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374Water
374Water emerged around the commercialization of Supercritical Water Oxidation (SCWO), a process that uses water above its critical point (374°C and 221 bar)...
374Water
374Water emerged around the commercialization of Supercritical Water Oxidation (SCWO), a process that uses water above its critical point (374°C and 221 bar) to break down complex organic molecules, including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), into inert gases, water, and minerals. The underlying technology draws on research conducted at Duke University and early prototypes funded by the EPA and NASA for space-based waste treatment. The company has positioned its AirSCWO systems as an on-site destruction alternative to incineration or landfilling, targeting municipal wastewater, industrial discharge, and concentrated PFAS waste streams. The firm has deployed pilot-scale units with Orange County Sanitation District in California and has worked through the regulatory demonstration pathway required for EPA validation of destruction efficiency. Its revenue model combines system sales, service contracts, and residual solids recovery; the technology also generates recoverable heat, creating a co-generation value stream. Stage coverage spans R&D through initial commercial deployments, and the geographic footprint currently concentrates on U.S. wastewater utilities with emerging outreach into European markets where PFAS regulation is tightening. The company went public via an alternative path, maintained a small development team of engineers and project managers, and has no disclosed affiliated philanthropic vehicles. In May 2024, 374Water announced the completion of its first commercial-scale AirSCWO unit destined for the Orange County Sanitation District, marking its transition from pilot demonstration to revenue-generating deployment. Where typical environmental-services firms rely on filtering and concentrating contaminants for off-site disposal, 374Water's structural bet rests on point-source destruction — eliminating the liability chain that traditional pump-and-treat or carbon-filtration approaches simply relocate. This shifts the regulatory conversation from containment compliance to permanent removal, a posture that makes the firm a direct infrastructure vendor in the EPA's emerging PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation.
General information
Firm type
other
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
What technology does 374Water own and how does it work?
374Water owns and commercializes Supercritical Water Oxidation (SCWO) technology, which subjects water to conditions above 374°C and 221 bar of pressure. At that supercritical state, organic compounds become highly soluble and oxidize rapidly into inert gases, clean water, and recoverable mineral solids. The process destroys PFAS and other persistent organic pollutants without incineration, avoiding the creation of harmful byproducts like dioxins.
Where did 374Water's SCWO technology originate?
The core technology traces back to research at Duke University's Pratt School of Engineering, with early-stage funding and conceptual work supported by NASA and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. NASA originally explored SCWO for treating waste in closed-loop life-support systems during long-duration spaceflight. 374Water holds the license to commercialize the terrestrial applications of that foundational work.
What is the commercial status of 374Water's AirSCWO units?
In May 2024, 374Water announced the completion of its first full-scale commercial AirSCWO unit for the Orange County Sanitation District in California. That deployment represents the transition from research-phase pilot testing to a revenue-generating capital equipment sale. The unit is designed to demonstrate on-site destruction of PFAS and other organics at a working municipal wastewater facility.
Does 374Water generate revenue from equipment sales, service contracts, or both?
The business model combines capital equipment sales of the AirSCWO systems with ongoing service and maintenance contracts. Additionally, the process generates recoverable heat energy and mineral solids that can be repurposed, creating supplemental revenue streams alongside the core destruction-service function.
How does 374Water's approach differ from filtration and carbon-capture methods for PFAS?
Filtration and granular activated carbon (GAC) systems capture PFAS from water but produce a concentrated waste stream — typically spent carbon or brine — that must be transported and disposed of off-site, often through incineration or landfilling. 374Water's SCWO technology destroys PFAS molecules on-site by breaking carbon-fluorine bonds at the molecular level, eliminating the liability chain and secondary contamination risk associated with containment-based approaches.
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