STORY
Every Drop Counts: How Coway is Advancing the Future of Clean Water This World Water Day
2026.03.20
World Water Day, which has been observed annually on March 22 since the day was first designated by the United Nations (UN) in 1993, celebrates all things ‘water’ while highlighting the critical importance of access to fresh water. It is a day dedicated to raising awareness of the ongoing global water crisis and to inspiring collective action to protect this finite resource.
Understanding that the sustainable management of freshwater resources is a universal issue, Coway, the “Best Life Solution Company,” has been playing a pivotal role in advancing access to clean drinking water. Since its inception, the company has fundamentally reshaped how its consumers perceive and consume drinking water. Through the introduction of its industry-first rental model, Coway democratized access to water purifiers — appliances that were previously luxury items. Paired with the company’s regular maintenance service offering, this rental model has ensured that clean, safe water can now be the norm in every home, instead of a privilege.
The Science of Safety: Advancing Filtration Standards
For decades, Coway has been refining its advanced filtration technologies, designed to remove even microscopic contaminants, driven by a steadfast commitment to providing safe drinking water to all. This commitment has further been reinforced through rigorous international certifications.
In 2008, Coway became the first in the industry to obtain global certification from the Water Quality Association (WQA), an international certification body for water quality technologies and services. Today, Coway’s filters are certified by the WQA on a wide range of leading industry standards, including NSF/ANSI 42 (aesthetic effects), 53 (health-related effects) and 58 (reverse osmosis systems).
More than 80 Coway products carry the WQA’s Gold Seal Mark, an achievement that reflects Coway’s steadfast provision not of just high-level product quality, but of product safety and reliability, too.
The Engine of Innovation: Inside Coway’s R&D Center
Coway's Environmental Technology Research Institute (R&D Center) in Seoul, Korea
At the heart of Coway’s technological leadership is its Environmental Technology Research Institute (R&D Center) in Seoul, South Korea. The R&D Center’s mission is simple yet clear: to help more people enjoy clean air and water through state-of-the-art research and world-class technical expertise.
Coway’s specialized R&D procedures have enabled the company to develop bespoke products tailored specifically to the local environmental requirements of each country it serves. Through the careful analysis of water samples taken from around the globe, Coway has been able to develop its proprietary ‘Water Map’, a massive database containing findings and insights from approximately 2,700 water sources in 41 countries. With this extensive catalog to draw from, Coway is able to deliver optimized, localized products that address the unique mineral compositions and characteristics of a given region’s water supplies.
Beyond the Faucet: Committed CSR and Global Impact
As a key industry player, Coway understands that its responsibility extends beyond product innovation through to environmental stewardship and community engagement.
In the company’s home country of South Korea, annual ‘plogging’ initiatives see Coway employees and community members drive awareness of water cleanliness by collecting waste while jogging or walking near waterways. Diving even deeper, teams of scuba-certified Coway employees also conduct underwater cleanups to further remove waste from the nation’s marine environments.
On an international level, Coway Malaysia has led its ‘Happy Water Project’ with the goal of delivering clean, safe and sustainable water solutions to underprivileged areas since 2017. In 2025, the initiative saw borewells and solar-powered water pump systems installed so as to support the indigenous Jakun community in Kampung Batu 15. To date, this initiative has benefited more than 1,000 families across the nation.
Flowing Toward a Sustainable Future
On this year’s World Water Day, Coway is reaffirming its commitment to safeguarding one of the planet's most precious resources. By blending cutting-edge R&D with the company’s genuine dedication to community service, the company continues to contribute to a future where clean water is more accessible and sustainable. Looking to the future, Coway will continue to innovate and to advocate for the right to clean water access for all, for generations to come.
Understanding that the sustainable management of freshwater resources is a universal issue, Coway, the “Best Life Solution Company,” has been playing a pivotal role in advancing access to clean drinking water. Since its inception, the company has fundamentally reshaped how its consumers perceive and consume drinking water. Through the introduction of its industry-first rental model, Coway democratized access to water purifiers — appliances that were previously luxury items. Paired with the company’s regular maintenance service offering, this rental model has ensured that clean, safe water can now be the norm in every home, instead of a privilege.
The Science of Safety: Advancing Filtration Standards
Coway’s Icon Water Purifier 3 Lineup
For decades, Coway has been refining its advanced filtration technologies, designed to remove even microscopic contaminants, driven by a steadfast commitment to providing safe drinking water to all. This commitment has further been reinforced through rigorous international certifications.
In 2008, Coway became the first in the industry to obtain global certification from the Water Quality Association (WQA), an international certification body for water quality technologies and services. Today, Coway’s filters are certified by the WQA on a wide range of leading industry standards, including NSF/ANSI 42 (aesthetic effects), 53 (health-related effects) and 58 (reverse osmosis systems).
More than 80 Coway products carry the WQA’s Gold Seal Mark, an achievement that reflects Coway’s steadfast provision not of just high-level product quality, but of product safety and reliability, too.
The Engine of Innovation: Inside Coway’s R&D Center
Coway's Environmental Technology Research Institute (R&D Center) in Seoul, Korea
At the heart of Coway’s technological leadership is its Environmental Technology Research Institute (R&D Center) in Seoul, South Korea. The R&D Center’s mission is simple yet clear: to help more people enjoy clean air and water through state-of-the-art research and world-class technical expertise.
Coway’s specialized R&D procedures have enabled the company to develop bespoke products tailored specifically to the local environmental requirements of each country it serves. Through the careful analysis of water samples taken from around the globe, Coway has been able to develop its proprietary ‘Water Map’, a massive database containing findings and insights from approximately 2,700 water sources in 41 countries. With this extensive catalog to draw from, Coway is able to deliver optimized, localized products that address the unique mineral compositions and characteristics of a given region’s water supplies.
Beyond the Faucet: Committed CSR and Global Impact
As a key industry player, Coway understands that its responsibility extends beyond product innovation through to environmental stewardship and community engagement.
Children from the Netmarble Puruni Daycare Center Take Part in A Coway River Plogging Campaign
In the company’s home country of South Korea, annual ‘plogging’ initiatives see Coway employees and community members drive awareness of water cleanliness by collecting waste while jogging or walking near waterways. Diving even deeper, teams of scuba-certified Coway employees also conduct underwater cleanups to further remove waste from the nation’s marine environments.
On an international level, Coway Malaysia has led its ‘Happy Water Project’ with the goal of delivering clean, safe and sustainable water solutions to underprivileged areas since 2017. In 2025, the initiative saw borewells and solar-powered water pump systems installed so as to support the indigenous Jakun community in Kampung Batu 15. To date, this initiative has benefited more than 1,000 families across the nation.
Flowing Toward a Sustainable Future
On this year’s World Water Day, Coway is reaffirming its commitment to safeguarding one of the planet's most precious resources. By blending cutting-edge R&D with the company’s genuine dedication to community service, the company continues to contribute to a future where clean water is more accessible and sustainable. Looking to the future, Coway will continue to innovate and to advocate for the right to clean water access for all, for generations to come.
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