The water we use is not as clean as we might think. High levels of micro-pollution have been found in some of our water sources, reducing the safety and quality of our drinking water. The type of pollution found combines different pollutants and has a variety of long-standing effects on the water. The purity of the water may also be negatively affected by unexpected pollution events, such as natural disasters or industrial accidents. Furthermore, there are also often problems concerning the distribution of drinking water from our water sources to places where water is consumed, such as our homes. Water can become polluted during its journey.

For these reasons, water often needs to be purified before it can be consumed. This may happen at the source, or nearer to consumption. In some countries, it has been difficult to integrate technology to help the overall process due to financial and logistical challenges. Traditional waterworks and companies need cheaper, smart technology and more automated processes, without the need for human control. Brand new waterworks must be of a cutting-edge design to allow for producing the standard of water we need to drink. Furthermore, to enable water to remain clean while it is being distributed, the delivery of water needs to be constantly monitored.