The Wave Talk Joins the UK Treatment2Tap Project in Collaboration with Siemens and the University of Sheffield

Advancing Real-Time Sensor Monitoring for the Future of Drinking Water Safety

The Wave Talk is currently collaborating with Siemens and the University of Sheffield as part of the UK’s next-generation water innovation program, Treatment2Tap – Water Quality As A Service. Through this initiative, our semiconductor-based optical sensors are undergoing advanced field-simulation testing for potential deployment across the UK drinking water network.

What is Treatment2Tap?

Treatment2Tap aims to create an industry-transforming operational model in which real-time water quality is monitored across the entire network—from treatment plants and storage facilities to customers’ taps. Once deployed, it is expected to become Europe’s largest integrated sensor network for water quality and leakage management.

The initiative is led by Northumbrian Water and was selected through OFWAT’s Breakthrough 2: Catalyst innovation program, supported by a consortium that includes:

• Siemens

• The University of Sheffield

• Welsh Water

• South East Water

• Scottish Water

• Anglian Water

• And other technology + utility partners

  
  

Visit to the UK: Meeting the Research Team

(Left) w/ Dr. Husband , (Right) w/ Dr. Roman

Recently, our CEO Youngdug Kim visited the University of Sheffield to review testing progress and potential pathway for integration. We were honored to exchange ideas directly with leading experts, including Professor Joby Boxall, a globally recognized authority in water distribution systems and leader of one of the world’s most advanced water research facilities.

What makes the Sheffield facility unique is its full-scale pilot pipeline network, designed to replicate real drinking water distribution systems. Unlike typical laboratory settings, this environment enables rigorous and practical evaluation of equipment and sensors under real-world conditions.

Why The Wave Talk’s Technology Matters

Our sensors are currently undergoing validation at this facility under the supervision of the research team, including Dr. Roman and Dr. Husband. During the evaluation, our partners highlighted the distinctive advantages of our technology:

🔹 AI semiconductor-based (Sensor-On-A-Chip) technology

🔹 Ultra-compact, low-power architecture suitable for dense network deployment

🔹 High-precision turbidity measurement

🔹 maintenance-free operation

These attributes are critical for large-scale deployment in real distribution systems, where continuous maintenance is not feasible.

Driving the Future of Water Quality Intelligence

Through this collaboration, The Wave Talk and its partners aim to redefine how utilities monitor and manage drinking water quality—moving from periodic sampling to live, continuous intelligence.

As Treatment2Tap progresses, we look forward to deepening our collaboration with Siemens, the University of Sheffield, and UK water utilities to build a safer, smarter global water infrastructure.

We believe real-time sensing is not just the future—it's the new standard for protecting public health.