WATER SUPPLY; SEWERAGE

Description

Class E03 encompasses technologies and systems for the supply of fresh water and the collection, treatment, and disposal of sewage and wastewater. This includes water intake and storage facilities, distribution networks, treatment plants, sewage collection systems, and purification methods. The classification covers both infrastructure design and mechanical/chemical processes involved in water management, ranging from municipal systems to specialized treatment apparatus, but excludes water purification achieved primarily through chemical reactions (covered under C), which are classified by their chemical nature rather than system architecture.

Filing statistics

CPC E03 recorded 117,617 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023, summed across its 4 subclasses. Annual filings grew from 6,272 in 2013 to 9,747 in 2023 (+55%), peaking at 15,132 applications in 2020. The most active applicants in class E03 are NEOPERL (934 applications), GROHE (870 applications) and TOTO (646 applications).

Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings