A multilateral IP commons where governments, universities, and development banks contribute patents for water treatment, purification, and distribution technology into a shared pool, freely licensed to utilities in low- and lower-middle-income countries.

Currently, patent barriers prevent affordable deployment of advanced water technologies — membrane filtration, PFAS treatment, UV disinfection — in the countries that need them most.

A Water Technology Commons modeled on the COVAX IP waiver approach would eliminate licensing fees for qualifying utilities, reducing technology costs by 30-60% and dramatically accelerating adoption.

Contributing parties receive reputational recognition, tax benefits in participating jurisdictions, and access to field data from deployments — creating a genuine exchange of value rather than pure charity.