WaterSense – Polish water quality monitoring system wins the James Dyson Award

WaterSense is a Polish real-time water quality management system that has won the prestigious James Dyson Award for young inventors. Scientists from the Warsaw University of Technology will receive £30,000 for this achievement. The Polish solution was recognized as the best in the Sustainability category, beating 20 finalists from around the world.

What is WaterSense and what is it used for?

WaterSense is an innovative technology that enables real-time monitoring of water quality. It is based on Internet of Things (IoT) solutions and autonomous measurement stations. The project was developed by engineers from the company Magly in cooperation with the Center for Advanced Materials and Technologies (CEZAMAT-PW), the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management (IMGW-PIB), and the company Nebucode, under the direction of Filip Budny.

The system consists of a central unit collecting measurement data and flexible sensors made with printed electronics technology. An unconventional feature is the automatic replacement of sensors once a day – this allows for high measurement precision to be maintained. According to the researchers, WaterSense can monitor over 20 physicochemical parameters and detect water quality issues at an early stage, up to 72 hours in advance.

The project team is currently focusing on further development of the system. Over the past 12 months, they have installed 20 autonomous measuring stations. They are also implementing new methods for sensor calibration and systems to reduce biofouling (the accumulation of microorganisms, algae, mussels, or seaweed on devices). This will make it possible to achieve even greater accuracy of measurement data.

At the same time, the WaterMap platform is being developed to analyze data in real time and make it available to users. The team aims to make information about water quality as accessible as air quality data. In 2026, monitoring using WaterSense is expected to cover Poland’s two largest rivers: the Vistula and the Oder.

The James Dyson Award is a prestigious distinction for young inventors

The monetary award is granted annually by the foundation of Sir James Dyson – a British designer, owner of Dyson Ltd., and inventor of the bagless vacuum cleaner. The designer and entrepreneur describes the idea of the competition as follows: The James Dyson Award supports young inventors who think differently and tackle real problems head-on.

In his statement, he also referred to the project developed by Polish scientists from the Warsaw University of Technology: Our 2025 winners, Filip and Alessandra, are a perfect example – they are addressing challenging health and environmental issues, offering practical and brilliant solutions.

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