SchmutzBot

Automated cleaning
for slow sand filters.

No downtime.

The SchmutzBot™ is an autonomous robot that cleans the top layer of open slow sand filters. This allows drinking water facilities to keep producing without interrupting the process.

How It Works

Replace manual cleaning with continuous underwater robotics.

Cleaning the top layer of a slow sand filter (the ‘Schmutzdecke’) traditionally means draining the basin, halting production, and sending people in to do it by hand. Every hour offline is lost capacity. Every human entry is a risk of contamination, that shouldn’t have to be taken to keep drinking water flowing.

The SchmutzBot™ is able to clean the top layer of a slow sand filter bed without removing the sand or taking the filter out of service. This allows drinking water production to continue uninterrupted, with no loss of the Schmutzdecke or water.

Targeted Separation

Loosens surface sludge without damaging the underlying sand bed.

Live Extraction

Removes clogged sludge while leaving the purifying biological layer intact.

Uninterrupted Process

Operates underwater while the filter remains fully active and producing drinking water.

“In a rapidly growing region, the added capacity is essential for us.”

– Dunea Drinking Water Utility, The Netherlands

Results

Increased production capacity - better water quality

Higher filtration speed

The robot doubles filtration speed from 25–30 to 50–60 cm/hour.

Zero production loss

The facility keeps producing drinking water while SchmutzBot works.

Better water quality

Automatic sludge removal keeps output consistent, not just after a scheduled clean.

Lower risk of contamination

Less manual cleaning, and no need for human entry into the basin.

Specs

Built for drinking water production facilities that can’t afford to stop.

The SchmutzBot™ is engineered for any production site running open slow sand filters that needs more capacity from the infrastructure it already has, without sending anyone into the tank.

No building adjustments

Designed to fit directly into existing open slow sand filter basins using current infrastructure.

Continuous operation

Corrosion-resistant materials, easy maintenance, and remote monitoring for maximum uptime.

Designed to fit

Modular configurations tailored to your filter dimensions, slopes, and cleaning needs.

Simple utility requirements

Only access, power supply, and sludge discharge connections are required.

Ready to upgrade your facility?

Get in touch with us for a technical consultation. We’ll walk through what SchmutzBOT looks like for your site.

SchmutzBot is located in Valkenswaard, The Netherlands. +31 (0)85 9020 277