dMRV Solution &
Implementation Plan

Decision & Approval

Approved Methodology Deviation

Under the Gold Standard dMRV Pilot Programme, Virridy has received pilot-level approval for a methodology deviation allowing the use of the Lume sensor for E. coli estimation in place of traditional laboratory-based sampling. This is a pilot approval — not a fully approved methodology change — meaning the deviation is authorized for evaluation under the pilot framework, subject to resolution of the Forward Action Requirements below and successful completion of the validation and verification process. The deviation applies to the methodology “Emission Reductions from Safe Drinking Water Supply” (Version 1.0), specifically for SDWS Parameter 18 (Microbial Drinking Water Quality).

Forward Action Requirements (FARs)

Four Forward Action Requirements have been raised and must be addressed before the first verification:

Next Steps

• CME status update: A status update on the implementation of the dMRV solution is required within 6 months of approval.
• Validation and verification: The project must follow Gold Standard’s submission guidelines for validation and verification, with all FARs resolved prior to the first verification audit.
• Ongoing compliance: The dMRV solution must continue to meet Gold Standard requirements throughout the crediting period, with periodic reviews as specified in the pilot programme guidelines.

Summary

This dMRV approach digitizes critical aspects of water system use and water quality monitoring, making manual and periodic water sampling more cost effective and efficient with continuous, automated assessments. It also improves the verifiability and transparency of monitoring data, supporting compliance with Gold Standard certification requirements.

While microbial water quality is the central focus of this dMRV implementation, the plan also includes exploration of two additional measurement parameters enabled by the Lume system: monitored quantity of safe water treatment and estimated days of operation of the water treatment system.

The Lume installed in a Gold Standard water treatment program in Kenya

The Lume installed in a Gold Standard water filter program in Rwanda

Project Background Information

Scope

The objectives of this project are: (i) Schools from rural communities have access to safe water and (ii) CO₂ emissions are avoided. This project will address critical access to safe water, whilst contributing to the avoidance of greenhouse gas emissions from the boiling of unsafe water.

Proposed Solution

Overview of the dMRV Solution

The proposed dMRV solution integrates Virridy’s Lume sensor into a Safe Drinking Water Supply (SDWS) project — demonstrated in the team’s institutional water treatment project in Rwanda — to remotely and continuously monitor treatment-system operation and estimate treated water quality. By deploying a network of IoT-enabled fluorescence sensors at the point of consumption, the system provides near-real-time, high-resolution data on microbial drinking water quality (E. coli risk), replacing or augmenting traditional periodic manual sampling with automated, cloud-based reporting.

The Lume hardware design — optical bay electronics, optical assembly, and full sensor assembly

Scope of dMRV Solution Application

The primary challenge addressed by this dMRV solution is the lack of continuous, objective, and easily verifiable monitoring of microbial drinking water quality in carbon-financed water treatment programs.

Although the microbial water quality of treated water is not typically expected to indicate contamination, the absence of high-resolution data reduces the ability to validate performance over time. Conventional monitoring relies on infrequent grab samples that may not capture variability in treatment performance or contamination events.

This challenge is especially pronounced in household and institutional water treatment (HWT/IWT) programs like those in Rwanda, where water can be contaminated post-treatment due to improper use, filter degradation, or environmental factors. Without continuous data, it is difficult to provide high-confidence assurance that treated water consistently meets safety standards.

To close this gap, the proposed dMRV solution deploys Virridy’s Lume sensor to digitally monitor microbial water quality at the point of consumption. The approach is treatment-technology-agnostic: the same sensor and protocol monitor microbial water quality (and treated-water presence) at the point of consumption for any SDWS safe-water supply — filtration, chlorination, borehole, or piped distribution — with the Amazi Meza filtration program serving as the Phase 1 demonstration rather than a constraint on applicability.

Scope of MRV Activities Digitized

• Monitoring: Continuous sensor estimates of microbial drinking water quality, treatment-system use and volume estimates.
• Reporting: Automated data upload, cloud-based dashboards, and time-stamped digital records of water safety performance.
• Verification: Transparent, auditable digital datasets to support third-party validation and verification.

By digitizing these MRV components, the solution provides a higher level of assurance that users are consistently receiving microbiologically safe water, reinforcing the validity of GHG reduction claims tied to the displacement of boiling.

dMRV Solution Application

The proposed dMRV solution leverages the Lume sensor to continuously estimate E. coli contamination at the point of consumption (the treated water from the project’s safe-water supply, such as a filtration or chlorination system) and transmits data via cellular networks to cloud-based dashboards for reporting and auditing.

Digitized MRV Activities

The dMRV solution digitizes the monitoring, reporting, and partial verification components of the MRV framework. Sensor technology captures microbial water quality and water system uptime metrics, while cloud platforms handle data aggregation, analysis, and structured reporting for project developers and verifiers.

Data Collection and Management

The Lume device collects microbial water quality data continuously in the safe-water storage of the treatment system (for example a gravity filter, a chlorination dispenser, or a treated-water tank). In some cases, the Lume will also collect data on the untreated water source. Data is stored locally on the device and transmitted over cellular networks to a secure cloud platform for aggregation and analysis.

Data Analytics and Automation

Raw data collected by the Lume sensor undergoes processing in a right-censored linear regression (Tobit model). The model outputs quantification and prediction error of E. coli contamination risk aligned with WHO risk classifications. Automated dashboards present key metrics in real time, with alerts triggered for anomalies such as elevated contamination or extended sensor inactivity.

Standardized Reporting

The system generates standardized reports summarizing microbial water quality performance (E. coli risk category in CFU/100mL) over defined intervals (e.g., daily, weekly). These reports are accessible via the cloud platform and can be exported for inclusion in Gold Standard monitoring and verification documentation.

Key Technologies & Methodologies

The dMRV solution integrates multiple digital technologies to enable continuous, accurate, and verifiable monitoring of microbial drinking water quality.

Data Collection Technologies

The core data collection technology is an Internet of Things (IoT) sensor, the Lume, developed by Virridy. The Lume is a fluorescence sensor, measuring tryptophan-like fluorescence (TLF) at 273/350 nm excitation/emission wavelengths (Knopp et al., Water Research 302, 2026). TLF is a biological marker correlated with microbial activity and fecal contamination across groundwater, surface water, estuarine, and urban watershed environments globally. A right-censored linear regression (Tobit model) estimates E. coli contamination from fluorescence and turbidity data. The sensor also includes integrated turbidity and temperature sensors as well as a water presence detector to monitor system uptime and infer treatment volumes.

Validated Performance (CBT Field Calibration)

Data Processing and Analysis Tools

Data collected by the sensor is processed using a transparent right-censored linear regression (Tobit model) on log₁₀(MPN+1), censored at the CBT upper limit of 100 MPN/100 mL. Fluorescence is corrected to 20 °C on the unit’s own temperature sensor. The model has four features: fluorescence relative to the unit’s clean-water baseline (F, natural-log difference), the natural log of the ratio of ToF to the baseline ToF (B), temperature relative to 20 °C (T), and F × T. The coefficients are shared by all units, with no unit-specific intercepts or slopes:

ŷ = 0.214 + 1.205 F + 5.264 B − 0.0064 T − 0.0150 F×T, σ̂ = 0.48

A sample is classified at or above 10 MPN/100 mL when the predicted concentration reaches 3.66 MPN/100 mL, and at or above 1 MPN/100 mL at 1.25. There is no machine learning or black-box inference; any third party can reproduce each prediction from a unit’s readings and its baseline.

CBT Field Validation

The model was fitted to 194 sensor–CBT pairs from 3 units, forming 75 samples (40 in Rwanda, 35 in Kenya) over 12 sampling days. Each sample was predicted by a model fitted without that unit and without that day, the case of a newly deployed unit. At 10 MPN/100 mL the Lume detected 15 of 16 samples at or above the threshold and correctly classified 55 of 59 below it: balanced accuracy 0.93 (95% CI 0.76 to 0.98), positive predictive value 0.79 and negative predictive value 0.98. With the day held out for all units, balanced accuracy was 0.92. Of the 75 samples, 67 (89%) fell within ±0.92 log₁₀ of the CBT result, and Willmott’s index of agreement was 0.82. Calibrating each unit against CBT results did not improve on the clean-water baseline; removing the ToF input lowered balanced accuracy to 0.72. Source: Knopp, Ecklu, Ross and Thomas, companion drinking-water paper; data at validation.thelume.ai/cbt.

Natural-waters validation (Boulder Creek): predicted vs. observed agreement (R²=0.67, 7% MAPE) and 3-bin model classification (95% balanced accuracy, κ 0.84).

Natural-waters validation: temporally-structured train/test split, and held-out Seine River (Paris) test set (96.8% accuracy, 94% balanced). Source: thelume.ai/research

Cloud Computing for Data Storage and Accessibility

All sensor data is transmitted to a secure cloud-based data platform that stores, aggregates, and organizes information by device, location, and time period. The platform provides secure, role-based access for project developers, verifiers, auditors, and other stakeholders.

Known Limitations

Performance is influenced by dissolved organic carbon (DOC), humic-like fluorescence, turbidity, and temperature; fluorescent water with few culturable E. coli and clear water with culturable E. coli both disagree with a culture reference. Three of the four false alarms in the paper were rainwater tanks in Rwanda. The evaluation covers three units over 12 sampling days, with 16 samples at or above 10 MPN/100 mL, so sensitivity is imprecise (95% CI 0.60 to 1.00). It evaluated portable grab-and-read use; permanent in-line installation was not evaluated.

Technology Maturity Level

The technology has been prototyped, validated in the lab and deployed in various field conditions, including the application for the proposed dMRV application. It is around level 7 on the TRL scale.

This TRL level supports deployment across a significant portion of the market, especially in contexts requiring reliable, continuous, and remote monitoring of water systems. The system’s design is adaptable to other water project types (e.g., household water treatment, community water supply).

The solution incorporates mature digital data collection capabilities, including:

• Cloud-based platforms for real-time data transmission, storage, and visualization
• Use of mobile and internet connectivity to support remote deployments
• Integration with backend data management systems to support project monitoring, analytics, and reporting

Additionally, the dMRV solution leverages advanced technologies to enable “smart” operations, including:

• Automated sensors for microbial water quality, flow, and system uptime
• IoT systems paired with regression-based analytics support remote diagnostics, performance alerts, and predictive insights
• Performance-based incentives for water safety and service delivery
• Adaptive management based on real-time data
• Reduced travel-related emissions through remote monitoring

Digitization & Automation of MRV Activities

Scope of Digitization

The dMRV solution applies to a specific subset of material GHG sources. Specifically, greenhouse gas emissions avoided through the consistent delivery of microbiologically safe drinking water that displaces the need for boiling.

Automation Level

The following MRV processes could be automated:

• Water quality monitoring: Lume sensors automatically assess microbial contamination using tryptophan-like fluorescence.
• Data transmission: Sensor readings are sent in near real time to a centralized cloud platform via cellular networks.
• Data analysis: Embedded regression algorithms classify contamination status.
• Reporting: Automated dashboards present time-stamped performance data for remote review.

These MRV processes still require human intervention:

• Sensor installation and calibration: Initial deployment and periodic maintenance require technician support.
• Quality assurance: Manual water sampling may still be used periodically for calibration and validation purposes.

Data Flow

1. Collection: The Lume autonomously collects data on microbial water quality from the filter safe water container.
2. Transmission: Data is transmitted over mobile networks to a secure cloud-based platform.
3. Processing: On the platform, data are automatically cleaned, time-stamped, and analyzed using the pre-trained estimation model.
4. Storage: Results are securely stored in a structured database, organized by device, location, and date.
5. Reporting: Dashboards and downloadable reports provide accessible summaries for project developers, auditors, and Gold Standard reviewers.

Digital Technologies Integration

Lume Sensor

The digital technologies integrated into the dMRV solution include a physical IoT sensor device paired with a transparent estimation model that reports estimated E. coli contamination risk in near real time.

The Lume sensor is the key hardware component of the dMRV system. It is an IoT fluorescence-based E. coli sensor that can also estimate treatment-system use and treated-water volumes with a water presence sensor. Data gathered directly by the Lume sensor is transmitted to a remote and secure cloud-based data platform for processing with the estimation model.

Estimation Model

The estimation model is the primary software in the dMRV system. It uses a right-censored linear regression (Tobit) to estimate E. coli concentration from raw sensor data. Input features are temperature-corrected fluorescence relative to the unit’s clean-water baseline, the ToF ratio to its baseline, temperature, and fluorescence × temperature. The coefficients are shared by all units; the clean-water baseline is the only per-unit term. The model is fully specified by an intercept and four coefficients, with no machine learning, decision trees or ensemble methods.

Model outputs are pulled into a dashboard that provides water quality data to accrediting agencies, municipalities, implementing partners, and other stakeholders. The system requires no consumables or lab infrastructure, enabling autonomous continuous monitoring at significantly lower operational costs than traditional methods.

Intellectual Property

The dMRV solution is protected by two issued U.S. patents:

• US Patent 11,506,606 B2 — Adaptive contamination detection
• US Patent 11,507,861 B2 — Automated system-state classification

Extent of MRV Digitization

Fully Automated MRV Processes

Microbial Water Quality Monitoring (SDWS 18)

This parameter is fully digitized, potentially replacing or at minimum increasing the efficiency and cost effectiveness of manual, periodic water quality testing. The Lume sensor captures near real time microbial quality measurements at the point of consumption, transmitted to a cloud platform for automatic analysis and reporting.

Partially Digitized Activities

Project Technology Operation Days (SDWS 27)

Lume includes internal water presence / absence sensors that can infer operational days based on system activity. While the sensor can autonomously estimate uptime, a more extensive field deployment will be needed to validate the accuracy and reliability of this method before it can be considered fully digitized.

Safe Water Quantity Monitoring (SDWS 23)

This parameter is being evaluated as part of the dMRV plan. While the Lume may be able to track water flow events and link them to microbial safety data, further development is needed to validate volume estimation accuracy.

System Calibration and Maintenance Logs

While routine maintenance and calibration are supported by automated alerts and diagnostics from the sensor, the actions themselves (e.g., cleaning, sensor replacement) are conducted by field technicians and documented manually in digital logs.

Efficiency and Accuracy Improvements from Digitization

• Improved Temporal Resolution: Sampling can occur multiple times per day, vastly exceeding the frequency of traditional manual testing which is typically annually.
• Reduced Human Error: Automated sensing and reporting eliminate data entry and handling errors common in manual processes.
• Near Real-Time Responsiveness: Continuous data enables earlier detection of system failures or contamination events, allowing for rapid corrective action.
• Enhanced Auditability: Time-stamped, tamper-resistant digital records improve transparency and facilitate third-party verification.

Manual Human Involvement

Although the proposed dMRV solution digitizes key monitoring and reporting activities, certain MRV tasks still require manual human involvement:

Sensor Installation and Deployment

Why Required: Initial installation of the Lume device requires trained technicians to ensure proper installation and network connectivity.

Integration with Digital System: The installed sensor is logged manually and linked to the cloud-based platform.

Routine Maintenance

Why Required: To maintain data accuracy, periodic physical inspection and maintenance of the sensor hardware is required (e.g., cleaning optical components, charging/replacing batteries).

Periodic Water Quality Validation and Calibration

Why Required: Manual water sampling using lab or field-based tests (e.g., membrane filtration or Compartment Bag Test) may be periodically conducted to validate the Lume’s automated microbial readings.

Integration with Digital System: Validation results are manually recorded and can be used to assess the performance of the estimation model.

Future Digitization: Future improvements could include integration of field kit results into the cloud dashboard and automated comparison with Lume data for real-time model refinement.

Verification and Interpretation of Outliers or Data Gaps

Why Required: While most data anomalies, such as sensor offline periods, are flagged automatically, human interpretation is needed to determine cause and whether corrective action is warranted.

Integration of Digital and Manual Processes

The dMRV system combines automated and manual processes in a complementary manner to ensure verifiable monitoring of safe water delivery. Automated microbial monitoring and data transmission via the Lume sensor form the backbone of the system, generating continuous, time-stamped water quality data without the need for manual intervention.

Manual interventions, such as sensor maintenance and repairs, are triggered by automated alerts (e.g., sensor offline or abnormal readings). Alerts identify intervention requirements at designated thresholds and are logged to ensure traceability of manual actions.

Periodic water quality validation will be performed with field compartment bag tests. Time-stamped water quality data will be recorded by enumerators in mWater, a cloud-based data platform. Data will be used to validate and continuously improve the Lume estimation model.

Data Collection & Management

Parameters to be Measured

Primary Parameter

SDWS 18 – Microbial Drinking Water Quality: Measured using the Lume sensor, which detects tryptophan-like fluorescence (TLF) as an estimate of E. coli contamination within the same error bounds as lab-based methods.

Exploratory Parameters

• SDWS 23 – Quantity of Safe Water Provided (pilot phase): Inferred from the presence / absence of treated water in the safe water storage container. The Lume has a water presence sensor. As water is filled and consumed, the Lume can count fill/empty events.
• SDWS 27 – Days of Operation: Inferred from the presence / absence of treated water in the safe water storage container. This is an exploratory parameter as it is also possible users will maintain the storage full without consuming it.

Data Sources and Collection Methods

• Source: Raw sensor data captured by Lume devices deployed at the point of water consumption (e.g., safe storage containers fed by the project’s treatment system (filtration, chlorination, etc.)).
• Method: Sensors autonomously collect data at pre-programmed intervals (e.g., daily or hourly). Data is stored locally on the device and transmitted via cellular network to a secure cloud-based platform.
• Sample: At least as many samples as required by the existing methodology for annual water quality monitoring.
• Metadata: Each reading includes a timestamp, device ID, and location.

Quality Assurance and Control Measures

Automated QA/QC

• Internal checks on sensor function and signal quality.
• Real-time flagging of anomalies such as missing data, out-of-range values, or extended inactivity.
• Offline, low battery and extended inactivity of sensors generate a maintenance ticket for field technicians.
• Anomalous data generate a notification on dashboards, flagging the date/time and extent of the anomaly.

Manual QA/QC

• Field technician maintenance and calibration logs.
• Physical logs are entered into the digital platforms for accessible auditing and tracking of O&M and sampling activities.
• Periodic water quality validation using field kits or lab tests to compare with sensor outputs.
• Water quality data from field testing are logged in mWater and validated against the estimation model.
• Flagged and anomalous data are manually reviewed and tracked when resolved/corrected/interpreted.

Reporting Structure, Frequency, and KPIs

Reporting Structure: Web-based dashboard for real-time monitoring and historical data visualization.

Reporting Frequency:

• Data sampling: configurable (e.g., hourly, daily)
• Data reporting: configurable and subject to network reliability

Key Performance Indicators:

• Percentage of days with confirmed safe water delivery (SDWS 18)
• Percentage of sensor locations with no contamination events detected
• Percentage of water treatment system days in use (SDWS 27)
• Estimate of fill / empty treatment volumes (SDWS 23)

Data Storage and Security Protocols

• Infrastructure: Cloud-based servers with cellular transmission.
• Access Controls: Data can be locked and access granted for project staff, verifiers, and auditors.
• Confidentiality: No personally identifiable user data is collected. Device IDs and location metadata can be anonymized where required for compliance.

Expected Outcomes & Impact

Improved Accuracy in GHG Emissions Measurement and Reporting

Traditional MRV methods rely on infrequent, single point-in-time, water quality testing, user surveys, or physical inspections, which introduce potential uncertainty and may fail to capture variability in system performance over time.

This high-frequency monitoring enables the detection of potential temporal trends in water quality and increases the likelihood of capturing contamination events if they occur. As a result, the dMRV system offers stronger assurance that claimed emission reductions are backed by reliable, continuous evidence of safe water delivery.

We anticipate having sensors installed continuously at a sample of water treatment systems, enabling at least 200× more daily samples than currently required in the Gold Standard methodology.

Enhanced Data Transparency and Accessibility for Stakeholders

The dMRV system provides real-time access to performance data via secure cloud dashboards, enabling project developers, verifiers, and Gold Standard reviewers to evaluate project outcomes at any time. This reduces information asymmetry between project operators, auditors, and credit buyers.

Reduced Time and Cost Associated with MRV Processes

By automating microbial monitoring, data transmission, and reporting, the system reduces the need for frequent field visits, lab testing, and manual data processing. This lowers the overall cost per data point while improving the confidence and resolution of MRV outputs.

Increased Confidence in Carbon Credit Generation and Trading

Digitized water quality data provides a higher level of assurance to buyers and certification bodies that claimed emissions reductions are backed by verifiable, high-resolution water quality data.

Revisions to the Applied Methodology

Methodology Revisions for dMRV Implementation

This dMRV solution proposes minor updates to the Gold Standard methodology titled “Emission Reductions from Safe Drinking Water Supply” (Version 1.0) to accommodate the integration of Virridy’s Lume digital monitoring technology.

Specific Modifications Required

Allow the use of automated microbial monitoring devices (e.g. the Lume) on a statistically random and valid sample of installed water treatment systems to replace or complement manual sampling for SDWS Parameter 18 (Microbial Drinking Water Quality).

Justification for Each Proposed Change

The current methodology relies on periodic manual testing or indirect evidence of water quality. Automated, high-frequency measurements provide a higher resolution dataset that can detect performance fluctuations and contamination events in near real time, substantially improving data quality for emissions quantification.

Alignment with Methodology’s Original Intent

The methodology’s core intent is to conservatively quantify GHG emission reductions resulting from reduced boiling of water for purification. The dMRV solution enhances this intent by providing stronger, more continuous evidence that water treatment systems are effectively delivering safe water — the foundational assumption behind the crediting of emissions reductions.

Potential Impacts on Emissions Calculations

The quantification approach remains unchanged, but the underlying assumptions about technology performance are now supported by continuous digital evidence rather than periodic manual verification, improving overall confidence in credited emissions reductions.

Risk Assessment & Mitigation

The implementation of a digital MRV system introduces a range of technical, operational, and contextual risks. The table below outlines the key risks associated with the use of Virridy’s Lume device in the proposed dMRV application and corresponding mitigation strategies.

Scalability & Replicability

The proposed dMRV solution is designed for scalability across geographies and adaptable for other water project types and sectors. Its portable and compact design, use of cellular networks, and cloud-based data architecture make it suitable for a variety of deployment contexts.

Expansion Potential

The Lume device can be deployed across a wide range of institutional, household, or community water treatment systems. Scaling to additional regions is feasible wherever basic mobile connectivity is available, and the solution requires minimal on-site infrastructure.

Adaptability

The solution is not limited to institutional filter projects; it can be adapted to other water projects (e.g., community water supply, household water treatment). The sensor can be potentially customized for different deployment contexts and regulatory frameworks.

Scaling Cost-Effectiveness

Per-site costs decrease significantly at scale due to economies of scale in hardware procurement, cloud hosting, and technician training. Automated data workflows reduce MRV transaction costs over time.

Financial Capacity

Initial capital for dMRV deployment is allocated within the broader project implementation budget. Additionally, the Lume sensor’s applicability across other sectors (e.g., environmental monitoring) creates potential for cross-subsidization and diversified funding sources.

Skilled Workforce

Local technicians are trained to install, maintain, and troubleshoot Lume sensors, ensuring immediate on-the-ground capacity. However, the dMRV system is designed to be delivered as a subscription-based service, where Virridy provides ongoing hardware support, data management, cloud hosting, and model maintenance. This reduces the dependence on local technical expertise for system operation.

Active Project Locations

Virridy currently operates carbon credit projects across multiple countries in Sub-Saharan Africa:

Sustainability & Accessibility

Sustainability Performance

The dMRV solution offers clear environmental benefits over conventional MRV approaches while maintaining a minimal footprint.

• Energy Consumption: Lume sensors are low-power devices designed for extended use on small rechargeable or replaceable batteries. Optional solar configurations further reduce reliance on grid-based electricity, and the energy consumption of the sensor itself is negligible in the context of typical rural water treatment systems.
• GHG Emissions: The system reduces emissions associated with conventional MRV activities by minimizing the need for frequent travel to conduct manual sampling and inspections.
• E-waste Generation: Sensors are built for multi-year use with durable components. Virridy’s subscription model means that sensors are returned and components reused. There are also recycling options for end-of-life electronics.
• Relative Efficiency: Compared to conventional MRV, the digital system provides comparable accuracy at a lower environmental cost. It also compares favorably to other digital MRV tools due to its integrated hardware-software approach and low per-sample cost.

Supplementary Evidence

Please see:

• thelume.ai/research — Validated performance data and methodology
• virridy.com/lume-analytics/
• virridy.com/lume-performance-2025/
• virridy.com/lume-performance

Accessibility

The dMRV solution is designed to be low-maintenance, and accessible to users and stakeholders with minimal technical expertise.

• Simple Deployment: The Lume sensor is plug-and-play, with minimal setup requirements.
• Automated Monitoring: Once installed, the system operates autonomously — collecting, transmitting, and processing data without user intervention.
• User-Friendly Dashboard: Stakeholders can access real-time and historical data through a web-based dashboard with clear visualizations and automated summaries (see live dashboard below).
• Minimal Maintenance Burden: Preventive maintenance and diagnostics are handled by Virridy under a subscription model.
• Training & Support: Basic training on system use and interpretation is provided to local staff and partners. Remote support is available.

Live Sensor Dashboard

The Lume dashboard provides real-time sensor telemetry, water quality classifications, and historical data visualizations:

Transparency, Auditability & Compliance

Methods for Accessing and Reviewing Raw Data

Raw data can be accessed and reviewed through the cloud platform API or retrieved as .csv or .xlsx files from the Virridy team. To protect their integrity, raw data are never directly edited or used in their raw form for reporting. Instead, raw data are processed through the estimation model, which outputs water quality estimates and classifications for reporting.

Processes for Verifying Calculations and Algorithms

E. coli estimates and categorization with the estimation model can be verified with the designated coefficients and features. The model is a closed-form Tobit regression with an intercept and four published coefficients shared by all units. Feature data are the sensor inputs used to predict E. coli: temperature-corrected fluorescence and the ToF turbidity proxy, each relative to the unit’s clean-water baseline, and temperature. All coefficients and feature data are available for verification by auditors.

Raw and processed data is available to an auditor. Non-conflicted third party academics at the University of Colorado Boulder and Colorado State University will provide an independent analysis of the model and approach.

MRV Performance Standards

The dMRV solution meets and in some instances exceeds MRV performance standards and IT/cybersecurity requirements set by Gold Standard and other certification bodies.

The system enables high-confidence certification by providing:

• Continuous, time-stamped data on microbial water quality (SDWS 18), aligned with the methodology’s requirement to demonstrate consistent delivery of safe water.
• Automated reporting with traceable data trails, enhancing transparency and reducing the risk of manipulation.
• Audit-ready outputs, including raw data exports, algorithm documentation, and calibration records, supporting third-party verification of results. VVBs will receive secure, role-based access to a dedicated verification portal.

IT and Cybersecurity Compliance

The platform follows current best practices in data security and privacy:

• Data Encryption: All data transmitted from sensors to the cloud is encrypted (SSL/TLS).
• Access Controls: Role-based permissions restrict access to sensitive information; audit logs track all system activity.
• Data Integrity: Raw data is immutable and stored with automated backups; no retroactive edits are permitted.
• Privacy Protection: No personally identifiable user data is collected. Device metadata (e.g., location) is anonymized or pseudonymized where required.

Supporting Ecosystem

The dMRV solution is supported by a robust ecosystem of technical infrastructure, trained personnel, and expert partnerships that ensure reliable operation and long-term scalability.

Technical Support and Maintenance

Virridy provides technical support for the Lume sensor through a subscription-based service model. This includes:

• Remote diagnostics of sensor malfunctions and data anomalies
• Firmware updates and backend improvements deployed remotely
• Hardware upgrades when improved models become available
• Local field teams trained to troubleshoot and respond to on-site issues
• Scheduled preventive maintenance and calibration checks

This model ensures continued system performance while reducing the long-term technical burden on local project owners.

Training Programs

Local technicians and project staff are trained in:

• Sensor installation and commissioning
• Basic maintenance and troubleshooting
• Data interpretation and dashboard usage

Partnership

The dMRV solution benefits from strategic collaborations, including:

• A close partnership between Virridy and the University of Colorado Boulder to support ongoing research and development of the Lume sensor
• Coordination with local implementation partners to support deployment logistics and on-the-ground operations

This integrated support system ensures that the dMRV solution remains functional, auditable, and aligned with evolving certification and technology standards.

Strategic Rationale

Why Mobile-First Validation?

Rather than installing Lume sensors permanently at Amazi Meza schools for the validation phase — which would require extensive installation effort and repeated site visits to collect water samples — a mobile Lume configuration enables rapid, high-throughput data collection:

• Speed: A field team can visit many schools per day, collecting pre- and post-filtration samples at each, generating far more paired data points than fixed installations waiting for periodic sample collection.
• Diversity: Mobile deployment reaches a wide variety of schools, filter conditions, and source water quality levels across Rwanda, producing a more representative and robust validation dataset.
• Efficiency: Eliminates the installation burden for validation — no mounting, no power provisioning, no connectivity setup at every school. The Lume is carried to the classroom, measurements are taken, and the team moves on.

Why CBTs Instead of Colilert?

The Compartment Bag Test is the ideal reference method for this validation because:

• WASH alignment: CBTs produce WHO risk category classifications (low, intermediate, high, very high) that directly map to the Lume’s categorical output — building a model purpose-built for WASH program monitoring.
• Field practicality: CBTs require no lab infrastructure, no cold chain, and no expensive consumables. A field team carries everything needed across Rwanda’s varied terrain.
• Cost: At ~$2–3 per test, CBTs enable large sample sizes within budget. Colilert at ~$12–15 per test would limit the number of paired samples collected.
• Regulatory fit: CBT-based models are directly applicable to the Gold Standard methodology, which requires evidence of microbial drinking water quality at WHO risk thresholds.

Amazi Meza Program

Amazi Meza (“Clean Water” in Kinyarwanda) is Virridy’s school-based drinking water program in Rwanda. LifeStraw Community gravity-fed purifiers are installed in classrooms, providing safe drinking water to students without the need for boiling. The program is operated by Virridy Rwanda Ltd in partnership with the Rwanda Environmental Management Authority (REMA) and district governments, and is sustainably financed through carbon credit sales.

Why Amazi Meza for dMRV Pilot?

• Virridy-operated: Direct operational control over sensor deployment, maintenance schedules, and data collection — critical for a pilot where rapid iteration and close coordination are required.
• Scale: 500+ schools today, scaling to 1,500 by 2028, provides a large pool of sites with consistent treatment technology.
• Gold Standard methodology: Already operating under the same “Emission Reductions from Safe Drinking Water Supply” methodology that Pilot 14 targets.
• Classroom deployment: LifeStraw Community filters installed directly in classrooms create a controlled, accessible sampling environment with clear pre- and post-filtration sampling points.
• Source water diversity: Schools across Rwanda draw from a variety of sources, providing a range of pre-treatment water quality for model training.

Sampling Points

Phase 1: Mobile Lume Validation

Approach

A Virridy Rwanda field team travels to schools with portable Lume sensors and CBT kits. At each school, two paired measurements are taken per classroom filter sampled:

Each school visit produces at minimum 2 paired Lume–CBT data points. Schools with multiple classroom filters can yield additional pairs per visit. The dataset grows rapidly compared to fixed-installation approaches.

Data Collection Targets

Phase 1 Results (as of June 2026)

Phase 1 mobile validation is underway across two programs:

Rwanda sites (Amazi Meza)

EP Nyakabungo, EP Nyakabuye, EP Rwishwima, plus warehouse test sites in Kicukiro and Kamonyi districts.

Kenya sites (DRIP)

Isiolo County (Garbatula, Ngaremara), Turkana County (Loima, Turkana South, Turkana West).

Model performance

Live validation results: validation.thelume.ai/cbt

Field Protocol

Mobile Lume + CBT Workflow

Quality Assurance

• Duplicate samples: At 10% of schools, collect duplicate CBTs from the same water source to assess inter-test variability.
• Blank controls: Include field blanks (sterile water through CBT) at least once per sampling day.
• Lume calibration check: Verify Lume baseline against known clean water reference at start of each sampling day.
• Photo documentation: Photograph each sampling point, the treatment unit, and the CBT result for audit trail.

Equipment per Field Team

Daily Throughput

With two Lume sensors and efficient routing between schools, a field team can visit 8–12 schools per day, generating 16–36 paired Lume–CBT samples. A three-week field campaign yields 250–350 paired samples.

Validation Dataset Design

Dataset Structure

Each record in the validation dataset contains:

Model Development Approach

• Training target: log₁₀(MPN+1) via Tobit (right-censored at the CBT upper limit of 100 MPN/100 mL), yielding both continuous estimates and WHO risk category classification.
• Input features: Temperature-corrected fluorescence relative to the unit’s clean-water baseline, the ToF ratio to its baseline, temperature, and fluorescence × temperature. The clean-water baseline is the only per-unit calibration.
• Algorithm: Right-censored regression (Tobit with EM imputation), ridge penalty 0.1. No ML, no ensemble methods, no black-box models. The model is fully specified by an intercept and four coefficients shared by all units.
• Validation: Each sample predicted by a model fitted without its unit and without its sampling day (new sensor, new day), with the cutpoint chosen again in every fold. A second scheme holds out one sampling day for all units.
• Performance: at 10 MPN/100 mL, balanced accuracy 0.93 (95% CI 0.76–0.98), 15 of 16 detected and 55 of 59 correct below; at 1 MPN/100 mL, 0.73. Data at validation.thelume.ai/cbt.

Mobile vs. Fixed Installation

Phase 2: Permanent Installation

Site Selection

Installation Scope

• Lume sensor mounted in the piped flow path at the treated-water output (point of use / point of collection).
• Cellular connectivity for automated data transmission to the Virridy cloud platform.
• Water presence / flow sensor for system uptime (SDWS 27) and dispensed-volume inference (SDWS 23) on the piped system.
• Power solution appropriate to site conditions (rechargeable battery or solar).

O&M Monitoring Capabilities

Automated Alerts

• Water quality alert: WHO risk category exceeds “Low” at the point of use → dispatch the Virridy field team to inspect the system.
• Uptime alert: System offline >48 hours during expected service hours → investigate system status.
• Trend alert: Gradual TLF increase over 7-day window → schedule preventive maintenance or treatment servicing.
• Calibration alert: Sensor diagnostics indicate drift → schedule recalibration or replacement.

Integration with Existing O&M

• Scheduled visits continue: Regular site visits for system maintenance, servicing, and water quality testing remain part of the program.
• Data-driven prioritization: Lume data identifies which systems need urgent attention, allowing maintenance teams to prioritize routes across the service area.
• Continuous evidence between visits: Lume provides day-to-day water quality data rather than a snapshot on visit day.
• CBT cross-checks: During scheduled visits, field teams collect CBT samples at Lume-instrumented sites, providing ongoing validation.

Implementation Timeline

Total timeline: Phase 1 mobile validation completes in ~8–10 weeks. Phase 2 permanent installations follow over an additional 6–8 weeks. Full pilot operational within 4–5 months of launch.

FAR Resolution Evidence

The pilot generates evidence to close all four Forward Action Requirements raised during Pilot 14 approval:

Conformity Status by Requirement

Clause numbers refer to the consultation draft. Status is as of October 2026.

Work Before First Verification

Recognition & Interim Issuance

Recognition of the Lume solution core (6.4–6.5)

A solution provider may be recognized by Gold Standard for a specified solution core at a specified version, entered on a public register for up to three years. A VVB may then rely on the recognition and assess only the deployment. For Lume this would cover Amazi Meza (GS12240), the replicated Rwanda VPAs (GS23187, GS23556) and the DRIP program in Kenya (GS12223) under one assessment of the core. Shared coefficients make this simpler: every unit runs the same model, configured only by its baseline.

Interim Issuance Track (7.3)

Once one verification on the Full Issuance Track has been completed with the solution in operation throughout, monitoring periods of 90 to 730 days may be verified and issued at up to 90% of the verified quantity, with the balance released at the next full verification. Phase 2 continuous monitoring is the precondition.

Work Plan

Consultation Comments

Gold Standard invited views on specific provisions. Virridy’s positions from operating the Lume solution: