Nephros Inc., a water technology company listed on Nasdaq under NEPH, announced its expansion into the Puerto Rican market on February 13, 2026. The company will provide filtration solutions for medical and commercial applications, including ice machines, drinking fountains, bottle fillers, and sterile processing environments. This move addresses a region that has been historically underserved by premium filtration providers.
The importance of this expansion lies in addressing significant public health concerns related to waterborne pathogens and infrastructure-driven water quality challenges in Puerto Rico. Nephros estimates the Puerto Rican market represents a $10 million opportunity across various sectors, with healthcare accounting for $3 million, foodservice for $3 million, hotels for $1 million, other hospitality for $1 million, and service contracts and replacements for $1 million. The company's infection-control filtration solutions offer safeguards for point-of-use purification in drinking water equipment, plumbing outlets, and instrument processing.
Robert Banks, President and CEO of Nephros, stated that Puerto Rico is a massively underserved market for reliable, high-quality filtration, particularly in environments where bacteria and harmful contaminants in water can have serious consequences. The company's entry into Puerto Rico represents a natural extension of its core strategy to leverage technology and execution to meet critical water safety needs. For more information about Nephros, please visit https://nephros.com.
Nephros plans to differentiate its services in Puerto Rico through rapid response and fulfillment from a dedicated inventory network, on-site installation and scheduled filter replacements, and customer support and technical documentation in Spanish. The company will provide point-of-use filtration for microbial control and regulated drinking water contaminants such as lead and PFAS. This localized approach aims to ensure compliance, reliability, and ease of use for customers across the island.
The expansion aligns with Nephros' broader growth strategy to move beyond traditional patient care into adjacent markets supporting water safety within hospitality and foodservice. Banks expressed inspiration from the momentum and cultural pride in Puerto Rico, emphasizing that small, agile companies with the right technology and team can create meaningful impact even in complex, fragmented markets. The latest news and updates relating to Nephros are available in the company's newsroom at https://tinyurl.com/nephnewsroom.
This market entry has implications for public health protection in Puerto Rico, where water quality challenges have persisted. By providing specialized filtration solutions for healthcare facilities, restaurants, hotels, and other commercial establishments, Nephros aims to reduce risks associated with waterborne pathogens and contaminants. The company's focus on Spanish-language support and local service infrastructure represents a tailored approach to market needs that could serve as a model for other underserved regions facing similar water safety challenges.
