WOTA Strengthens Water Quality Data Infrastructure with Support from Hamamatsu Photonics' Optical Sensing Technology; Begins Development of Water Quality Sensing Technology to Support Autonomization of Next-Generation Water Circulation Systems

WOTA Inc. (Representative Director & CEO: Yosuke Maeda, hereinafter "WOTA"), which challenges the structural solutions to water problems, has commenced the development of water quality sensing technology to support the autonomous control of next-generation water circulation systems, aiming for the autonomization and advancement of small-scale distributed water circulation systems. In this initiative, with the cooperation of Hamamatsu Photonics K.K. (Representative Director & President: Tadashi Maruno, hereinafter "Hamamatsu Photonics"), a company with world-class technological capabilities in the field of optical technology, we are proceeding with the development of a constantly monitored technology that simultaneously measures multiple water quality parameters using their spectroscopic technology. This technology aims to achieve real-time optimization of water treatment by grasping changes in water quality in real time and linking that data directly to the control of the water treatment process.

Background of Technology Development

The core technology of WOTA lies in its unique autonomous control technology, which integrates water treatment and control algorithms. This technology enables real-time understanding of equipment and water quality conditions and automatic control of water treatment processes by combining various sensors and algorithms. Through this technology, it is possible to constantly and remotely monitor the system status and optimally control water treatment, realizing safe and sustainable water circulation. For such autonomous control to be established, sensing technology that accurately and in real-time grasps water quality plays a central role. WOTA aims for further technological advancement and is collaborating with Hamamatsu Photonics, which possesses world-leading technological capabilities and achievements in the field of optical sensors and optical measurement, to develop technology for monitoring various water qualities using Hamamatsu Photonics' spectroscopic technology. This initiative is an important step towards the advancement of water infrastructure, not limited to the development of water treatment equipment, but also including the acquisition and analysis of water quality data. The acquired water quality data will be accumulated and analyzed, leading to the construction of a data platform that will be shared and utilized among multiple water circulation systems in the future. WOTA is promoting the construction of a platform that supports the optimization of not only water treatment systems but also overall water utilization by combining sensing technology and data utilization.

Strengths of Hamamatsu Photonics

Hamamatsu Photonics is a company with world-class technological capabilities in optical sensors and optical measurement technology, providing high-precision sensing technology in cutting-edge fields such as medical equipment, scientific research, and space development. It possesses strong technological foundations in both light detection (reception) and generation (emission), and particularly holds a high global share in photomultiplier tubes (PMT) that detect faint light with high sensitivity. This technology is utilized in a wide range of fields including academic research, PET diagnostic equipment in the medical field, and industrial measurement. Furthermore, the company's photomultiplier tubes have been utilized in neutrino observations at Kamiokande and Super-Kamiokande, and these researches led to the Nobel Prizes in Physics in 2002 and 2015. In addition, it has high technological capabilities in fields such as semiconductor analysis, and based on light-based measurement and analysis technology, it supports research and development and practical application in various industrial fields. Such advanced optical sensing technology forms an important foundation supporting the advancement of water quality sensing in this development. In particular, the technology for highly sensitive detection of faint light demonstrates high effectiveness in detecting minute component changes in water.