Cleanwave

Opening the Cleanwave app for the first time presents a simple map interface. The screen shows your current location and a series of pins marking nearby refill stations. There is no lengthy onboarding process. You grant location permissions, and the app immediately displays the closest places where you can fill your water bottle for free. The design is minimal, focusing on function over form.

The workflow is straightforward. You open the app, and the map centers on your position. Each pin represents a refill point, which could be a public fountain, a partner business, or a hotel that has joined the Cleanwave network. Tapping a pin reveals details about that location: the address, operating hours if available, and sometimes a photo. You can then navigate to that point using your phone's preferred mapping app. The app does not have a built-in navigation system; it relies on external maps.

This simplicity is the app's strength. It does one thing and does it well. There are no social features, no gamification, no unnecessary complexity. You open it, find water, and close it. For travelers and residents in the Balearic Islands, this is exactly what they need. The app removes the friction of searching for drinking water, which in turn reduces the impulse to buy single-use plastic bottles.

How the Map and the Refill Network Work Together

The app's effectiveness depends entirely on the accuracy and completeness of its refill point database. The Cleanwave Foundation has built a network of over 80 refill points across Mallorca, Ibiza, Formentera, and Menorca. These points include public fountains, partner businesses, and hotels. The foundation estimates that since 2017, these fountains have helped avoid the use of more than 3,300,000 plastic bottles.

However, the app is only as good as the data it contains. If a refill point is out of service, or if a new one has been added but not yet included in the app, the user experience suffers. The foundation relies on partnerships and community input to keep the database current. This creates a feedback loop: the more people use the app, the more valuable the data becomes, but the app's utility is also vulnerable to gaps in the network.

Compared to general map apps like Google Maps, which also show water fountains, Cleanwave offers a curated, specialized experience. Google Maps might show a fountain, but it won't tell you if that fountain is part of a plastic-free initiative or if it's maintained by a partner. Cleanwave provides context that turns a simple water stop into a participation in a movement. This is a key differentiator.

The Real-World Performance: What Actually Happens When You Use It

The app performs reliably in terms of locating refill points. Users on the App Store have given it a 4.6 rating from nearly 10,000 reviews, suggesting that it works as advertised. The app is free, with no in-app purchases or subscription tiers. There are no ads, which is a welcome relief in a world of ad-supported utilities.

However, the app's performance is tied to the physical infrastructure. If you are in a remote area without a refill point nearby, the app will show you the closest one, but it might be kilometers away. This is not a flaw in the app; it is a limitation of the network. The app cannot create water where there is none. It can only direct you to existing sources.

One potential issue is that the app requires an internet connection to load the map and refill point data. If you are in an area with poor connectivity, the app may not function properly. This is a common limitation for map-based apps, but it is worth noting. The app does not appear to have an offline mode, which could be a drawback for travelers in remote parts of the islands.

A Specific Technical Detail: Location Permissions and Data Collection

The app requests location permissions to show you nearby refill stations. According to the Play Store's data safety section, the app collects location data and personal information. This data is encrypted in transit, and you can request that the developer delete your data. The developer, Coara OU, does not share this data with third parties.

The app's use of location data is essential for its core function. Without it, the app cannot determine which refill points are closest to you. The permission is requested on first launch, and you can choose to grant it only while using the app or all the time. This is a standard implementation for location-based services.

One technical detail worth noting is the app's version history. The current version is 3.0.52, released on June 15, 2026. The changelog simply states "Minor fixes". This vague description is common for maintenance releases, but it does not provide insight into what was actually fixed. The app's size is approximately 26.94 MB, which is modest for a map-based application. The app requires Android 8.0 or higher, which covers a wide range of devices.