Physical BusinessMedium Effortglobal

AquaPura PT — Residential Water Treatment & Purification Installation

Anyone who's lived in the Algarve knows the problem: white calcium deposits on everything, shower heads clogging within months, washing machines dying prematurely, and tap water that tastes like a swimming pool. Southern Portugal has some of the hardest water in Western Europe, with calcium carbonat

Score73/100
Apr 4, 2026
TAM
€320M — 4M Portuguese households × average lifetime water treatment spend of €80/year (installations amortized + consumables). Source: INE household data, European water treatment market reports.
SAM
€48M — Target: 600,000 households in Algarve, greater Lisbon, and Alentejo (hard water regions) × €80/year average spend.
SOM
€120K-300K — Year 1-2: 8-15 installations/month × €1,500 average + maintenance contracts building to €2,000-5,000/month recurring.
PortugalEuropeB2BB2CSMEAPI

AquaPura PT — Residential Water Treatment & Purification Installation

The Problem

Anyone who's lived in the Algarve knows the problem: white calcium deposits on everything, shower heads clogging within months, washing machines dying prematurely, and tap water that tastes like a swimming pool. Southern Portugal has some of the hardest water in Western Europe, with calcium carbonate levels reaching 400+ mg/L in parts of the Algarve (vs 50-150 mg/L in most of Northern Europe).

The consequences are real:

  • Appliance lifespan: Hard water reduces washing machine and dishwasher life by 30-40%, costing households €200-400/year in premature replacements.
  • Energy costs: Just 1.5mm of limescale on heating elements increases energy consumption by 12-15%.
  • Skin/hair health: Hard water exacerbates eczema, dry skin, and hair damage. Dermatologists in Algarve/Lisbon routinely recommend softened water.
  • Taste: Many Portuguese households buy bottled water (€0.50-1.50/day per household = €180-550/year), creating both cost and environmental waste.

Despite this, most Portuguese households have no water treatment beyond a simple Brita jug. The market is wide open.

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