CIWI's Mission

Ensuring Clean Water and a Sustainable Environment

At CIWI, our mission is clear and compelling: to revolutionize the water treatment industry. We are dedicated to developing and implementing innovative electrochemical solutions that significantly reduce reliance on traditional water treatment chemicals.

We aim to enhance supply chain security, improve safety, and minimize environmental impact. By providing on-site electrochemical solutions, we contribute to a sustainable future where clean and accessible water is available to all.

Our mission also addresses a critical paradox: water treatment itself can be polluting. Currently, the water sector emits 2.5 times more CO2 than the aviation industry. We are committed to solving this paradox by ensuring that water is treated as sustainably as possible, preserving our environment and resources.

We strive to make clean water accessible to everyone while being mindful of the current infrastructure and by innovating in the surrounding infrastructure. Our goal is to provide clean water and maintain a clean environment, balancing innovation with sustainability.

Join us on our journey to make sure that everyone has access to water and a clean environment. Let's make sure water treatment never stops.

Meet the Team

  • Jasper Schakel

    Jasper Schakel, CIWI’s co-founder, is a professional in the water sector with experience at Witteveen Bos in the Netherlands and Ghana. In Ghana, he was part of the Dutch government's YEP program. Previously a project engineer, he holds an MBA from IMD. Driven by a passion for innovation and sustainability, Jasper ensures clean water access through his work at CIWI.

    Jasper oversees day-to-day management.

  • Erik Kraaijeveld

    Erik Kraaijeveld, CIWI’s co-founder, is an expert in electrochemical water treatment. With a background in designing, testing, and evaluating systems for Dunea, he holds a doctoral degree in engineering from TU Delft. Driven by sustainability and innovation, Erik has a keen entrepreneurial drive that fuels his commitment to advancing water treatment technologies.

    Erik leads CIWI's technical development and product design.

Our Story

CIWI's journey began in the heart of Ghana, where Jasper Schakel and Erik Kraaijeveld first crossed paths while collaborating on an electrocoagulation pilot project as part of the AWC under the supervision of Professor Doris van Halem. In Ghana, Jasper learned that a key challenge in water treatment is the availability of essential chemicals, also known as metal salts. You can build a plant, but if the supply chain is not there, you cannot treat the water.

They built and tested the pilot, learning a lot from the experience and identifying significant challenges. Despite their efforts, the project highlighted the limitations and vulnerabilities of the existing water treatment methods.

Erik continued his doctorate in engineering, while Jasper pursued an MBA at IMD. At IMD, Jasper was inspired by Professor Jim Pulcrano and IMD alumnus Thierry Maupile, who had started the IMD Venture Award. Encouraged by the marketing teachings of Professor Frédéric Dalsace and the startup teachings of Professor Benoit Leleux, Jasper and Erik refined their ideas.

Their hard work paid off when they won the IMD Venture Award, which recognized their innovative approach to water treatment (read more about it here). Realizing that the difficulties with metal salts were not confined to Africa but were also prevalent in Europe and other parts of the world, they began to develop a new electrochemical process to overcome these challenges, together with Professor Doris van Halem at TU Delft.

To validate their technology, Erik tested it in his garden and was blown away by the results, confirming the potential of their solution. This success led to the founding of CIWI at YesDelft, a renowned tech incubator, and further development of their technology in collaboration with TU Delft. With the support of these institutions, they were able to advance their electrochemical solutions, making them more efficient and sustainable.

Today, CIWI stands at the forefront of revolutionizing water treatment, ensuring clean water access and a sustainable environment

Revolutionizing how we use water treatment chemicals

Our Values

Transparency and Integrity

We believe that honesty and integrity are paramount, especially in an industry as vital as water treatment. We are committed to being transparent with our clients, partners, and team members, treating everyone with respect and fairness.

Positive Environmental Impact

Our mission is to ensure that everyone has access to clean water and a clean environment. We strive to make a positive impact on the environment through sustainable practices, innovative solutions, and responsible water stewardship that reduce pollution and conserve resources.

Innovation and Vision

We are dedicated to continuous innovation, always looking beyond current challenges to find groundbreaking solutions. Our forward-thinking approach drives us to develop advanced technologies that revolutionize water treatment and create a better future for all.