I-Drop Water

About I-Drop Water

I-Drop Water develops drinking-water refill equipment for grocery stores. Its Waterpod units purify and dispense water inside the shop, allowing customers to bring reusable containers and pay for the volume they collect at the existing checkout. The approach combines point-of-use treatment with a retail distribution model, offering an alternative to repeatedly purchasing packaged drinking water.

The business installs equipment under an agreement with the host retailer without an upfront equipment charge. I-Drop monitors the system remotely, services the installation and shares water-sales revenue with the store. Connected monitoring records dispensing activity and supports system alerts and operational oversight. The machine combines filtration with ultraviolet sterilisation, while its compact format is designed for installation without a drainage connection.

Kate Thiers and James Steere co-founded the South African company. Their work on Waterpod brought together a commercial model for participating shopkeepers and a refill option for consumers seeking lower-cost drinking water. The product has also been documented in international work on reusable packaging and reducing plastic waste. By locating treatment within an established store, I-Drop links water provision to the shopping routines and infrastructure that local customers already use.

Leadership

• Kate Thiers, Co-Founder
• James Steere, Co-Founder