Water Illumination Receives USDA SBIR Phase I Award to Advance PFAS Destruction for Agricultural Water
Riverside, California — August 2024
Water Illumination Inc. is proud to announce that it has been awarded a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I grant to develop a chemical-free, UV light-driven PFAS destruction technology designed to treat nontraditional water resources for agricultural irrigation.
This project aims to address a growing food safety and environmental concern: the presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)—commonly known as “forever chemicals”—in reclaimed water and agricultural runoff. PFAS contamination in irrigation water can lead to soil accumulation and uptake in crops, posing potential health risks and threatening agricultural sustainability.
Water Illumination’s approach uses deep UV-based reduction chemistry to break PFAS down at the molecular level, converting them into harmless end-products without chemical additives or secondary waste. This process provides a sustainable and scalable solution for protecting the agricultural water supply while enabling safe water reuse in food production systems.
The USDA SBIR Phase I award, administered through the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), will fund prototype development and laboratory validation of the company’s PFAS destruction system under agricultural water conditions.
This effort supports USDA’s mission to promote safe, sustainable, and resilient agriculture by advancing technologies that enable the reuse of nontraditional water resources without compromising food safety or environmental health.
About Water Illumination
Water Illumination Inc. develops rapid, affordable, and scalable UV-based PFAS destruction systems for municipal, industrial, defense, and agricultural water treatment. Founded as a University of California, Riverside spin-off, the company’s patented technology utilizes deep UV-reduction processes to break down PFAS compounds into harmless end-products—offering a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to conventional removal methods.