In the ever-evolving world of smart home appliances, robotic cleaning solutions have come a long way from simple robotic vacuums to sophisticated machines that mop, map, and even talk back. But there's one persistent inconvenience that has lingered—dealing with water. From constant refills and draining to complex plumbing installations, water management has long been a stumbling block. Until now.
Meet WaterRecycle™, a breakthrough technology developed by 3i and applied to its flagship, the 3i S10 Ultra, which truly revolutionizes the robot vacuum and mop experience. With its ability to distill and purify dirty water into clean water and extract moisture from the air, WaterRecycle™ takes us one step closer to a “zero-maintenance” home cleaning future.
What Is WaterRecycle™?
At its core, WaterRecycle™ is a self-sustaining base station that completely reimagines how robot vacuums handle water. Developed by smart cleaning innovator 3i, this system does more than just store clean and dirty water—it actively purifies wastewater and recycles it for future use.
Even more impressive, the WaterRecycle™ base station can draw water from the air, eliminating the need for any manual water input over extended periods. Forget the constant cycle of dumping dirty water and refilling clean water! WaterRecycle™ makes that a thing of the past.
It also requires no plumbing, meaning it’s completely standalone and can be placed anywhere in your home. With this innovation, 3i has created the first true zero-maintenance base station for robot vacuums and mops.
The Evolution Behind WaterRecycle™
To truly appreciate how revolutionary WaterRecycle™ is, it's helpful to look back at how robot vacuums and mops have evolved:
- Entry-Level Robot Vacuum Cleaners: These early models lacked base station water tanks. Users had to manually fill and empty the robot’s tiny onboard tank every time—time-consuming and inconvenient.
- Basic Base Stations: The next generation introduced clean and dirty water tanks in the base, cutting down on user effort—but still requiring frequent maintenance.
- Auto Refill & Drain Systems: These more advanced stations automated refills and drainage but often required plumbing—a costly and fixed setup that limited placement options.
- WaterRecycle™: A truly autonomous, plumbing-free system that not only recycles used water but also generates clean water from air. It’s the ultimate leap in hands-free cleaning technology.
While each generation brought incremental improvements, WaterRecycle™ marks a transformation—not just in cleaning, but in the way we interact with smart home devices.
How Does WaterRecycle™ Work?
WaterRecycle™ employs a two-part purification and generation system that both recycles used water and harvests fresh water from the air.
Distillation-Based Water Recycling
WaterRecycle™ purifies dirty mop water through a sub-boiling distillation process. Here’s how it works:
Step 1: The robot vacuum collects dirty mop water and sends it back to the base station.
Step 2: The station heats the wastewater to 90°C, turning it into steam while leaving behind dirt and contaminants.
Step 3: That steam passes into a condenser, where it's cooled and turned back into sterile, distilled water.
Step 4: The distilled water is then stored in the clean water tank, ready for the next mop session.
Atmospheric Water Harvesting
Through the 3i app, users can enable water generation from the air option. The system can pull water directly from the air using a condenser-compressor system. Here’s how:
Step 1: Air enters the condenser system, which extracts water vapor from the surrounding atmosphere.
Step 2: That water vapor is condensed into liquid form, filtered, and stored in the clean tank.
Step 3: The robot uses this fresh water to continue mopping—no user interaction needed.
This dual system ensures a virtually endless cleaning cycle without user intervention.
Why WaterRecycle™ Is a Game-Changer
Truly Hands-Free: No More Dumping or Refilling
Most robot vacuums still require you to refill clean water and empty dirty tanks every 2–3 days. That’s not truly autonomous. With WaterRecycle™, those interruptions disappear. Its advanced purification and air-to-water generation system means your robot can clean for extended periods without you lifting a finger. Whether you’re away on vacation or simply tired of daily upkeep, this is the ultimate hands-off solution.
Always Clean Water, Always Safe Floors
Cleaning with dirty water defeats the purpose. That’s why WaterRecycle™ uses a triple purification system—a silver ion module, carbon rod, and cleaning solution—to ensure every drop of water is crystal clean and hygienic before it reaches your floors. The result? Healthier surfaces, longer-lasting floor finishes, and peace of mind every time your robot mops.
No Plumbing, No Problem
High-end stations that auto-drain and refill typically require permanent plumbing—meaning costly installations, limited placement, and added complexity. WaterRecycle™ breaks free from those limitations. It’s 100% standalone and plumbing-free, allowing you to place it wherever it's most convenient. Just plug it in and go. It’s smart cleaning—without the home renovation.
Odor-Free, Germ-Free, Worry-Free
Stale water tanks can quickly turn into breeding grounds for bacteria, mold, and unpleasant odors—especially if forgotten for even a few days. WaterRecycle™ avoids that entirely. By distilling wastewater and sealing off leftover solids, it neutralizes smells and stops germs in their tracks. Your base stays clean, your home stays fresh, and you never have to deal with foul tank odors again.
Whether you’re tired of dumping dirty water, can’t (or don’t want to) install plumbing, or just want a smarter solution, WaterRecycle™ is the next step in home cleaning evolution. Let your robot vacuum clean smarter—and let you do less.
S10 Ultra WaterRecycle™ Floor Washing Robot Vacuum
Pair the revolutionary WaterRecycle™ base with a powerful robot vacuum, and you’ve got a cleaning powerhouse 3i robot vacuum S10 Ultra. The S10 Ultra doesn’t just clean—it redefines what a smart robot vacuum can do:
- No more water changes with the world’s first WaterRecycle™ station
- 330 RPM roller mop self-cleans on the go using a water-detergent mix
- Ultra-powerful suction lifts dirt from deep floor crevices
- Advanced green light detection reveals even unseen dust
- Never gets stuck with dToF LiDAR navigation and AI obstacle avoidance
- Fully automated from dustbin emptying to detergent dispensing
- Dual-comb design prevents hair tangles—no more frequent brush cleaning
FAQs
Q: How clean is the distilled water?
A: Through 90°C sub-boiling distillation, water molecules evaporate into steam, which is drawn into the condenser and turned into clean distilled water that flows back into the clean water tank. For added cleanliness, the tank features a silver ion module and a deodorizing module for further purification. With auto detergent dispensing, the final water-detergent mix remains exceptionally clean for floor washing.
* WaterRecycle™ effectively removes 99.99% of E. coli, according to testing performed by GIMG.
Q: Where do the solid dirt residues go after distillation?
A: After wastewater is distilled in the temperature-controlled distillation tank, the remaining solid and semi-solid dirt, such as hair and grease, is scraped off, shredded, aerosolized, and collected into the base station’s dust bag.
Q: Do I need to empty anything manually?
A: Solid waste and dust are collected into a 2.5L sealed dust bag that typically needs to be replaced only once every 60 days.
Q: How fast does it generate water from the air?
A: Generally, when the relative humidity is above 30% and the ambient temperature is above 17°C, the water generation can be used normally. According to 3i’s in-house testing, about 100g of water can be generated per hour when the relative humidity is around 60%-70% and the temperature is between 25-30°C.
Q: Is the water generated from the air process noisy?
A: The water generation process is quiet and unobtrusive, suitable for use in bedrooms or shared spaces without disruption. If you prefer a quieter environment, you can turn off the water generation function through the 3i app.
