A water purification technology originally developed for medical use is now finding fertile ground in South African agriculture, and the implications for vertical farms and hydroponic growers could be significant.
SupaO², a compact "plug-and-play" unit developed by entrepreneur Gilbert Bell and his team, takes contaminated or low-quality water, purifies it using ozone and UV, and saturates it with nanobubbles of oxygen. The result is pathogen-free water that not only nourishes crops more efficiently but also reduces disease, strengthens root systems, and improves nutrient uptake.
"SupaO² has its foundation in the medical field," says Bell, CEO of WaterMed. "We developed a product for wound treatment that was dependent on creating sterile water on demand. It won awards in the U.S. and South Africa, but compliance with CE certification was too expensive for a small business. We saw a bigger opportunity in clean water and local food production."
© WaterMed
Oxygen, downsized
The unit extracts oxygen from the air, then converts it to ozone, which is 13 times more soluble in water than standard oxygen. "From 20% oxygen in air, we get about 90% oxygen feed gas, and then multiply that by 13," Bell explains. "The real trick is keeping the gas in water. For this, we use cavitation to create nanobubbles, which are 2,300 times smaller than a grain of salt. They remain suspended in water for up to a year."
These nanobubbles feed beneficial microbes and improve root nutrient absorption, with no risk of pathogens, biofilm buildup, or root rot. "Traditional irrigation systems don't clean the water and rely on ambient air for aeration," says Bell. "We're providing a high oxygen load while sterilizing the water, all without using reverse osmosis, which typically strips away nutrients."
Early trials and future plans
Although still in its early stages of rollout, the system has drawn interest from cannabis and tomato growers, and Bell notes partnerships with the University of KwaZulu-Natal and the Durban City Council's sanitation research hub. "We haven't published results yet, but independent lab analysis confirms our claims for dissolved oxygen and pathogen reduction," he says.
The system works with a wide range of water sources, including rainwater, boreholes, and even recycled blackwater. "We recently tested black water for tomato growing," Bell says. "We're especially interested in reusing water without losing its nutrient value." While designed for accessibility, the system is scalable. "We favor small batch processing because of accuracy," he adds, "but newer tech allows us to scale without compromising performance. We're also exploring solar integration, so whenever the sun shines, you're cleaning and pumping water."
Global ambitions
With global droughts and infrastructure challenges mounting, Bell sees SupaO² as a tool for both developing markets and advanced farming operations.
"Our experience in the medical field taught us the value of user-friendly design. SupaO² is automatic, requires minimal maintenance, and can be shipped directly to users without needing local support. We're aiming for international exhibitions by year-end."
For more information:
WaterMed/SupaO2 
Gilbert Bell, CEO
+27 83 444 4445
gilly@watermed.co.za
www.supao2.com