Vortex Corporation, currently doing business as Zuvo Water LLC, has created a set of water filters called Stratus specifically designed for a users local water system, coupled with an ambitious software component. Instead of offering the a general-purpose filter, the firm gives customers a tailor-made filter for the tap water that flows out of their particular municipality. For example, if an individual lives in an area with heavy mining, the primary concern wouldnt be bacteria but metals. The Stratus water purification system includes WiFi-enabled hardware, filters, optional "intelligent" faucets and a cloud-connected smartphone app that can tell you when to swap out old cartridges for new ones. The filters go beyond simple carbon filtration by combining ultraviolet light (UV), oxygenation and carbon with a patented five-step self-cleaning process. The company is trying to build a database of every known water source on the planet. Zuvo is piecing the database together using publically available reports from the Environmental Protection Agency that analyzes each sites water system and water source. Users can access the software to see what contaminants are in the water, and based on the specifics of their water system, can keep track of when they need to change their filter.
