing restrictions and a potential ban in the future.

Currently, 98 percent of the UV disinfection market uses mercury-based systems, but these face global usage restrictions over the next few years, with an eventual mining ban expected in 2032, as set out by the Minamata Convention on Mercury. The convention adopted in 2013 and entered into force in 2017, aims to reduce mercury pollution, which is one of the World Health Organization’s top 10 chemicals of ‘major public concern’.

“This installation is an important step in assessing UV-C LED technology’s application in municipal water treatment,” said Tor Håkonsen, Global spearhead manager for water and wastewater treatment. “This is an exciting opportunity to evaluate UV-LED technology in real-world conditions and explore its practical application for municipal water treatment for Norway, and globally. The project will evaluate technical performance, operation stability, and cost efficiency to guide future implementation.”

European Utility Leadership 

“Glitrevannverket supplies drinking water to 160,000 people, which is a large scale in Norway. We see it as our responsibility to monitor the development and testing of new technology. The Setervann water treatment plant is a reserve water source and not needed in daily use. This makes it ideal for a controlled study of the UV-LED equipment at different operating conditions without any impact on the regular water supply. We look forward to receiving results in this project and to share our experiences with the water industry” says an excited managing director Marius Asheim. “Water is our most important nutrient, and we must always look for better ways to ensure safe drinking water.”

Oliver Lawal, founder & CEO, AquiSense Inc., said: “It’s encouraging to see a European utility take the lead on the adoption of UV-C LED disinfection. This is our first municipal scale European project and follows our work in Las Vegas as more water utilities turn to UV-C LED disinfection, and move away from traditional lamp technology.”

Founded in 2014 as AquiSense Technologies LLC, the company was one of the first to commercialise UV-C LED technology for disinfection applications. It was acquired in 2016 by Nikkiso Co Ltd, a Japanese supplier of UV-C LED devices. Following an asset purchase, AquiSense Incorporated is now majority-owned by its management and employees.

###

Editor’s Notes

About AquiSense Incorporated

AquiSense stands as the global leader in UV-C LED systems design and manufacturing, delivering innovative solutions for water, air, and surface disinfection. As the world’s largest supplier of UV LED disinfection systems, we are committed to protecting public health through chemical-free, mercury-free technology.

With decades of collective experience in UV disinfection, our team brings together deep expertise in UV LED research, reactor design, and engineering. This comprehensive knowledge enables us to develop the industry’s most advanced, energy-efficient disinfection systems while maintaining the highest safety standards.

Our strategic position between LED device manufacturers and market-specific original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) allows us to serve as a crucial bridge in the UV LED market, delivering tailored solutions across multiple industries.

AquiSense Technologies is a privately held company, having achieved full independence in 2025 through an employee and external investor buyout from Nikkiso America, a member of the Nikkiso Group. This transition marked a new chapter in our commitment to innovation and excellence in UV LED technology.

Minamata Convention and Mercury:

The United Nations Minamata Convention on Mercury, ratified in 2017 and currently adopted by 152 countries, is a global treaty to protect human health and the environment from the adverse effects of mercury by reducing or phasing out the use of mercury-based products and by eliminating primary mercury mining by 2032. Parties continue to work together to control supply and trade, use, emissions and releases of mercury, raise public awareness, and build institutional capacity.

The treaty is named after the Bay and city in Japan where thousands of people and countless animals were poisoned by mercury from industrial wastewater in the 1950s and 60s. “Minamata Disease,” first identified in 1956, is a neurological disease caused by severe mercury poisoning from ingesting the toxic chemical that accumulated in sediment, fish and shellfish in the area.

Mercury is in the top 10 of chemicals of major public health concern according to the World Health Organization. By enhancing the reduction of mercury pollution, the Convention protects the environment and the lives of millions of people around the world.

About Giltrevannverket:

Glitrevannverket IKS is a Norwegian inter-municipal company owned by the municipalities of Asker, Drammen and Lier. The main purpose of Glitrevannverket is to supply the owner municipalities with good, sufficient and safe water through environmentally focused, competent and systematic management of water sources and water supply systems.

Glitrevannverket owns and operates four water treatment plants that supply water to about 160,000 people in the owner municipalities, and to the customers Frogn and parts of Holmestrand municipality. The water sources are Glitre, Røysjø and Holsfjorden. The Setervann treatment plant is a reserve source and is not in daily use. 

Glitrevannverket is one of the largest providers of drinking water in Norway, known for its commitment to sustainability and innovation in water treatment technologies.

About Rambøll:

Ramboll is a global architecture, engineering and consultancy company founded in Denmark in 1945. Ramboll’s more than 18,000 experts create sustainable solutions across Buildings, Transport, Architecture & Landscape, Water, Environment & Health, Energy and Management Consulting. Across the world, Ramboll combines local experience with a global knowledgebase to create sustainable cities and societies. We combine insights with the power to drive positive change to our clients, in the form of ideas that can be realized and implemented. We call it: Bright ideas. Sustainable change.

***

Syrene Lawal

Public Relations Director

+1 859 630 5345

Syrene.Lawal@aquisense.com

Konrad Kowalk

Marketing Manager

+1 859 869 4700  

Konrad.Kowalk@aquisense.com