# Electrochemical POU Water Purification System

> **NIH NIH SB1** · POWERTECH WATER, INC. · 2022 · $157,292

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Lead contamination in drinking water is a pervasive health problem across the US.1 Children are especially
vulnerable to lead poisoning, which can have permanent detrimental effects on brain development.2,3 Despite
corrosion prevention measures taken by public water authorities, lead concentrations in drinking water are
routinely elevated nationwide, and an estimated 12 million lead services lines are in need of replacement.4 The
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established The Lead and Copper Rule in 1991 to limit exposure of
these elements and set the action level to 15 ppb; however, there is no safe level of lead consumption and
more stringent regulations are starting to be adopted around the world.5-8 The crisis observed in Flint, Michigan
in 2014 put lead exposure into the public spotlight increasing consumer awareness. Seven years later, lead
contamination of drinking water supplies remains a national issue.
Lead filters currently on the market lack specificity with limited device lifetime dictated by the total amount of
water volume filtered, regardless of lead concentration. Incumbent solutions for home water purification are
archaic and outdated. ElectraMetTM from PowerTech Water (PTW) is an electrochemical filter that can target
the removal of lead. The device uses activated carbon electrodes and a small applied voltage (< 2.0 V) to
induce Faradaic reactions at both the carbon-based anodes and cathodes within the cell. By tuning the device
configuration and operating parameters, lead will precipitate out of solution, and be permanently removed while
other dissolved minerals are left unaffected.
In this CRP project, PTW's goal is to design a POU device that meets target end-use product specifications
and certification standards. At the completion of this work, we anticipate a consumer-focused device that
exceeds the performance of current off-the-shelf solutions. The device will be reliable and specific for lead,
have a multi-year system lifetime, and will not be consumed by abundant water constituents. These
performance targets will be achieved through the following Specific Aims:
1. Product form factor design for a POU solution. Expected outcome: A design that fits under the sink and
 meets product specifications for the overall device size, pressure tolerance, price point, and lead removal
performance.
2. Replication of testing standards to obtain drinking water filtration certifications. Expected Outcome:
 ElectraMetTM performance to meet NSF/ANSI 53 and 61 certification standards for lead removal and
 structural integrity.
3. Testing of a POU installation to simulate a real-world scenario. Expected Outcomes: Operating parameters
 required for lead removal under different water usage scenarios and a method to track device lifetime to
 predict filter replacement.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10481871
- **Project number:** 2SB1ES028171-05
- **Recipient organization:** POWERTECH WATER, INC.
- **Principal Investigator:** Lindsay Boehme
- **Activity code:** SB1 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $157,292
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2017-09-15 → 2024-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10481871

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10481871, Electrochemical POU Water Purification System (2SB1ES028171-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10481871. Licensed CC0.

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