Drinking Water Inspired by Nature
In 2015, the two Mitte founders Moritz Waldstein and Faebian Bastiman committed to enhancing the potential of water as an essential source of minerals for the human body.
Even though water and sanitation access rates are generally higher in urban areas than rural, planning and infrastructure have been unable to keep pace in many regions. Chemical spills, contamination, severe weather changes and chronic pollution all pose serious threats to clean water access. A recent study by the Guardian (2017) revealed that 83% of tap water worldwide contains plastic fibers. And with people diving into potable water options, bottled water generates increasing amounts of plastic waste. Thus, with growing urbanization, safe drinking water systems will be essential to ensure cities and towns grow sustainably.
In 2015, the two Mitte founders Moritz Waldstein and Faebian Bastiman committed to enhancing the potential of water as an essential source of minerals for the human body as well as to make water supplies safer and more sustainable for everyone. For this purpose, Mitte created a smart home water system that purifies and enhances water through a process inspired by the natural water cycle.
First, tap water is purified with a Mitte-specific distillation-based method. This purified water is enhanced with essential minerals through mineral cartridges. These replaceable cartridges come in three varieties, creating waters with different mineral properties which can be personalized to suit individual needs and preferences. For instance, mitte balance contains zero sodium, which is ideal for baby food preparation, while mitte vitality has a high mineral content and is suited for those looking for improved physical and mental performance. In addition, the Mitte machine can sync up with a mobile device, allowing users to dispense water at specific temperatures, among other functions. Every cartridge produces 250 liters of mineralized water – enough for a two-person household for two months.
The ecological benefits of Mitte are enormous in comparison to bottled water: Mitte uses 30 times less plastic, has a 28 times smaller carbon footprint and wastes 20 times less water. In addition, Mitte has committed to donating 10 liters of clean water to the non-profit Water.org for each liter of water consumed by Mitte customers. As of today, Mitte is in the production phase and will release Mitte in limited batches to individuals which have joined the waitlist on the startup’s website.