Water is life. But what happens when the very essence of life becomes a danger? I learned this the hard way as a child battling cancer. Years later, tragedy struck again when one of my godchildren in Africa died of cholera caused by contaminated water. That moment transformed grief into determination. I realized water is not just a resource; it is central to human existence, health, and dignity.
Driven by the desire to change this reality, I became an engineer with one mission: to develop technologies that provide people worldwide with safe, clean, and life-sustaining water. Today, as Head of R&D at Evodrop AG, a Swiss company working at the intersection of innovation, science, and social responsibility, we are not only shaping the future of water but also improving lives globally, drop by drop.
Hidden Risks in Everyday Drinking Water
Turning on a faucet feels routine and safe, yet in Switzerland and many other countries, drinking water is only tested for about 50 contaminants, while over 3,000 potentially harmful substances exist. Microplastics, which can cross the blood-brain barrier and may cause cancer, are not routinely tested.
Agriculture compounds the problem: pesticide and fungicide manufacturers often withhold details of the chemicals used, leaving laboratories to search blindly for unknown contaminants. Even the pollutants that are monitored often exceed safety limits, which governments quietly adjust over time rather than addressing root causes.
Pharmaceutical residues pose an even greater challenge. Chemotherapy agents, antibiotics, painkillers, contraceptives, and modern disinfectants overwhelm wastewater plants. Antibiotics, designed to resist biological defenses, persist in water systems, while countless patented drugs cannot be tested for at all.
Industrial processes and outdated infrastructure add further risks. Pipes may leach lead, copper, or cement into drinking water. Uranium contamination has been detected in Alpine regions where water flows through uranium-bearing rock. Natural events like floods can also introduce pathogens.
The Myth of Alkaline Water
Alkaline water, often marketed with a pH of 8–9, is said to make blood more alkaline and boost health. Science tells a different story. Blood pH is tightly regulated by natural buffers; neither food nor water can significantly change it. Even alkaline water is neutralized by strong stomach acid immediately upon ingestion.
What matters for the body’s acid-base balance is metabolism: many plant foods, despite their acidity, are alkalizing, while meats can be acid-forming despite neutral pH levels. Scientific studies have shown no lasting health benefits of alkaline water, and excessively alkaline water (pH > 9) may even disrupt digestion and weaken natural defenses.
Shared Responsibility for Clean Water
Public debates often swing between extremes: technocratic reliance on safety limits versus unscientific claims of “energized” or “structured” water. Neither approach addresses the complexity of water quality.
Responsibility is shared:
- Governments must introduce stricter limits for emerging pollutants like PFAS.
- Industries must adopt sustainable processes.
- Science must lead with interdisciplinary research.
- Individuals must use water responsibly.
Believing water in developed nations is automatically safe is a dangerous misconception
What Makes Good Water?
Truly good water must meet four criteria:
- Free of harmful contaminants
- Naturally structured biologically
- High in conductivity and solubility
- Easily absorbed and metabolically alkalizing
Many existing systems only achieve part of this. Reverse osmosis filters remove pollutants but strip minerals and waste water. Ion exchangers swap calcium for sodium without removing toxins. Activated carbon is selective and incomplete. The market is flooded with unverified claims, leaving consumers confused and transparency lacking.
Evodrop’s Approach
At Evodrop, we bridge science, technology, and education. Our modular systems combine ultra-fine membranes, catalytically activated carbon, eco-friendly salt-free descaling with natural malic acid, and structure-enhancing features like turbulence and optional molecular hydrogen. This ensures top-quality water while protecting appliances and plumbing, environmentally and health safe.
Our priority is not marketing claims but scientifically validated results. Collaborating with laboratories and universities, we test and refine our systems to provide water that excels chemically, physically, and biologically. Solutions that work even where municipal supplies fail.
Rethinking Water for the Future
Water is more than H₂O. It carries substances, information, and energy, forming the basis of life. Addressing the global water crisis requires a deeper understanding than volumes, pipes, and safety thresholds.
I believe the water quality of tomorrow will not be defined by chlorine or lab numbers but by recognizing its multidimensional properties. Rethinking water demands scientific rigor, technological innovation, and social responsibility. The solutions exist, we simply need to use them.
