Thermal desalination lost the water industry to reverse osmosis on one number: boiling seawater takes about ten times more energy than pushing it through a membrane. So why is one of the 20 teams left in the XPRIZE Water Scarcity competition still betting on heat?

Desolenator is a Dutch water tech company that desalinates with heat instead of pressure, running on solar energy and industrial waste heat rather than grid electricity. Its hybrid panel harvests electricity and thermal energy from the same sunlight, recovers the latent heat of its own steam, and can run to zero liquid discharge, leaving salt instead of brine. Four patents, and a scale-up from 25 to 100, then 1,000 cubic metres a day.

William Janssen built the first proof of principle in his living room and kept the distilled water in his freezer as proof. He won 100,000 euros at Climate Launchpad, was picked up by the Dubai Future Accelerator and Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, and delivered plants in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Desolenator is chaired by Paddy Padmanathan, who led ACWA Power for 18 years and made it the world's largest desalination company.

🌶️ KEY SPICES 🌶️

🌡️ Why thermal desalination's ten-times energy penalty disappears when the heat is "chaleur fatale", the waste heat industry pays to throw away

🔌 How a phone call about data centre cooling became patent number four: one heat pump worked from BOTH sides, lifting 50°C exhaust to the 70°C a distiller needs

🌱 Why farmers around Al Ain are salting the aquifer they irrigate from, and how zero liquid discharge breaks that loop

📉 Paddy Padmanathan on the cost curve he signed himself: $2.50 per cubic metre in 2005, $0.46 on his last ACWA Power contract in 2023, and why it still isn't solved

🏆 What William answers when asked point blank whether Desolenator wins the XPRIZE: two words no founder is supposed to say

🥜 IN A NUTSHELL 🥜

What is thermal desalination, and how does it differ from reverse osmosis?

Thermal desalination makes fresh water by evaporating seawater and condensing the steam, the way rain works, while reverse osmosis pushes seawater through a fine membrane under pressure. Reverse osmosis uses roughly ten times less energy and won the municipal market, but it needs electricity, while thermal desalination runs on the low-grade heat industry already wastes.

Can solar energy power desalination?

Yes. Desolenator's panels harvest electricity and heat from the same sunlight and buffer both, which is how its Dubai plant hit the benchmark set by Dubai Electricity and Water Authority: 10 cubic metres a day, 20 hours a day, year-round.

What is zero liquid discharge, and why does it matter for water scarcity?

Zero liquid discharge recovers all the water from a stream and leaves solid salt instead of brine. It matters where brine has nowhere to go: around Al Ain, farmers desalinate saline groundwater and flush the concentrate back into the aquifer, making it saltier each year.

Is thermal desalination a good water investment in 2026?

It depends on scale and free heat. Desolenator draws its own fence at 100 million litres a day, above which membranes win. Its CapEx runs higher than conventional quotes and its OpEx dramatically lower, so the economics favour industrial sites with waste heat or land for solar, and buyers needing zero liquid discharge.

️⃣ Mentioned Links #️⃣

Desolenator - desolenator.com

Why Elon Musk's Desalination Vision is Failing - watch on YouTube

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FREE TOOL ➡️ Get your water tech pitch reviewed: https://app.leviathandata.io/pitch-deck-analyzer

More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

See how the Northumbrian Water Innovation Festival brings together creative minds in Newcastle for collaborative problem solving.

Watch the energy of this unique event.

This episode takes you inside the Northumbrian Water Innovation Festival to show how large groups tackle industry challenges through structured collaboration.

You will see firsthand how participants move from concept to practical solutions using specific frameworks like sprint tents and the Crystal Ball method.

Whether you are interested in corporate innovation or local Newcastle events, this footage highlights the collaborative process in action.

It is designed for professionals and curious viewers who want to observe how collaborative problem-solving works in a real-world setting, moving beyond traditional meeting rooms to open, creative environments.

If you enjoyed seeing how an Innovation Festival operates, subscribe for weekly industry event recaps, and let us know in the comments if you prefer structured workshops or free-form brainstorming sessions.

️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

Design Thinking with Lea im Obersteg: https://dww.show/who/lea-im-obersteg/

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 The Northumbrian Water Innovation Festival

03:55 Inside Tent 15

04:32 Design Sprint Crash Course

06:13 South Bend Smart Sewer Origin

09:18 UK Spill Crisis Context

11:25 Power of Ten Ambition

13:30 Reality Check and Tease

14:27 Beetroot Break

15:21 Adoption Workshop Takeaways

20:39 Why Tents Work

21:23 NUAR Billion Dollar Story

24:55 Festival Scale and Impact

28:50 Wrap Up and Reflections

30:31 Free Tool

About this Podcast:

Welcome to the (don't) Waste Water podcast, the leading podcast for water industry professionals, investors, and entrepreneurs seeking deep insights into water tech innovation, investment trends, and strategic moves in the sector. Host Antoine Walter blends his technical expertise with sharp business acumen to deliver weekly episodes featuring candid conversations with C-suite executives, detailed analysis of major water industry developments, and practical insights for water tech startups and seasoned players alike.

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How did HG Ventures quietly become one of the most active water tech investors on the planet, without even calling itself a water VC?

HG Ventures is the corporate venture capital arm of The Heritage Group, a 100-year-old, family-owned Indianapolis conglomerate active in asphalt, quarries, environmental services and specialty chemicals. With $350M in assets, the fund deploys around $50M a year across 41 portfolio companies and 7 sectors, and ranks 5th globally in water tech by deal count despite water being only 18% of its thesis.

Ginger Rothrock holds a PhD in chemistry from UNC Chapel Hill, co-founded the NASDAQ-listed pharmaceutical company Liquidia, was promoted to Managing Director of HG Ventures in December 2025, and is a Global Corporate Venturing Rising Star and Kauffman Fellow with deep expertise in industrial water, industrial wastewater treatment, and corporate venture capital in cleantech.

🌶️ KEY SPICES 🌶️

🏗️ How a 100-year-old asphalt-and-quarries empire ended up running one of the most active water tech portfolios on the planet

🧪 Why a PhD chemist with 75 R&D scientists down the hallway puts technology last, and storytelling first, when she evaluates water tech founders

💧 How HG Ventures built its industrial wastewater treatment, industrial water reuse and zero liquid discharge thesis from the inside out

⚡ Why a 4-person investment team and a 2-month decision cycle out-deal-flow every other corporate venture capital fund in the water industry

🎯 Why Ginger Rothrock calls the water industry "inevitable", and how HG Ventures is positioning for the next decade of water tech exits

🥜 IN A NUTSHELL 🥜

Who are the biggest water tech investors and venture capital firms in 2026?

The most active water tech investors by deal count are Burnt Island Ventures, Echo River Capital, PureTerra Ventures, Emerald Technology Ventures, and HG Ventures, the corporate venture capital arm of The Heritage Group, ranked 5th globally despite water being only 18% of its thesis.

What is corporate venture capital (CVC) and how does it differ from traditional venture capital?

Corporate venture capital is venture investing from inside a corporation rather than from an independent fund, which means a CVC like HG Ventures can hold portfolio companies for a decade or more without the LP pressure that kills the average CVC at year four.

How do you pitch a venture capital firm to fund a water tech startup?

Most water tech VCs filter pitches on whether the fund can actually help you commercially, whether you understand the market problem (especially who your real competition is), and whether you can tell a clear story under five minutes, and most water tech founders lose by leading with the technology.

Is the water industry a good long-term investment in 2026?

Yes, water tech venture capital deal counts have quadrupled since 2018, but capital flows mostly through specialist venture capital, corporate venture capital and private equity rather than the public market, because most water stocks underperformed in the 2020s.

What is industrial water reuse, and what is zero liquid discharge?

Industrial water reuse is treating a facility's wastewater on-site and recycling it back into the process, while zero liquid discharge is the extreme version where 100% of the water is recovered, and both are accelerating because of rising freshwater costs, tightening discharge regulations and corporate ESG targets.

️⃣ Mentioned Links #️⃣

HG Ventures — hgventures.com

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The First Water Sector Unicorn Wants to IPO. But Wall Street kinda forgot how to buy water...

Early-stage water tech funding quadrupled in seven years. Private equity's share of water M&A doubled in a decade, with a record 165 PE-led acquisitions in a single year. The bench of PE-owned water platforms grew from 42 companies in 2015 to nearly 600 in 2025. And the sector just minted its first twice-unicorn - Gradiant - with a Series E at a $2 billion valuation on Day 1 of the Global Water Summit 2026! So, will Gradiant IPO?

Four all-time highs at once... but the fifth dimension - the public market - went the other way. IPOs in the 2020s are a pale echo of the 2010. So I flew to Madrid to ask the people building the machine (the VCs, the PE platforms, the strategics, the bankers, the entrepreneurs) a single question: is this closed-loop water-capital machine a feature of a mature sector, or a $300 billion pressure cooker about to crack?

🌶️ KEY SPICES 🌶️

💵 108 funding rounds in early-stage water tech in 2025 alone vs. 33 in 2018: 3.3× the count and roughly 5× the dollars

🏗️ 42 → ~600 PE-owned water platforms in a decade, with 165 PE acquisitions in 2025 (the most ever)... but 80 of them sub-$10M targets: high velocity, low ticket

🦄 Gradiant's Series E at $2B valuation announced Day 1 of GWS 2026. What Anurag Bajpayee told me: "We have to be ready to go public because we want to control our destiny"

💰 Four specialist water VC funds raising at the exact same time: a feature or a weakness?

🏢 Summa Equity (€10B+ Nordic thematic PE) entering water for the first time, targeting the missing middle

🥜 IN A NUTSHELL 🥜

Is water tech actually a good investment in 2026? Water-tech venture capital just hit an all-time high. Early-stage funding rounds quadrupled in seven years (from 33 in 2018 to 108 in 2025) and total water VC inflow exceeded $1 billion in 2024. Private equity also set a record with 165 water-company acquisitions in 2025, roughly double its 2015 share of the market. The catch: with almost zero water IPOs in a decade, investor returns flow mostly through PE-to-PE handoffs and strategic acquisitions, not the public market.

What is Gradiant and why does its $2 billion Series E matter? Gradiant is a Boston-area water-treatment company specializing in industrial-water reuse, brine management, and ultrapure water for semiconductor and AI data-center fabs. They just announced a Series E at a $2 billion valuation, making it water tech's first twice-unicorn. CEO Anurag Bajpayee announced on camera that the company is preparing to go public, which would be the first venture-stage water IPO in over a decade.

Why are there no water IPOs if the sector is growing so fast? The public-market track record is brutal. Of Global Water Intelligence's 2022 list of 30 listed water stocks, 21 lost more than two-thirds of their value by 2026. The listed water universe is small (about 139 stocks worth roughly $122 billion in total) and too illiquid to absorb new venture-stage water IPOs. Instead, the sector built its own private-market exit machine.

️⃣ Mentioned Links #️⃣

WTF Is Happening with Water Stocks? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Flen_vwx0kQ

5 Water Tech Investment Facts (that will blow your mind): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCfcigu_oPQ

Global Water Intelligence — globalwaterintel.com (check out their new WIN and Euro WIN AI platforms!)

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On April 30, 2026, CRH plc (NYSE: CRH) announced a $700 million agreement to acquire Axius Water from KKR and XPV Water Partners - instantly making the Irish-American building materials giant one of the largest water infrastructure players in North America. If CRH acquires Axius, what's next?

Most investors missed it, so I thought I'd decode it!

Here are the 10 things you need to see.

So you got it, CRH acquires Axius. Here's the deal in 30 seconds:

• Buyer: CRH plc - a $77B market cap building materials company most water investors don't track

• Target: Axius Water - a wastewater treatment platform built by KKR and XPV Water Partners through a multi-year roll-up

• Price: $700M (reported)

• Sellers: KKR (Global Impact Fund) and XPV Water Partners

• Strategic logic: bolts wastewater treatment onto CRH's existing water infrastructure portfolio (Hydro International, Oldcastle Infrastructure)

What's actually new here - and why it matters for water investors:

00:00 - On your Bingo Card?

02:30 #1: The Cast

07:35 #2: The Substance

11:40 #3: The Number

16:23 #4: The Timing

20:54 #5: The Macro Reality

24:40 #6: The Credibility

28:26 #7: Inside the Platform

32:28 #8: The Synergy Story

35:17 #9: The Risks

39:58 #10: The Sector Signal

📰 Sources & further reading:

• CRH Q1 2026 earnings call transcript: https://www.crh.com/investors/results-presentations/

• KKR Global Impact Fund: https://www.kkr.com/approach/sustainability/sustainable-investing/trends

• XPV Water Partners portfolio: https://xpvwaterpartners.com/companies

• Axius Water: https://www.axiuswater.com/

• My newsletter on Water Infrastructure: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/us-water-bill-4x-what-everyone-thinks-antoine-walter-3rqnc/

🎙️ If we don't know each other, Hi, I'm Antoine Walter! I help newcomer investors decode the water tech sector. Each week, I break down a water deal (like here, when CRH acquires Axius), technology, or company through an investor-forward lens. No acronyms, no jargon (hopefully) just the signals that matter.

🔔 Subscribe for weekly water investment briefs: youtube.com/channel/UCsMC1BYAun2JtMT177jTGOw/

🎧 Podcast version: https://feed.ausha.co/br23DCZ1GnG3

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1

⚠️ Disclaimer: This video is for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing here constitutes investment advice. Always do your own research.

CRH #AxiusWater #KKR #XPVWaterPartners #WaterInvesting #WaterMA #WaterStocks #WaterInfrastructure #WastewaterTreatment #WaterTech #PrivateEquity #ImpactInvesting #ESG #WaterSector

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Everyone says AI is drinking the planet dry, right? Well, the numbers say your morning coffee uses 29,600× more water than a ChatGPT prompt!

In this episode, I sit down with Alex Passini to pressure-test the dominant narrative around AI's water footprint - and what we found completely flips the story the media is telling.

Here's what most "AI water crisis" headlines miss:

→ A single ChatGPT prompt uses roughly 16 milliliters of water. One cup of coffee uses ~140 liters when you count the beans. That's a 29,600× gap.

→ Of the water a hyperscale data center consumes, ~75% isn't used by AI at all — it's used upstream for the energy that powers it. Blame the grid, not the GPU.

→ One banana = ~6,250 ChatGPT prompts. One almond = ~12 prompts. The water-per-prompt math is rounding-error territory next to your lunch.

→ Florida already reuses 800 million gallons/day of treated wastewater. Data centers aren't the threat - they're an accelerant for the water reuse capex the sector has been waiting twenty years for.

If you're an investor trying to figure out whether AI's water story is a real thesis or a media artifact, this episode gives you the framework (and the numbers) to decide.

🧠 What you'll learn:

Why "data center water consumption" and "AI water consumption" are not the same thing
The actual per-prompt footprint of generative AI (modeled, not estimated)
How water reuse technology turns the alarmist narrative into an investment opportunity
Where the real bottleneck sits - and which sub-sectors stand to benefit

🎙️ Guest: Alex Passini (https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexpassini/)

Alex is Vice President of Business Development at CSA Group

CSA Group is hiring: https://csagroup.com/careers/

(I promised Alex in the podcast to put this in the show notes!)

📰 The newsletter behind the show: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/don-t-waste-water-6884833968848474112/

🎧 Podcast feed: https://feed.ausha.co/br23DCZ1GnG3

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

🔔 Subscribe if you want the unfiltered, numerate take on water sector investing - no jargon, no acronym soup, just the asymmetric bets worth pricing.

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Every analyst, every think tank, every consulting deck has an opinion on AI's water footprint (and overall on AI and Water)

But nobody bothered to ask the people actually watching the videos, posting the comments, and shaping the narrative. You'd need to be mad to do that, right?

So I read 2,540 of them. 😅

Across 9 of the most-watched YouTube videos on AI water consumption, and overall on AI and Water.

Here's what I found:

1️⃣ The public is right about geography. Boardman, Oregon, shows up at 80 comments per minute for a reason.

2️⃣ The public is right about the executives. The -0.20 sentiment around Sam Altman's "one-fifteenth of a teaspoon" line is actually a signal.

3️⃣ The public is wrong about closed-loop cooling. The most-liked comment on the entire dataset? Hank Green publicly correcting himself. 13,000 likes for "I was wrong."

4️⃣ And the public is missing the bigger story almost entirely — the one that's about to constrain AI before water ever does.

This is the third and final chapter of a trilogy on AI, water, and the trillion-dollar infrastructure thesis hiding behind the headlines - basically on AI and Water:

📍 Part 1 - Data Center Consumption DOESN'T Matter... But Discharge Does! → [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1o-cdb8xzZ0

📍 Part 2 - The 2027 Deadline That's About to Reprice Water Companies → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PKHUo6q5gw

📍 Part 3 - You're watching it 😅

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 — Nobody asked. So I did.

01:44 — The dataset: 2,540 comments, 9 videos, 1 spreadsheet

03:58 — What the public got wrong (closed-loop cooling and the misleading-true problem)

07:07 — The most-liked comment on AI water — and why it matters

10:53 — What everyone is missing

🔬 Methodology 2,540 individual comments analyzed 9 source videos (the most-viewed English-language content on AI water consumption as of) Sentiment scoring + theme clustering done manually, then cross-checked

🏷️ Topics covered AI water consumption · AI water usage · data center cooling · AI environmental impact · closed-loop cooling · AI energy consumption · water sector investing · sustainability · generative AI infrastructure · AI data center water · Sam Altman water · Boardman Oregon data centers

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Who Buys the First Data Center Water Company? And When Does the Repricing Start?

Data center water treatment is a $1.1 billion market growing nearly 15% per year, with 60% of spending recurring - generating an "infinite money glitch" for the righty designed water tech companies. So, strategic buyers, private equity sponsors, and VC-backed platforms are racing to consolidate water tech expertise. Meanwhile, hyperscalers spending $50 billion a year on infrastructure have made zero water acquisitions... for how long?

🌶️ KEY SPICES 🌶️

💵 A $660M recurring-revenue pocket nobody priced as SaaS - 60% of data center water spend is OPEX, not capex (Sustainability at its best)

🏗️ AEA Investors' CRB Water playbook: a $13.2M Missouri distributor turned national data center water platform in 24 months through five add-on acquisitions

📈 Evoqua's 17x EBITDA exit to Xylem in 2023 as the template - and AEA ran that play too

🌐 Microsoft's water use efficiency (WUE, liters per kWh of compute) sits at 0.2, roughly 5x better than Google's 0.96 and 6.5x better than Apple's 1.3

🏢 Amazon's Kiva Systems DNA applied to water: write the blueprint internally, then acquire the builder when the capability becomes competitively load-bearing

⏱️ A 2027 zero-water pledge deadline creating a hard two-year window for Microsoft 🎯 The short list of acquisition targets: Gradiant, CRB Water, Infinite Cooling, Uravu Labs

🥜 IN A NUTSHELL 🥜

Why is data center water treatment the fastest-growing industrial water vertical? At $1.1B in 2024 and above 13% annual growth (roughly double any other industrial water segment) demand tracks the $50B/year hyperscaler capex directly.

Who's actually buying so far? Ecolab (~$7B combined on CoolIT Systems and Ovivo's electronics division), Xylem (Vacom Systems at $42M), Kemira (Water Engineering Inc. at $150M, 2.5x revenue), EQT Infrastructure (Seven Seas Water at roughly $1B), and AEA Investors (Chemtron RiverBend plus five add-ons, now CRB Water).

What makes the hyperscalers different? They spend $50B/year on data centers and run extensive water partnerships and VC positions, but have not acquired a single water company. Yet?

Why does this matter for investors? When the first hyperscaler moves, water companies with data center exposure reprice from the 7.5x EBITDA sector median to 15-20x+ strategic-platform multiples.

Who are the likely targets? Gradiant ($330M raised, 23 products, nine acquisitions, Counter-Flow RO at 99% recovery), CRB Water (PE exit setup), Aquatech or Saltworks Technologies (in the "right brain" approach), Infinite Cooling, Uravu Labs or AirJoule Technologies in the "left brain" one.

️⃣ Mentioned Links #️⃣

The PE Water Platforms Nobody's Talking About Yet - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1o78cgd5Hs
AEA Investors - aeainvestors.com
CRB Water - https://www.crbwater.com/
My conversation with Prakash Govindan (Gradiant) - https://youtu.be/Hpk_gPjm_1s?si=d_I3gYuYLYudBmQK

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What Is the Real Water Problem Behind AI Data Centers - and Where Is the $1.3 Billion Opportunity?

AI Water seems to concern everybody, while data center water treatment is the fastest-growing industrial water vertical in the world - $1.35 billion in 2025, growing at 13.3% per year. But the media is chasing the wrong story. The real problem isn’t consumption volume — it’s the concentrated industrial wastewater that cooling towers produce. This episode maps the opportunity most investors are missing. A

🌶️ KEY SPICES 🌶️

💧 American lawns consume 49 times more water than every AI data center in the US combined - so why is the media only alarmed about servers?

🏭 Cooling towers evaporate pure water and discharge “blowdown” - industrial wastewater concentrated at 3-5x intake levels that almost nobody covers

💰 Ecolab acquired CoolIT Systems for $4.75 billion at 25x revenue, assembling a $10.5 billion integrated stack from resin to chip to managed service

📉 Zero hyperscalers (Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta) have acquired a single water treatment company despite spending $50B/year on data center construction

📊 The EU has capped data center water usage at 0.4 L/kWh in water-stressed areas — the installed base runs at 2.3-3.8, creating a 6-10x compliance gap

🥜 IN A NUTSHELL 🥜

Why do American lawns matter in a video about AI water? Turfgrass consumes roughly 12 billion cubic meters per year, 49 times more than all US data centers combined — context that reframes the media’s breathless AI-water coverage.

What is “blowdown” and why should investors care? Evaporative cooling towers discharge concentrated wastewater at 3-5x intake levels containing salts, silica, and treatment chemicals — this industrial waste stream scales linearly with every hyperscale facility under construction, creating a $1.35 billion treatment market growing at 13.3% per year.

Why did Ecolab pay $4.75 billion for CoolIT at 25x revenue? Liquid cooling eliminates evaporation but creates a new treatment market for closed-loop fluid chemistry, and Ecolab has spent $10.5 billion since 2021 assembling the only complete stack from ion exchange resin to GPU cold plate to managed service contract for AI Water

Why haven’t hyperscalers acquired a water company? Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta have vertically integrated into chips, power, and fiber — but zero water acquisitions appear in the global M&A record, even as institutional capital poured $13.5 billion into water deals in 2025 alone.

️⃣ Mentioned Links #️⃣

📌 Arthur D. Little: “AI’s Hidden Dependencies” report: https://www.adlittle.com/sites/default/files/2026-01/BLUE_SHIFT_AI_hidden_dependencies.pdf

📌 GWI's data center rubric: https://www.globalwaterintel.com/industries/data-centres

📌 Ecolab CoolIT acquisition announcement: https://tinyurl.com/fa34yeht

📌 The Ecolab/Ovivo deal, decoded: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1o78cgd5Hs

📌 My deep dive on H2O Innovation (and what we learn about platform building): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOvJK8BnOJo

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Why Did a Broke Football Club Owned by Gucci's Family Invest Millions in Water Reuse?

Stade Rennais, the French football club owned by the Pinault family behind Kering (Gucci, Balenciaga, Bottega Veneta...), buried a €1.5 million closed-loop water system under its renovated La Piverdière training complex in February 2025. This investment, during French football's worst financial crisis, reveals a widening gap between what water costs and what water is truly worth - using water reuse as its vehicle.

🌶️ KEY SPICES 🌶️

⚽ How French football's TV rights collapsed from €1.1B to €142M — a 90% decline that's forcing clubs to cancel flights and lay off staff

💧 Why a closed-loop water system with a 20-year payback was approved during an existential financial crisis (and what water reuse enables)

🏗️ The three hidden "currencies" — drought insurance, brand equity, and regulatory preemption — that never show up on a utility invoice

📉 Why a €14M goalkeeper depreciates 43% in a year while the pipes beneath him appreciate for decades

💰 How BCG projects $7 trillion in returns from $1 trillion in water infrastructure investment, yet less than 1% of climate tech VC flows to water

📊 The 10-100x gap between what water costs (€4.70/m³) and what water is actually worth

🥜 IN A NUTSHELL 🥜

Why did Rennes invest in water during a financial crisis? The Pinault family signed off on a €1.5-2M closed-loop water system not for the €100K/year savings, but for drought insurance, brand alignment with Kering's sustainability thesis, and regulatory positioning ahead of France's Plan Eau.

How bad is French football's financial situation? TV rights revenues collapsed from €1.1 billion to roughly €142 million per year after the Mediapro deal fell apart, and the financial watchdog projects combined Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 losses of €1.2 billion for 2025 alone.

What's the connection between Gucci and water infrastructure? Kering's tanneries must cut absolute water consumption 35% by 2035, making the football club's water loop a visible demonstration that the Pinault ecosystem practices what the luxury division preaches.

Why is water so underpriced? France charges €4.70 per cubic meter regardless of the customer's actual value at stake, creating a 10-100x gap between price and worth — a structural underpricing that BCG's 7:1 return ratio confirms across global water infrastructure.

Is water a good investment opportunity? Despite a projected 7:1 return ratio, less than 1% of climate tech venture capital goes to water while energy captures 25% with only a 6:1 ratio — a structural imbalance that early-stage reuse deals are starting to correct.

️⃣ Mentioned Links #️⃣

🔗 Podcast Episode: Water's Place in the Global Economy with Nicolas Lei Ravello https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5Ayc94bNf0

🔗 Podcast Episode: Amazon and Water https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jN6sHC45DRo

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How Much Does The USA Really Need to Fix Its Water Infrastructure? And Why Is Nobody Talking About the Real Number? (Hint: the US EPA has it wrong!)

I built a bottom-up predictive model spanning 32 federal datasets, 433,000 water systems, and 15.1 million regulatory violations to determine the true cost of bringing US water infrastructure back to shape. The answer: $3.9 trillion over twenty years (that's three times the EPA's official estimate of $1.25 trillion)

🌶️ KEY SPICES 🌶️

📊 A model reproducing the US EPA's own $625B drinking water estimate with 0.00% deviation - then extending it to domains the surveys structurally omit
🔧 $1.63 trillion in physical pipe failures that no federal survey captures - cast iron mains break 10x more than modern plastic
🏚️ 5,112 wastewater plants "rotting in place" serving 22 million Americans - the US EPA says $8.5B, the real number is $80B
💰 Full cost-recovery requires a $26/m³ tariff - roughly $310/month per household, which is 4.4x today's rate (will anyone pay for that?)
🧪 $139 billion for PFAS compliance, absent from all current federal estimates (no scandal, makes sense!)
📈 PE-backed platforms (CSWR, Nexus Water Group, Inframark) are silently consolidating the fragmented utility tail (and it's a good thing!)

🥜 IN A NUTSHELL 🥜

How big is the real infrastructure gap? The combined water and wastewater need is $3.9 trillion over twenty years, three times the EPA's $1.25 trillion official estimate.

Why is the EPA's number so low? The surveys ask utilities what they plan to spend, not what aging infrastructure physically demands - and they cover only 891 of approximately 39,500 small water systems.

What about pipes? One-third of America's 2.2 million miles of water mains are over 50 years old, and 860,000 miles need replacement at roughly $1 million per mile - a $1.6 trillion bill the surveys entirely miss.

Is the gap closing? No - drinking water coverage stays locked at 28 cents per dollar across every twenty-year window, and wastewater coverage actually deteriorates from 16 to 14 cents per dollar by the 2040s.

Where does this leave investors? Consolidation is accelerating - American Water Works and Essential Utilities are merging into a $63 billion entity, PE platforms are rolling up rural systems, and water tariffs grow at 4.77% annually, well above inflation.

️⃣ Mentioned Links #️⃣

Water Finance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sd2tCuwMKfk
PFAS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sd2tCuwMKfk
Utah State University 2023 Break Rate Study: https://engineering.usu.edu/news/main-feed/2024/new-report-says-lack-of-funding-for-critical-water-mains-is-452-billion-over-260000-breaks-annually
ASCE 2025 Infrastructure Report Card: https://infrastructurereportcard.org/
Global Water Intelligence's tariff survey: https://www.globalwaterintel.com/documents/tariff-survey-2025

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Can Europe's Sewage Plants Replace Russian Gas? (aka: the €1.9 Billion Biomethane Opportunity)

Europe's wastewater treatment plants are sitting on a massive untapped energy reserve. With the right upgrades, roughly 1,900 facilities across Europe could produce 13.4 billion cubic meters of biomethane per year — matching Russia's remaining pipeline gas deliveries in 2024. Let me break down the economics, the technology, and the investment landscape driving this shift.

🌶️ KEY SPICES 🌶️

⛽ One oil price spike dropped profitable plant thresholds by 15-47% and made ~600 additional facilities viable for biomethane grid injection overnight

📊 Only 30% of cost-competitive plants have installed grid injection equipment — Denmark leads at 88%, Poland trails at 6.7% ⚖️ The EU's recast Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive mandates energy neutrality by 2045, creating a regulatory demand floor independent of gas prices

🏭 Cambi's thermal hydrolysis revenue trajectory points to their first €100M year, with EBITDA jumping from near-zero to €20M in two years

💰 NextGen biogas companies are funded by energy infrastructure capital (ENGIE, Pennybacker, Hitachi), not water-focused VCs

🥜 IN A NUTSHELL 🥜

Why did 600 European wastewater plants suddenly become profitable gas producers? The Iran-triggered gas crisis pushed TTF prices from €32 to €60 per MWh, dropping minimum viable plant sizes by 15-47% and making biomethane grid injection economically attractive across most of Europe.

How much gas could European wastewater produce? Europe's ~1,900 unequipped wastewater plants could produce 13.4 billion cubic meters of biomethane per year, equivalent to Russia's 2024 pipeline gas to Europe, worth €1.9 billion annually.

What is the regulatory driver behind this shift? The EU's November 2024 recast of the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive mandates energy neutrality for all European wastewater utilities by 2045, making biogas production a compliance requirement regardless of gas prices.

Who is winning in the biogas technology space? Cambi leads thermal hydrolysis with revenue potentially reaching €100M, while Veolia and SKion Water pursue platform approaches. Anaergia's bankruptcy serves as a cautionary tale that timing matters as much as thesis.

Where is the investment capital coming from? Energy infrastructure funds and corporate venture arms (ENGIE New Ventures, Pennybacker Capital, Hitachi) dominate NextGen biogas funding, while traditional water VCs remain largely absent from the space.

Europe faces a significant energy challenge, highlighted by a potential natural gas shortage following recent events. This situation underscores the broader global energy crisis and its impact on energy markets. We also touch upon the unusual idea of Europe's sewage as a potential gas source, a concept that could impact oil and gas discussions moving forward. The discussion includes analysis from the International Energy Agency regarding supply disruptions and an update on the iran war.

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How Did Pierre Côté Build Two Unicorn Water Technologies - and Why Is He Now Betting on Algae?

Pierre Côté is arguably the most successful water technology inventor alive. With over 100 patents across four decades, he created ZeeWeed (the membrane that launched the $3.63 billion MBR market) and co-invented ZeeLung (anchoring the ~$500 million MABR market). Now in his seventies, he's co-founded AlgaFilm Technologies to tackle nutrient removal with algae biofilm.

🌶️ KEY SPICES 🌶️

🧬 Two unicorn technologies from one inventor — ZeeWeed created the MBR category ($3.63B market), ZeeLung anchors MABR (~$500M and growing)

💰 $689 million exit — GE Water acquired Zenon in 2006 at 3.29x revenue, despite Zenon being loss-making

🌿 AlgaFilm's Algae Forest — patented inverted-cone photobioreactors with 12:1 surface-area-to-footprint ratio, claiming 80% energy reduction

📊 Forced regulatory demand — San Francisco Bay faces $10.8B in nutrient removal costs; Netherlands spending €2.8B in two years; 8,000+ US lagoons need upgrades

🏭 Competitive validation — Gross-Wen Technologies at TRL 9 with 30+ installations and $15M annual revenue proves the algae biofilm category

❄️ The winter test — Kingsville, Ontario demonstration (started March 10, 2026) will face a full Canadian winter, the single biggest unknown

🥜 IN A NUTSHELL 🥜

Who is Pierre Côté? A civil engineer from École Polytechnique de Montréal with a PhD from McMaster, who joined Zenon Environmental in 1989 and invented ZeeWeed — the immersed hollow-fiber membrane technology that created the commercially viable MBR market.

What is AlgaFilm Technologies? A BC-based startup co-founded in November 2023 by Côté and Ahren Britton (former Ostara CTO) that grows algae as a fixed biofilm on engineered carriers to remove nitrogen and phosphorus from wastewater, replacing chemical dosing.

Why does this matter now? Regulatory pressure is forcing massive non-discretionary spending on nutrient removal — $10.8 billion in San Francisco Bay alone — while the resource recovery market has inflected from $1.5 billion to $2.88 billion since 2020.

What are the risks? AlgaFilm sits at approximately TRL 8, has just kicked off its first plant, and must prove winter uptime through Canadian conditions during its 12-month Kingsville demonstration.

Who validates the category? Gross-Wen Technologies (Iowa, 2014) operates 30+ algae biofilm installations at TRL 9, with $15M annual revenue and operational profitability, proving the commercial viability of the approach.

️⃣ Mentioned Links #️⃣

AlgaFilm Technologies: https://algafilm.com/
Burnt Island Ventures blog entry: https://www.burntislandventures.com/blog/fsu1j27imhhsfnbyxi2k2udd30m57e
DWW — The Algae Revolution with Martin Gross (GWT): https://dww.show/the-algae-revolution-how-gross-wen-technologies-is-cleaning-our-water-through-natures-filter/
My conversation with Andrew Benedek: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s5e12-how-to-be-alone-early-crazy-but-actually-right-the-history-of-zenon

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Can 4 Volts of Electricity Replace 60 Bars of Pressure in Seawater Desalination?

ilion Water Technologies is a 2025 spinout from the Physics Laboratory of the École Normale Supérieure in Paris.

Their VIRO (Voltage-Induced Reverse Osmosis) technology claims to replace the high-pressure pump train in seawater desalination with an alternating electric field applied to engineered composite membranes, operating at atmospheric pressure.

🌶️ KEY SPICES 🌶️

⚡ VIRO generates ~15 equivalent bars of pressure per applied volt, targeting the 60-bar threshold used in industrial seawater RO

💰 ilion closed a €3.8M ($4.46M) pre-seed co-led by Demea Sustainable Investment and Critical Path Ventures, plus €1.3M non-dilutive from Bpifrance, CNRS Innovation, PSL, and the ERC

🔬 The underlying research is peer-reviewed in Nature Materials with a scientific lineage tracing back to a 2013 Physical Review Letters paper

👨‍🔬 Scientific advisor Lydéric Bocquet (CNRS Innovation Medal 2024) previously took nanofluidics from lab to industrial pilot with Sweetch Energy (€40M raised, Rhône river deployment in 2024)

📊 The global RO + nanofiltration market reaches $6.14B TOTEX by 2030 at 6.1% CAGR, with RO commanding ~90% of dissolved solids removal

🪦 The graveyard of RO alternatives is pretty full with the recent addition of Aquaporin (21 years → collapse), to the existing Oasys Water ($31M fire sale), or memsys ($3M)

🥜 IN A NUTSHELL 🥜

How does VIRO actually work? Instead of mechanically forcing saltwater through a membrane at 60 bars, VIRO uses an alternating electric field on a composite membrane with nanoscale charge properties, creating an "osmotic diode" that rectifies water flow while blocking salt.

What is ilion's current maturity level? TRL 4 (lab-validated), with no published specific energy consumption in kWh/m³, no salt rejection at scale, no membrane lifetime data, and zero physical deployments. Why has every RO alternative failed before? Forward osmosis, membrane distillation, and biomimetic membranes all failed to cross the gap between lab performance and industrial reliability, while RO kept improving toward its thermodynamic floor of ~1.0 kWh/m³.

What makes ilion different from previous attempts? Bocquet's track record with Sweetch Energy, the Nature Materials peer review, a deep-science investor stack, and positioning as an RO enhancer (retrofit-compatible) rather than an RO replacement.

What should investors watch over the next 2 years Three milestones: real-water performance at the Île-de-France pilot, XPRIZE Water Scarcity semifinal testing in Q4 2026, and membrane fabrication scalability beyond handcrafted lab specimens.

️⃣ Mentioned Links #️⃣

🔗 ilion Water Technologies — https://ilion-watertech.com/

🔗 Sweetch Energy — https://www.sweetch.energy/

🔗 NALA Membranes on the podcast — https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s13e9-nala-membranes

🔗 the Active Membranes episode — https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s13e6-this-200-hack-makes-desalination-50-cheaper

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Why Are Water Testing Methods Dangerously Outdated - And What's the Fix?

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ORB is a water tech company revolutionizing water testing through real-time microbial detection. Using inline deep UV spectroscopy sensors, ORB delivers continuous monitoring that's 1,700 times faster than traditional plate count methods (thus replacing the century-old three-day lab test) with instant insights that protect public health.

Lorenzo Falzarano is a serial entrepreneur and the founder and Chief Scientist of ORB, bringing over two decades of experience building impact-driven technology companies, including a successful solar venture that sold through Apple stores worldwide, and has partnered with NASA on space station water monitoring systems.

🌶️ KEY SPICES 🌶️

🔬 Rapid Microbiology at Light Speed — Water testing results in one second versus three days, using photon-counting detectors that measure microbial fluorescence at the molecular level without reagents or consumables.

🎯 Cold Case Solver — 70% of water quality failures go unexplained; ORB's intelligence platform uses pattern matching and fingerprint signatures to identify root causes that traditional water testing misses.

⚡ Non-Invasive Innovation — Unlike enzymatic or flow cytometry methods, ORB's water tech requires no chemicals, no sample preparation, and no maintenance—just plug-and-play deployment in drinking water networks.

💧 Real-Time Risk Prevention — Catches failing ozone dosing, chlorine systems, and contamination events before they become regulatory violations—helping UK utilities avoid millions in bacteriological fines.

🥜 IN A NUTSHELL 🥜

Why is traditional water testing fundamentally broken? The plate count method takes three days, captures less than 1% of microbes, and forces utilities to run on "maximum everything" because they're operating blind.

How does ORB's rapid microbiology approach work? Deep UV light causes microbial cells to fluoresce; photon-counting detectors measure this at the molecular level, delivering instant counts without destroying the sample.

What separates ORB from other water tech solutions? ORB used deep neural networks to identify minimum wavelengths needed, then hyper-optimized hardware for drinking water—achieving 400x more sensitivity than lab spectrometers.

Can this water testing method distinguish live from dead bacteria? Yes—dying and dead cells produce different spectral signatures, addressing concerns about counting chlorine-killed cells.

What's the business model? ORB sells insights through CapEx, OpEx, or hybrid models—deployed across UK and European utilities with NASA validation and third-party certifications.

️⃣ Mentioned Links #️⃣

ORB Monitor: orbmonitor.com

Lorenzo's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorenzo-falzarano/

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How Did H2O Innovation Build a Water Empire Through 18+ Acquisitions (M&A)?
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H2O Innovation is a Quebec-based water solutions company founded in 2000. Through strategic M&A, it evolved from a membrane filtration startup into a diversified platform with four pillars: systems, specialty chemicals, operations & maintenance, and water infrastructure development—with the mission to Simplify Water.

Guillaume Clairet is COO at H2O Innovation and GP at the Cycle H2O fund, with 20 years steering the company's M&A-driven transformation from startup through 18+ acquisitions to a private equity-backed platform targeting $1 billion by 2030.

🌶️ KEY SPICES 🌶️

🔧 Four integrated pillars—systems, chemicals, O&M, and water infrastructure development—enable full lifecycle customer relationships from CapEx through recurring revenue

📈 Proven M&A machine with 90%+ acquisition success rate versus the industry standard where two-thirds of deals fail

🌍 Global distribution network serving OEMs across Turkey, Peru, Chile, and Australia with specialty chemicals and components

💧 Water reuse leadership through the Water Infrastructure Development division offering turnkey solutions with no upfront capital under long-term contracts

🤝 Patient private equity partnership with Ember Capital allowing accelerated growth while preserving management continuity and institutional investor alignment

🥜 IN A NUTSHELL 🥜

How did H2O Innovation transform from a startup to a platform company? Starting as a membrane filtration technology company in 2000, H2O Innovation strategically shifted focus from pure CapEx sales to recurring revenue streams by acquiring specialty chemicals companies PWT and Genesis, then rolling up five O&M contractors across North America.

What makes their acquisition strategy different? Rather than relying on investment banking processes, H2O Innovation sources most deals directly through trade shows, customer networks, and industry relationships—prioritizing cultural fit, synergy validation, and fair valuations over competing in auctions.

What changed after Ember Capital's take-private transaction? The 2023 privatization brought renewed appetite for bigger swings and faster decision-making while preserving continuity through existing institutional investors CDPQ and IQ rolling over their stakes alongside management remaining invested.

What is the Water Infrastructure Development pillar? Acquired through NextEra Distributed Water, this fourth pillar offers industrial and institutional clients turnkey water reuse solutions where H2O Innovation finances, builds, owns, and operates decentralized treatment systems under 30-35 year contracts.

Where is H2O Innovation heading by 2030? The company targets over $1 billion in revenue through continued tuck-in M&A, exponential growth in water processing agreements, and geographic expansion.

️⃣ Mentioned Links #️⃣

H2O Innovation: https://www.h2oinnovation.com

Ember Capital Management https://ember-infra.com/

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How is Cycle H2O (a new Water VC) De-Risking Early Stage Water Tech Investment?

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Cycle H2O is a Canadian water-focused venture capital fund investing $500K-$2M checks in early-stage water technology companies. The fund targets 12 portfolio companies across industrial, municipal, and agricultural water sectors with $30 million ready to deploy.

Simon Olivier is a senior partner at Cycle Capital and head of the Cycle H2O Water Fund, bringing 30 years of corporate experience, including building GE's renewable energy business from the ground up, and now applying energy sector investment lessons to water tech & the water VC field.

🌶️ KEY SPICES 🌶️

🔬 Three-headed de-risking structure: Cycle Capital brings VC management expertise, H2O Innovation provides market intelligence across 75 countries, and the fund team delivers strategic guidance as a "copilot investor"

⚡ Energy-to-water playbook: 30 years of renewable energy experience reveals water tech is following the same arc—but with higher stakes since water has no substitute

💼 Business continuity focus: Invests in B2B solutions where industrial users pay for water efficiency because it directly impacts their bottom line, not just compliance

🎯 Exit-first valuation: Maps potential exits before cutting checks to avoid down rounds—seeking the "Goldilocks valuation" where both founder and investor stretch

🌍 Impact without compromise: Treats environmental and financial returns as inseparable, positioning water as a strategic business asset rather than a feel-good cause

🥜 IN A NUTSHELL 🥜

Why focus on early-stage water tech? The greatest impact and value creation happens early, but the risk is high—hence the unique fund structure with strategic partners who provide due diligence support and accelerate time-to-market for portfolio companies.

How do you compress the industry's notorious 12-16 year adoption cycle? By investing in companies addressing urgent market fundamentals like the Legionella detection company Bio Alert, and leveraging H2O Innovation's global network to fast-track pilots and distribution partnerships.

What makes a quick "no" for investment? Missing barriers to entry like IP, undifferentiated "me-too" products, no clear roadmap to monetization, or incomplete founding teams—though exceptional strength in one area can offset weakness in another.

Why avoid policy-dependent business models? Regulations change overnight; instead, the water VC targets industrial users where water efficiency drives business survival, making adoption a financial imperative rather than a compliance checkbox.

What returns can water tech deliver? The fund targets 10x returns as achievable across the portfolio, expects two to three zeros from twelve investments.

️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

https://cyclecapital.com/en/cycleh2o/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/simon-olivier-p-eng-mba-3560b04/

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What Wastewater Products Can You Actually Buy for Christmas?

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My best water tech analysis straight to your inbox: https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=6884833968848474112

⬇️ IN THIS VIDEO ⬇️

This special episode showcases 17 commercially available products made from recycled wastewater, desalination brine, and industrial water byproducts. From ski resort snow to table salt, beer to bourbon, cosmetics to clothing, these items prove that circular water economy isn't just theory—it's hitting store shelves as legitimate luxury goods and everyday essentials.

🌶️ KEY SPICES 🌶️

🎿 Big Sky Resort now makes artificial snow from recycled village wastewater using Montana's largest zero liquid discharge system

🧂 Desalination brine transforms into gourmet table salts and superfood ingredients instead of marine discharge

🍺 Reused wastewater beer, rainwater whisky, and coffee-waste vodka prove beverage innovation is real

👖 Jeans from Everlane and Triarchy achieve 95-98% water recycling through closed-loop finishing

🧴 L'Oreal's Burgos "waterloop factory" reuses 100% of process water for Kerastase production

🧪 Hungarian startup Cycle ferments sewage sludge into bio-acid cleaners shipped worldwide

🥜 IN A NUTSHELL 🥜

Can you really eat products from desalination waste? Aqualia's Alma de Mar table salts and UAE-grown Salicornia demonstrate that brine valorization creates food-safe, even gourmet products through controlled crystallization and aquaponic farming.

How are beverage companies using wastewater? H2O Innovation, Epic Cleantec, and Singapore's NEWBrew produce beers from purified wastewater, while Good Vodka upcycles 15 million tons of annual coffee cherry waste and Old Humble proofs whisky with collected Texas rainwater.

What makes water-smart clothing different? Everlane's Saitex partnership recycles 98% of process water, Triarchy replaces chemical bleaching with ozone, and Girlfriend Collective turns plastic bottles into sportswear while capturing microplastics.

Which home products close the water loop? Porcelanosa ceramics operates zero liquid discharge, EnviroCopy paper circulates water 30 times per production cycle, and Vuna's Aurin turns urine into nitrogen fertilizer now scaling across Europe.

⏰ TIME STAMPS ⏰

00:00 17 Wastewater Products

00:17 Big Sky Montana

04:31 Alma de Mar

06:12 Salicornia

07:49 Tasting

09:34 They almost made it...

10:31 H2O Innovation Pale Ale

12:43 Good Vodka

14:24 Old Humble Special Reserve

16:16 Naif Face Scrub

18:27 Kerastase by l'Oreal

20:09 Everlane Jeans

22:29 Triarchy Jeans

23:38 Girlfriend Collective Tank Top

25:07 Himba Fish Cuff

25:32 Innorecycling Water Can

25:59 Aurin by Vuna

27:31 Porcelanosa Tiles

28:56 Sustana Enviro Copy

30:15 Cycle Biocleaners

32:02 Test Results

33:03 An Epic Surprise...

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How Will Ovivo Rebuild to Full Size in 10 Years After the Ecolab Deal?

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⬇️ IN THIS EPISODE ⬇️

Ovivo is a global water treatment technology provider entering a transformative new chapter after spinning off its electronics division to Ecolab for $1.8 billion. Under Ski on Water's ownership, Ovivo is now positioning itself for aggressive growth through industrial expansion, silicon carbide membrane innovation, and PFAS destruction capabilities across North America and Europe.

This episode features Reinhard Hubner, CEO of SKion Water with years of water industry M&A experience; Elena Bailey, Director at Ovivo North America with decades of experience in water technology who joined through an acquisition in 2006; Mike Snodgrass, membrane technology specialist with 25+ years experience; and Sebastian Andreassen, co-founder and leader of Ovivo's Cembrane silicon carbide membrane manufacturing.

🌶️ KEY SPICES 🌶️

🔬 Silicon carbide membranes deliver breakthrough flux rates at low pressure with hydrophilic, chemically inert properties that outperform polymeric alternatives

💧 Double-digit percentage R&D investment funds innovation without a centralized research department—product managers drive patented solutions

🏭 European industrial expertise from a decade of experience in operations transfers directly to North American expansion through people-first integration

⚗️ PFAS destruction technology from E2Metrix leverages existing municipal customer relationships for rapid market entry

🤝 Long-term ownership culture keeps acquired company founders engaged for 7-9+ years post-acquisition

🥜 IN A NUTSHELL 🥜

What is the 10-year vision for Ovivo? SKion Water plans to rebuild Ovivo to its pre-transaction size through industrial platform acquisitions in North America, silicon carbide membrane scaling, and PFAS treatment commercialization.

Why focus on industrial water treatment? Municipal operations run independently with proven teams, while industrial requires European expertise transfer and platform acquisitions to replicate the 350 million euro success achieved through EnviroChemie.

How does Cembrane's silicon carbide differentiate? Unlike polymeric membranes, silicon carbide is hydrophilic, extremely porous, and chemically inert—enabling applications in drinking water, sand filter replacement, and backwash recovery that competitors cannot match.

What are the capacity expansion plans? Cembrane's manufacturing will increase 50% in 2026 and double by 2027, with Texas production providing tariff protection and BABA compliance for North American municipal projects.

Where does PFAS fit the strategy? E2Metrix destruction technology pairs with existing SSE membrane installations at water plants, creating bundled solutions that leverage Ovivo's installed base relationships with municipal customers.

️⃣ Mentioned Links #️⃣

Ovivo's website: https://www.ovivowater.com/en/

My WEFTEC coverage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAb9bDjpOsE

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How Is Aqua Membranes Scaling 3D-Printed Water Membranes Spacers from Garage Startup to 200,000 Square Foot Manufacturing Facility? Let's find out!

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⬇️ IN THIS VIDEO ⬇️

Aqua Membranes manufactures reverse osmosis membrane elements with 3D-printed spacers that reduce energy consumption and pressure drops in industrial water treatment across mining, semiconductor, and beverage sectors. Founded 15 years ago by Rodney Herrington in his garage, the water membranes company now operates from Albuquerque and a new 200,000-square-foot Knoxville facility led by CEO Craig Beckman and CTO CJ Kurth.

🌶️ KEY SPICES 🌶️

🖨️ Proprietary 3D printing technology creates Fibonacci spiral-patterned spacers that optimize fluid flow and reduce fouling compared to traditional mesh spacers found in water membranes

⚡ Energy efficiency gains through reduced pressure drops enable customers to lower operating costs and extend cleaning cycles in reverse osmosis systems

🏭 Vertical integration strategy from material science through full element manufacturing de-risks technology adoption for major water membranes manufacturers

🎯 Strategic customer validation from Fortune 500 companies including Coca-Cola, Micron Technology, and exclusive distribution partnership with Osmo Flow in Australia

📈 Scalable manufacturing platform with capacity for 25,000 elements annually in current configuration and 9x expansion potential in the Knoxville facility

🥜 IN A NUTSHELL 🥜

Why can't Aqua Membranes just license their spacer technology to major water tech manufacturers? The membrane industry requires extensive real-world validation before adopting new materials, forcing innovators to manufacture complete elements at a commercial scale before established players will consider licensing.

What makes 3D-printed spacers superior to traditional mesh? The Fibonacci spiral pattern eliminates straight-line flow channels that cause fouling, while UV-cured polyacrylate provides precise control over channel geometry for customized applications.

How did Aqua Membranes choose Knoxville for manufacturing expansion? After evaluating 20 U.S. and Mexican locations, they selected Knoxville for its business environment, educational resources, and capacity to support 95 jobs with multi-shift expansion potential.

What role does Albuquerque play now that Knoxville is operational? Albuquerque transitions to R&D, focusing on co-creation with customers, testing new patterns and applications, including gas separation, while maintaining identical equipment to troubleshoot production issues.

When will the new printing technology become available? The second-generation process moves to Knoxville in March 2025, with commercial launch targeted for late 2026, offering faster speeds, improved tolerance, and lower costs.

#️⃣ Mentioned Links #️⃣

Aqua Membranes
Osmoflo

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Can Cloud Harvesting Revolutionize Water Production? A Deep Dive into AirHES Technology

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⬇️ IN THIS EPISODE ⬇️

AirHES is a proposed atmospheric water harvesting technology that uses aerial collection systems (kites or balloons) with specialized mesh to capture cloud droplets. The collected water flows down through hoses, generating both pressurized freshwater and hydropower from the natural pressure head, claiming to potentially deliver the cheapest water and electricity on Earth.

This episode features my rigorous "10th man doctrine" analysis—applying contrarian due diligence to unconventional water technologies.

🌶️ KEY SPICES 🌶️

☁️ Cloud-level water capture using proven fog collection mesh technology with documented efficiencies from existing literature

💧 Dual revenue streams from both freshwater production (modeled at $0.10-0.21/m³) and hydropower generation from vertical pressure head

🎯 Potential niche applications for remote, cloudy, inland communities needing 10-200 m³/day where traditional desalination faces infrastructure challenges

🔬 Rigorous physics-based analysis revealing realistic costs of $0.30-0.60/m³ after accounting for downtime, maintenance, and operational constraints

⚖️ Technology requires overcoming complex engineering trade-offs between pipe weight, friction losses, buoyancy, wind loading, and airspace regulatory hurdles

🥜 IN A NUTSHELL 🥜

Does the technology actually work? The mesh physics and fog collection principles are sound and well-documented, but cloud-level capture efficiency, uptime, and real-world performance remain unproven until multi-month instrumented pilots are conducted.

What are the biggest technical challenges? Running kilometers of pressure hoses vertically requires solving complex trade-offs between pipe weight, friction losses, buoyancy, wind loading, and material costs—issues that significantly impact economic viability.

Where could AirHES actually succeed? The technology shows promise for remote, persistently cloudy inland communities far from coastlines, mining camps at elevation, and island interiors where traditional reverse osmosis faces permitting barriers or extreme infrastructure costs.

Is the electricity generation worthwhile? Power output represents only ~8% of revenue in AirHES's own models, with typical systems generating just 2-3 kW—barely enough to power a hair dryer—making it more of a distraction than a selling point.

Why pursue weird ideas like this? Taking unconventional technologies seriously, even when flawed, expands the "adjacent possible" in water innovation, generates valuable insights, and prevents the sector from getting trapped optimizing only conventional solutions like reverse osmosis.

️⃣ Mentioned Links #️⃣

AirHES Technology
Packy McCormick's "Not Boring" newsletter
Send me your ideas: antoine@dww.show

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How Does Water-as-a-Service Drive Billion-Dollar Exits in Infrastructure Investment?

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🙌 Supporters 🙌

A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab

⬇️ IN THIS VIDEO ⬇️

Seven Seas Water Group is a vertically integrated water infrastructure platform that designs, builds, finances, operates, and maintains water and wastewater treatment facilities under long-term service agreements. The company recently completed a successful company exit from Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners to EQT Infrastructure, operating over 210 water-as-a-service contracts across the Caribbean and United States with particular expertise in brackish water desalination and decentralized treatment systems.

Henry Charrabe is the CEO of Seven Seas Water Group, who led the company through a successful four-year transformation and company exit, previously serving in executive roles at Fluence Corporation, and is recognized for pioneering the application of water-as-a-service business models in US municipal and industrial markets.

🌶️ KEY SPICES 🌶️

💰 Vertically integrated platform - Seven Seas handles design, engineering, financing, construction, and operations in-house, eliminating margin stacking for lower costs and faster execution than multi-partner water tech competitors

⚡ Proven track record at scale - 210+ active water purchase agreements with 15-30 year terms demonstrate repeatable success new entrants cannot easily replicate

🔄 Patient capital meets expertise - The company exit proves infrastructure investors holding 4+ years combined with deep water knowledge generate exceptional returns in underinvested US infrastructure

📊 Public vs private dynamics - Public water equities offer lower risk and liquidity; private funds deliver superior returns for patient capital—both forming a necessary growth ecosystem

🥜 IN A NUTSHELL 🥜

Why is water-as-a-service winning? Performance-based contracts align incentives—investors only get paid when delivering contracted water quality and quantity.

What makes the US market attractive? Massive infrastructure underinvestment, creditworthy municipal off-takers, and decentralized systems create exceptional deployment opportunities.

How do private and public returns differ? Private water investments achieve 10x returns with patient capital, while public equities deliver 14-15% annually with lower risk and immediate liquidity.

Why fewer IPOs today? Cyclical markets favor private-to-private exits when strategic buyers offer better valuations than public market multiples.

What's the biggest opportunity? Reducing waste beats new supply—California loses 32% to inefficiencies, making conservation more economically attractive than desalination.

️⃣ Mentioned Links #️⃣

Seven Seas' website

Loughlin Water Partners

Orange Ridge Capital

Robin Castelli's book

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🤔 What Happened to Source Global's Water-from-Air Technology?

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A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab

My best water tech analysis straight to your inbox

SOURCE (formerly Zero Mass Water) produced drinking water from air using solar-powered Hydropanels.

Founded in 2015 by Cody Friesen, it raised $270 million, becoming one of water tech's most-funded companies - before turning into a Company Failure

🥜 IN A NUTSHELL 🥜

What was Source Global's core technology? Solar-powered Hydropanels that extract drinking water from atmospheric humidity, requiring no electrical or water infrastructure.

Why did the company fail despite massive funding? Ran out of cash after failing to raise funds, faced major quality issues from Malaysian manufacturing, and had unsustainable costs versus traditional water delivery, leading to company failure

What were the main product problems? High failure rates within 2-3 years, frequent fan and battery breakages, and warranty quietly reduced from 10 to 5 years.

Did Source attempt a business pivot? Acquired Proud Source Water and launched Sky Water, building Hydropanel farms to produce canned atmospheric water at scale.

What remains of Source Global today? The founder and executives left in early 2025. Hydropanels and Sky Water are out of stock, but the acquired Proud Source Water business continues operating despite the mother company failure

️⃣ Mentioned Links #️⃣

SOURCE's SEC filings (over the years):

Source on Glassdoor

Source's troubles in Allensworth

My own interview with Source, four years ago

Source's website (still active)

Cody Friesen's LinkedIn profile

Proud Source Water's website

Thunderf00t's original video

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How Do 32+ Electrochemical Water Oxidation Technologies Compete for PFAS Destruction Market Share? Listen to this!

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A big thank you to my partner, Georg Fischer: https://www.gfps.com/com/en/products-solutions/solutions/design-prefabrication.html#!

How Do 32+ Electrochemical Water Oxidation Technologies Compete for PFAS Destruction Market Share?

Electrochemical Water Oxidation is an emerging treatment technology that uses electrical current to break down persistent contaminants like PFAS in industrial wastewater. With 32 identified companies developing proprietary systems—17 specifically targeting PFAS destruction—this crowded market represents both intense competition and strong validation of a rapidly growing industrial need.

Antoine Walter is a water technology analyst and podcast host who has interviewed nine electrochemical oxidation companies, conducted comprehensive market research across 32 players in the space, and provides strategic insights for entrepreneurs, investors, and water industry executives navigating this competitive landscape.

🌶️ KEY SPICES 🌶️

⚡ Power Density Range: Technologies span three orders of magnitude (100-10,000+ A/m²), with higher densities potentially enabling more compact treatment systems

💎 Electrode Materials: Boron-Doped Diamond (33%) and Titanium suboxide (28%) lead among PFAS-focused companies, with Mixed Metal Oxide dominant overall

🎯 Market Maturity: 53% of PFAS-targeting companies operate at TRL 8 with only two at full commercial deployment (TRL 9)

🧪 Defluorination Proof: Four companies have achieved third-party verified >90% defluorination, with half reporting complete PFAS destruction capabilities

🏭 Minimal Chemistry: 58% operate with minimal chemical addition, and 83% self-clean through electrical reversal or direct capacity

🥜 IN A NUTSHELL 🥜

What's the actual market size? Only an estimated 250 of 10 million global industrial facilities have addressed PFAS in wastewater, with perhaps 24 choosing electrochemical oxidation—creating fierce competition for limited installations.

How do electrode materials differ? Boron-Doped Diamond offers superior performance but higher costs, while Mixed Metal Oxide and Titanium suboxide provide alternatives, with some companies opting for sacrificial anodes to reduce expenses.

What determines system performance? Power density, pH tolerance (46% work at neutral pH), electrode lifetime, and reactor design collectively influence treatment efficiency and operational costs more than any single factor.

Are these technologies deployment-ready? Most companies (TRL 7-9) have moved beyond lab-scale, though only Axine and AECOM have reached full commercial deployment with multiple installations.

What's the investment opportunity? The collective $120M raised across startups represents capital-efficient validation, with regulatory pressure intensifying and the addressable market potentially growing 10x within three years.

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How Can We Afford to Remove PFAS from Our Environment When Treatment Costs Exceed Global GDP?

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A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab

⬇️ IN THIS EPISODE ⬇️

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are persistent synthetic chemicals (forever chemicals) used in countless everyday products that contaminate drinking water, wastewater, and the environment.

Dr. Ali Ling is a professor at the University of St. Thomas, specializing in PFAS management and wastewater treatment, with a decade of consulting experience helping industrial and municipal facilities address emerging contaminants, and expertise in big-picture systems thinking.

🌶️ KEY SPICES 🌶️

💰 Cost-Effective Approach - Source reduction is 1,000 times cheaper than environmental cleanup, with upstream industrial controls costing hundreds versus millions of dollars per kilogram of PFAS removed

🔬 Technology Expertise - Comprehensive knowledge of GAC, ion exchange, destruction technologies, and emerging treatment solutions across drinking water, wastewater, and industrial applications

📊 Data-Driven Strategy - Evidence-based analysis showing that removing PFAS at current production rates would exceed global GDP, making source control the only viable path forward

🎯 Risk Prioritization - Understanding that drinking water represents less than 20% of human PFAS exposure, with diet and indoor dust contributing significantly more to health risks

🌍 Future-Focused Thinking - Emphasis on persistence as a critical factor, recognizing that today's PFAS releases create irreversible accumulation threatening future generations (forever chemicals)

🥜 IN A NUTSHELL 🥜

Why is cleaning up PFAS from the environment economically impossible? Removing PFAS from the environment at the rate we produce it costs millions of dollars per kilogram and would exceed global GDP, while upstream source control costs only hundreds to thousands of dollars per kilogram.

What's the biggest misconception about PFAS treatment? Most people focus on drinking water cleanup as a past problem, but we're still actively producing massive amounts of PFAS today, and drinking water represents less than 20% of human exposure to these persistent chemicals.

Should utilities treat PFAS in wastewater effluent? Treating municipal wastewater effluent is extremely expensive and environmentally impactful, whereas addressing industrial discharges and landfill leachate at their concentrated source points is far more cost-effective and logical.

How do we prevent regrettable substitution when phasing out PFAS? The European Union is implementing better frameworks that assess both persistence and toxicity before approving chemicals, while companies like IKEA and H&M have successfully phased out PFAS entirely from their supply chains.

️⃣ Mentioned Links #️⃣

Ali Ling's LinkedIn profile

Ali's paper on the costs to remove PFAS from the environment

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What's to remember from WEFTEC 2025? Here are my 5 Water Tech picks, 3 Marketing Tips, the State of the Union on the Water/AI Nexus, and much more. Wanna get 3 Days at WEFTEC summarized in 70 Minutes? Listen to this!

More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

🙌 Supporters 🙌

A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab

️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

BDP EnviroTech's website: https://bdpenvirotech.com/

Lummus Technology's website: https://www.lummustechnology.com/

Weaver Labs' website: https://www.weaver-labs.com/

Algafilm's website: https://algafilm.com/

CREW Carbon's website: https://crewcarbon.com/

GWI's new Water Investment Navigator: https://www.winwaterprojects.io/

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 Introduction

01:22 XPRIZE Water Scarcity

02:56 3 Shortlisted for XPRIZE

07:05 #5 Water Tech Pick - BDP EnviroTech

16:03 #4 Water Tech Pick - Lummus Technology

23:59 My Rules & Thank You SimpleLab

25:01 WEF Board Member Interview

28:21 #3 Water Tech Pick - Weaver Labs

35:56 #2 Water Tech Pick - Algafilm Technologies

45:13 3 Tips to Power Up your Tradeshow Marketing

48:27 #1 Water Tech Pick - CREW Carbon

59:45 The Water AI Nexus

1:01:36 GWI's take at AI (with WEF)

1:08:28 Best WEFTEC Ever

About this Podcast:

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Will we die young & rich or live older & less rich? That is why Henk Ovink is formal: We will fail on climate change if we fail on water. Wanna know why? Listen to this!

More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

🙌 Supporters 🙌

A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab

And a great shout out for Sciens Water's great Rethinking Water where this interview was recorded: https://scienswater.com/

️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

Global Commission on the Economics of Water Final Report: https://watercommission.org/#report

My conversation with Sean Davis on PPPPs models

My UN Water Conference 2023 coverage:

Day 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOs5J6VymwE

Day 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bQhz_yHN5U

Day 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZZaON3Pr0c

Final Coverage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gksQHzCYVA

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 In this week's Episode

01:52 Key Findings of the Global Commission on the Economics of Water

07:55 In-Depth Discussion with Henk Ovink

11:12 Economic Value of Water Investments

15:45 Challenges and Future Outlook

18:29 The Consequences of Ignoring Climate Change

20:21 The Role of Decision Makers and Coalitions

22:17 Reflections on the UN Water Conference

27:26 The Complexity of Global Water & Climate Challenges

32:25 The Path Forward

📝 IN THIS WEEK'S EPISODE

💸 Why choosing between dying "young & rich" vs "older & less rich" defines our water future - and the shocking GDP numbers that prove it

🌍 How 4,000 liters per person per day completely reframes everything we thought we knew about water justice (hint: it's not about drinking water)

🎯 The five radical missions that could save 25% of irrigation water by 2050 while actually increasing farmer incomes

💔 What really happened at the UN Water Conference that left me staying up all night with crushing disappointment - and why there's still hope

🔥 Why "stupidity pays off in the short term" is destroying our planet - and the 10-year tipping point we're racing towards

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How did SKion Water turn a $142M "apple tree" into $1.8B gold with the carve out of Ovivo's Electronics division to Ecolab? Let's find out!

My best water tech analysis straight to your inbox: https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=6884833968848474112

🙌 Supporters 🙌

A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab

️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

Ovivo Electronics carve-out to Ecolab: https://www.ovivowater.com/en/news/ovivo-to-sell-electronics-division-to-ecolab/

SKion Water's website: https://www.skionwater.com/en/

My conversation with Reinhard Hübner: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s5e1-the-7-secrets-of-the-water-company-of-the-year-you-shall-absolutely-steal

LG Chem's carve out of its RO division: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFPOrr-ycFM

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 If Ovivo was a Tree

01:20 Ovivo's History

06:50 Water Investment Consequences

11:46 Water Valuations

16:54 The Rise of PE-Backed Platforms

📝 IN THIS WEEK'S EPISODE

🌳 How SKion Water built a $142M acquisition into a $1.8B exit while keeping half the company - the apple tree story that proves water investment delivers 10x returns

💰 The cascade of billion-dollar water deals in 2024 that's proving once and for all that water investments outperform traditional sectors with documented 2x to 10x multiples

🎯 Why pure-play water companies massively outperform conglomerates and how the semiconductor water boom is creating unprecedented valuations

🏗️ The emergence of 20+ PE platforms actively reshaping the water sector through strategic roll-ups and the specific revenue ranges they're targeting

📊 The Water Food Chain framework that reveals exactly where the next wave of acquisitions will happen and what valuation multiples entrepreneurs and investors can expect at each level

About this Podcast: Welcome to the (don't) Waste Water podcast! In each episode, Antoine Walter from DWW Media shares water, wastewater & water entrepreneurship stories. This show will teach you the water industry like you've never seen it. If you're asking how the water sector will overcome the water crises ahead, this video is for you.

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Aquatech just acquired Koch Technology Solutions’ direct lithium extraction business - Here are my 3 key takeaways!

️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

Aquatech's press release: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aquatech-acquires-kochs-direct-lithium-extraction-business-integrating-li-pro-dle-into-the-pearl-technology-platform-302558347.html

My conversation with Devesh Sharma: https://youtu.be/inlyb_aMtzw?si=z1uTHU6GlRvmuKPl

My full exploration of the Lithium World: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeZJpBySIQo&t=1s

🎙️ PODCAST 🎙️

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

👋 SOCIAL MEDIA 👋

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dwwpodcast/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AntoineWalter7

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DontWasteWaterPodcast

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 Aquatech acquires Koch Technology Solutions' DLE

00:47 The Story

04:01 The Business

07:00 The Market

11:45 Epilogue

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Could this new material finally change Reverse Osmosis for the better? Let's dig into it!

More #WaterTech insights? Get my free water investor database: https://investors.dww.show

🙌 Supporters 🙌

A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab

️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

Nala Membranes: https://www.nalamembranes.com/

Sue Mecham's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sue-mecham-a34252/

The theory of Water Innovation: https://youtu.be/A36PsBc1cnc?si=YFkiE4vdj3pJRS59

My conversation with ZwitterCo: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s8e17-zwitterions-super-powers-could-solve-wastewater-membranes-number-one-problem

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 Introduction

02:03 The Innovator's Dilemma

08:01 Technical Deep Dive: NALA's Chlorine Tolerant Membranes

15:13 The Mother-Daughter Duo Behind Nala Membranes

19:09 Manufacturing and Market Adoption

31:50 Custom Development and Future Prospects

34:39 Industrial Wastewater and Market Potential

36:39 Partnerships and Business Strategy

38:21 Funding and Future Plans

46:12 Global Expansion and Manufacturing

51:30 Rapid Fire Questions and Closing Thoughts

📝 IN THIS WEEK'S EPISODE

🧬 How a mother-daughter duo created the first new membrane material in 40 years after everyone said it couldn't be done

💰 Why eliminating biofouling with chlorine-tolerant membranes could slash operating costs by 24% overnight

🏭 What makes industrial wastewater treatment the perfect proving ground for disrupting the membrane oligopoly

🔬 How controlling both polymer chemistry and manufacturing unlocks custom membrane solutions nobody thought possible

🚀 Why bootstrapping on a shoestring budget might beat the heavily-funded competition to global membrane domination by 2030

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How did some of the greatest content creators raise $41.5 Million in one month for Water Access? Watch this!

More #WaterTech insights? Get my free water investor database: https://investors.dww.show

🙌 Supporters 🙌

A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab

And a great shout-out to MentorAPM: https://mentorapm.com/

How did #TeamWater raise $41.5 million to enable access to safe drinking water for 2 million people for 20 years?

That's the strength of (most) of the World's most influential creators!

But, as a water professional, what do I take home?

Here are:

5️⃣ My 5 praises for the incredible achievements of ‪@MrBeast‬, @MarkRober and all the other members of #TeamWater

3️⃣ The 3 things I would have done differently (hey, I need to nitpick or I wouldn't be French anymore, right?)

4️⃣ The 4 overlooked extraordinary wins of that Month of Water Rallies

If you want to dive deeper into the topic, check:

🙌 My conversation with 1001Fontaines

💪 My incredible hour with Gary White

If you want to further understand the fascinating World of water, make sure to subscribe, and let's discuss all of the above in the comments!

In this episode:

00:00 TeamWater's achievements

02:27 About Me (so you know where I'm speaking from)

03:21 The Good

09:28 The Bad

15:11 The Overlooked

20:41 Epilogue

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Wanna know why 86% of Investors treat water tech like Portfolio Insurance? Watch this!

More #WaterTech insights? Get my free water investor database: https://investors.dww.show

🙌 Supporters 🙌

A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab

And a great shout-out to MentorAPM: https://mentorapm.com/

️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

Overlooked Newsletter by Alexandre Devez: https://alexandre.substack.com/

Paul O'Callaghan's "The Dynamics of Water Innovation" book https://www.bluetechresearch.com/events-media/book/

My deep dive into PureTerra Ventures: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQhcJjYf9wA

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW

🙋 QUESTION: Should water tech embrace the "100 moonshots at $10M each" strategy that Prakash Govindan suggests, or stick with the David Ferrer playbook?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 How are 86% below 10%?

02:06 The Ferrer/Kyrgios Analogy

04:25 Finding 1 - The Side Bet Reality

06:44 Finding 2 - The Doughnut Hole Desert

08:47 Finding 3 - The 3 Tribes of Water Tourists

13:26 Finding 4 - The Portfolio Insurance Maths

17:04 Finding 5 - The Check Size Revelation

19:07 Finding 6 - The Adjacency Map

22:35 The "Prakash Challenge"

24:53 The Updated Playbook

27:20 Free Water Investor Database

About this Podcast: Welcome to the (don't) Waste Water podcast, the leading podcast for water industry professionals, investors, and entrepreneurs seeking deep insights into water tech innovation, investment trends, and strategic moves in the sector. Host Antoine Walter blends his technical expertise with sharp business acumen to deliver weekly episodes featuring candid conversations with C-suite executives, detailed analysis of major water industry developments, and practical insights for water tech startups and seasoned players alike.

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Ever heard of Electric Membranes that are Talking Back? Listen to this!

More #WaterTech insights? Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=6884833968848474112

🙌 Supporters 🙌

A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab

And a great shout-out to Blue Foot Membranes: https://link.dww.show/bluefoot

️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

Active Membranes' website: https://www.activemembrane.com/

Connect with Arian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arian-edalat-bb65875/

Send Arian some email love: arian@activemembranes.com

My conversation with Peter Yolles (one of Active Membranes' investors): https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s12e14-how-echo-river-capital-sees-10x-water-returns-as-too-conservative

My conversation with Andrew Walker: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s13e4-evove-direct-lithium-extraction

My interview with Prakash Govindan: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s11e1-an-unpopular-challenging-yet-true-take-on-venture-capital-in-water

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 Introduction

01:43 The "Seed-Strapping" Philosophy

08:45 Introducing: Arian Edalat

10:07 The Concept of Active Membranes

22:37 Real-World Applications and Benefits

27:22 Technical Insights and Future Prospects

30:22 The Spitfire Coating Machine

35:42 Market Penetration and Production Strategy

41:27 Future Goals and Investment Plans

51:35 Rapid Fire Questions

About this Podcast:

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Making water from thin air at 1¢/liter? Listen to this!

More #WaterTech insights? Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=6884833968848474112

🙌 Supporters 🙌

A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab

And a great shout-out to Blue Foot Membranes: https://link.dww.show/bluefoot

️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

Uravu's website: https://www.uravulabs.com

Connect with Swapnil on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/swapnil-shrivastav-374867aa/

Google X's (failed) attempt at Water Tech: https://youtu.be/GxwOSIz_cck

My conversation with Peter Yolles (one of Uravu's investors): https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s12e14-how-echo-river-capital-sees-10x-water-returns-as-too-conservative

My exploration of Source: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s7e2-expensive-heavy-but-desperately-needed-is-source-the-future-of-drinking-water

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 Introduction

01:52 Challenges in Atmospheric Water Generation

05:08 Data Centers and Atmospheric Water Generation

09:07 Introducing: Swapnil Shrivastav

15:16 Founding Story and Early Challenges

17:55 Technological Shifts and Market Focus

25:05 Desiccant Technology and Future Vision

29:20 System Design and Cost Efficiency

33:08 Business Models and Market Strategies

37:39 Challenges and Future Vision

51:32 Rapid Fire Questions

About this Podcast:

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Wondering How to Extract Lithium Without Mining or Massive Water Use? Listen to this!

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🙌 Supporters 🙌

A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab

And a great shout-out to Blue Foot Membranes: https://link.dww.show/bluefoot

️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

Evove's onsite lithium demonstration with Northern Lithium: https://www.evove.tech/dle-onsite-demo/

Evove's Lithium website: https://www.dle.technology/

Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reklawa/

Joe Lowry's (excellent!) Lithium podcast: https://www.globallithium.net/podcast

My conversation with Chris Wyres: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s9e7-how-to-eradicate-dead-zones-cut-energy-needs-by-80-and-double-lithium-selectivity

My conversation with Jay Keener (Altillion): https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s12e9-how-altillion-s-liquid-liquid-technology-redefines-resource-recovery

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Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 Introduction: Independence and Lithium Technology

04:15 In-Depth Discussion with Andrew Walker

08:25 Understanding DLE and Its Complexities

13:10 The Future of Lithium Extraction

29:25 Introducing Separonics: The Next Generation Technology

36:47 Lithium Extraction and Water Reuse in the Permian Basin

41:02 Ceramic vs. Polymeric Membranes

44:34 3D Printing in Membrane Manufacturing

48:14 Partnerships and Market Strategies

53:54 North American Projects and Challenges

59:37 South American Lithium Projects

01:02:02 Future Goals and Rapid Fire Questions

About this Podcast:

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Ever wondered why Smart Utilities Let Their Assets Break? Then listen to this: It will show you how Physics beats AI in Asset Management!

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🙌 Supporters 🙌

A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab

And a great shout-out to Blue Foot Membranes: https://link.dww.show/bluefoot

️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

MentorAPM's website: https://mentorapm.com/

Connect with Tacoma on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tacoma-zach-p-eng-0913514/

My interview with Amanda Siqueira from VAPAR: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s11e15-how-vapar-s-ai-makes-underground-pipe-inspections-seamless

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Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 Introduction

01:41 AI in Water Tech: Marketing vs Reality

08:29 Asset Management vs Asset Performance Management

14:53 Tailoring Asset Management to Water

24:16 The Journey of MentorAPM

37:31 The Role of AI in Asset Management

41:12 Understanding AI Claims and Customer Trust

43:36 Predictive Maintenance and Customer Data

46:20 MentorLens: A Game Changer for Utilities

49:45 Go-to-Market Strategy and Consultant Relationships

52:01 Empowering Customers with Simple Software

01:00:55 Growth, Profitability, and Market Consolidation

01:08:02 Vision for the Future and AI Integration

01:16:07 Rapid Fire Questions

WaterTech #WaterAI #Growth

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What if Google had the solution to save 1 billion people... and just threw it away? Let's find out!

Google spent 4 YEARS secretly developing a device that pulls safe drinking water from thin air using only sunlight. They proved it worked. They proved it could help over 1 BILLION people without clean water. Then they just... quit and open-sourced everything in 2021. 😅

Meanwhile, billionaires like Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg poured millions into competing startups trying to solve the same problem, with no better results.

What made Google's own engineers walk away from technology that could change the world?

As #TeamWater is about to make its comeback, there's a lot to learn here!

🙌 Supporters 🙌

A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab

And a great shout-out to Blue Foot Membranes: https://link.dww.show/bluefoot

️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

The Google H2E Collection: https://x.company/collection/h2e/

Google's open-sourced geo layers: https://github.com/AWH-GlobalPotential-X/AWH-Geo?tab=readme-ov-file

Google's open-sourced CAD drawings: https://github.com/google/h2e_technical_documentation/tree/main

The Google X Team's Nature Article: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03900-w.pdf

The thermodynamics of Atmospheric Water Generation: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10293683/#:~:text=Inserting%20the%20constants%20from%20Appendix,heat%20pumps%20and%20heat%20engines

Science's recent article on the topic: https://www.science.org/content/article/devices-pull-water-out-thin-air-poised-take

My interview with Colin Goddard: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s7e2-expensive-heavy-but-desperately-needed-is-source-the-future-of-drinking-water

👋 SOCIAL MEDIA 👋

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=6884833968848474112

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 Google's forgotten device

01:01 Clean Water: A Moonshot Challenge?

02:21 Google H2E

04:35 Missing the Target (by 10x)

05:45 Open-Sourcing

07:05 More competition?

08:30 The Main Problem

10:31 Giving Up?

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What if electron-rich Water Gas Molecules could target and destroy PFAS... for cheaper than PFAS removal technologies? Check it out!

For more water tech insights, subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/6884833968848474112/

🙌 Supporters 🙌

A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab

And a great shout-out to Blue Foot Membranes: https://link.dww.show/bluefoot

️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

H2Plus Website: https://h2plus.com/

Degradation of PFAS with Hydrated Electrons: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.2c01469

H2Plus Patents: https://patents.google.com/?q=(%22H2plus%22)&oq=%22H2plus%22 Ican

My Due Diligence on H2Plus's Technology:

My conversation with Gerald Pollack: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTnqiNMolpg

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Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

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Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

02:31 Understanding Restructured Water Molecules

03:31 The Technology Behind H2 Plus

09:23 Comparing Technologies: Electrochemical Oxidation and Ozone

15:45 Applications and Success Stories

20:00 Focus on PFAS Destruction

23:09 Michigan Pilot Project

28:33 Successful Trials and Studies

30:56 Explaining the Technology

34:10 Challenges and Drawbacks

37:02 Commercial Scale and Market Adoption

44:34 Future Vision and Goals

46:54 Rapid Fire Questions

51:32 Conclusion and Call to Action

WaterTech #PFAS

About this Video: Welcome to the (don't) Waste Water podcast! In each episode, Antoine Walter from DWW Media shares water, wastewater & water entrepreneurship stories. This show will teach you the water industry like you've never seen it. If you're asking how the water sector will overcome the water crises ahead, this video is for you.

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PFAS destruction for a lower cost than PFAS removal: Transformational or Questionable? Let's find out!

For more water tech insights, subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/6884833968848474112/

🙌 Supporters 🙌

A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab

And a great shout-out to Blue Foot Membranes: https://link.dww.show/bluefoot

️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

H2Plus Website: https://h2plus.com/

Degradation of PFAS with Hydrated Electrons: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.2c01469

H2Plus Patents: https://patents.google.com/?q=(%22H2plus%22)&oq=%22H2plus%22 Ican

Cooper's PFAS cost estimates: https://nyfederation.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/pdf2024/11%20CooperI.pdf

GWI's PFAS market map is available on their data platform: https://www.gwiwaterdata.com/

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 The $9 Billion PFAS Game

02:07 Hydrated Electrons?

04:14 Defluorinating PFAS

05:10 Generating Hydrated Electrons

06:04 Pros and Cons of Hydrated Electrons

07:42 H2Plus' Twist on Hydrated Electrons

10:03 Does H2Plus's approach work?

10:27 At What Cost?

12:59 What's H2Plus's TRL?

14:30 My Personal Take

15:18 To Learn More

16:23 Sponsor: SimpleLab

PFAS #WaterTreatment #WaterTech

🎙️ PODCAST 🎙️

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

👋 SOCIAL MEDIA 👋

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dwwpodcast/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AntoineWalter7

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What's the Water Secret that 99% of Climate Investors are Missing? Listen to This!

Wanna dive deeper into water investment? Get my FREE exhaustive list of water tech investors (that cut 2+ checks) here: https://investors.dww.show/

🙌 Supporters 🙌

A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab

And a great shout-out to Blue Foot Membranes: https://link.dww.show/bluefoot

️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

PureTerra Ventures' website: https://www.pureterra.com/

Connect with Gijs: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gijsdebruin/

Drop Alex a message: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexander-crowell-52196a45/

Get in touch with Dylan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dylan-perales/

Reach out to Liza: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizafaber/

Get to know Transcend: https://transcendinfra.com/

XPV Water Partners: https://xpvwaterpartners.com/

My conversation with Tom Ferguson (Burnt Island Ventures): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4g-8j8ulWNA

My interview with Peter Yolles (Echo River Capital): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sayph9at-kY

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 In This Week's Episode

00:32 Fast Forward to 2033

04:11 The Origin Story

07:54 A Crazy Idea?

10:27 First Investment, First Failure

13:10 Sponsor: SimpleLab

13:47 Learning from Failure

19:22 PureTerra's Signature DD

23:41 The Entrepreneur/Investor Bond

26:25 Sponsor: BlueFoot Membranes

27:19 Water: A Difficult Market?

30:30 An inflection point?

32:41 Water: a Specialist Play

35:35 Building Track Record

37:02 The Coolest Kid

40:48 The Vision

43:58 The Mission

46:20 Conclusion

WaterInvestment #VentureCapital

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3 Radical Approaches Solving Water Scarcity Today, in just one video! More #water insights?

Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/6884833968848474112/

🙌 Supporters 🙌

A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab

And a great shout-out to Blue Foot Membranes: https://link.dww.show/bluefoot

️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

Black Jaguar Foundation: https://blackjaguarfoundation.org/

Tree Love: https://treelove.org/

IMTA (Mexican Institute for Water Technology): https://www.gob.mx/imta

Teaser for ⁨@scienswater⁩ 's 2025 conference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rx4Dq7gMXSk

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 Introduction

03:25 1 - Poor Pay $100, Rich Pay $40

14:06 2 - Skip One Flood, Save Millions

26:29 3 - $1 Trees vs €10 Trees

37:48 Take Home Message

📝 IN THIS WEEK'S EPISODE

🌳 How planting indigenous Amazon trees creates water corridors and helps farmers comply with Brazil's 20% reforestation law while fighting invasive grass species

💧 Why Guatemala's private water company extracts from 1,200 feet deep because the first 600 feet are too polluted, and how they provide 30% of the municipality's water supply

🏛️ How Mexico's sinking cathedral reveals groundwater overextraction challenges, while 70-80% of water goes to flood irrigation agriculture

💰 Why the poorest communities pay $100/month for water while middle-class pays $40, and how lack of trust in tap water quality drives bottled water spending

📊 How smart irrigation technology and real-time soil moisture monitoring can save millions of cubic meters by reducing just one flood irrigation event per crop cycle

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Why do we choose expensive over affordable in Water? Let's use the Permian Basin's example to make a point: wastewater reuse is the way!

More #water insights? Subscribe to my newsletter on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=6884833968848474112

🙌 Supporters 🙌

A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab

And a great shout-out to Blue Foot Membranes: https://link.dww.show/bluefoot

️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

My TED Talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/antoine_walter_what_s_the_value_of_your_poop

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Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

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Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

📝 IN THIS WEEK'S EPISODE

💰 How the Permian Basin produces 3.5 million cubic meters of water daily but only reuses 25% - and why the math actually favors reuse at $8.22 vs $9.55 per barrel

🏜️ Why oil fields in America's driest regions dispose of enough water to fill 1,400 swimming pools daily instead of reusing it in desert conditions

⚖️ The complex economics behind water reuse decisions involving treatment costs, transport expenses, mineral recovery opportunities, and earthquake liability insurance

🔬 How produced water contains valuable minerals like lithium (30 ppm) and magnesium (1000 ppm) that could generate 40 cents per barrel in additional revenue

🏭 Why data centers and industrial cooling operations in the Permian create new markets for treated produced water

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Wanna know why Big Pharma is Knocking on This French Startup's Door? Listen to this!

More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

🙌 Supporters 🙌

A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab

And a great shout-out to Blue Foot Membranes: https://link.dww.show/bluefoot

️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

Diamidex's crowdfunding campaign: https://www.invesdor.com/rounds/0cd04be7-da71-4b8f-be26-6a778d2648dd?utm_campaign=c.diamidex_nr1.ex&utm_source=website&utm_medium=referral#/

The 2022 Nobel Prize they leverage in their technology: https://www.nobelprize.org/uploads/2022/10/press-chemistryprize2022-2.pdf

Diamidex's website: https://diamidex.com/

Connect with Sam on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-dukan/

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 In this week's Episode

01:31 Should you invest in Diamidex?

03:34 Technological Breakthroughs in Microbial Detection

11:11 Development Journey and Challenges

20:21 Product Launch and Market Feedback

28:21 Future Prospects and Innovations

32:38 Addressing the Elephant in the Room: Regulation

35:57 Global Adoption and Market Strategies

47:24 Business Model and Revenue Streams

53:56 Future Vision and Growth Strategies

59:33 Rapid Fire Questions and Closing Remarks

📝 IN THIS WEEK'S EPISODE

🔬 How a 10-year journey from CNRS research director to water tech entrepreneur led to a breakthrough that counts microorganisms 4-7x faster than century-old Petri dish methods

🚀 Why this technology delivers results in 6 hours for E. coli instead of 24 hours and 2 days for Legionella instead of 10 days, while maintaining exact regulatory compliance

💡 The secret sauce combining optics, click chemistry (Nobel Prize 2022), and machine learning that makes invisible microbes visible and countable at the micro-colony stage

🏭 How major pharmaceutical and beverage companies are knocking on Diamidex's door, with one global partnership launching end of 2024 and acquisition talks already underway

💰 The razor-blade business model targeting 75-80% recurring revenue from consumables, with equipment potentially given free to high-volume customers, generating €500K annually

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I analyzed 139 publicly traded water companies and discovered a simple formula that predicts their valuations using just three parameters: position on the "boring-to-hype spectrum," percentage of digital revenue, and percentage of recurring revenue. This formula reveals systematic market mispricing that creates 8-25% annual return opportunities by exploiting Wall Street's ignorance of water industry fundamentals. Wanna find out? Listen to this!

More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

🙌 Supporters 🙌

A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab

And a great shout-out to Blue Foot Membranes: https://link.dww.show/bluefoot

️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

The Investor Database: https://investors.dww.show/

My exploration of (failing) Small Cap Water Stocks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Flen_vwx0kQ

My conversations with Nicola Lei Ravello: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s2e13-can-we-turn-finance-astoundingly-into-the-water-sector-s-new-best-ally
https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s5e18-how-to-admit-value-and-actually-overcome-the-economic-risk-of-water

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 Making Money from Water Stocks?

04:39 The Key Data 07:45 Sponsor: SimpleLab

08:28 Finding 1

10:36 Finding 2

12:02 Finding 3

13:30 Finding 4

15:13 Finding 5

17:02 Finding 6

18:50 Finding 7

19:57 Bonus Finding

22:11 Sponsor: Blue Foot Membranes

23:07 Strategy 1

24:59 Strategy 2

27:07 Strategy 3

29:14 Bonus Strategy

31:57 Conclusion

In this week's episode:
After analyzing 139 publicly traded water companies and uncovering systematic market mispricing, this water engineer reveals seven data-driven insights showing how water stocks trade at a 12% discount to the S&P 500 despite their defensive characteristics, with Asian companies undervalued by 50% and digital transformation creating 65% valuation premiums. The research exposes three investment strategies ranging from conservative "boring money" portfolios to aggressive geographic arbitrage plays that could potentially deliver 8-25% annual returns by exploiting Wall Street's lack of water industry expertise.

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Wanna learn how to comply with PFAS Removal targets with the lowest risk and without breaking the bank? Listen to this!

More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

🙌 Supporters 🙌

A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab

And a great shout-out to Blue Foot Membranes: https://link.dww.show/bluefoot

️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

Mirka's email: MWilderer@aqueousvets.com

AqueoUS Vets' website: https://aqueousvets.com/home

PFAS Sensing with FREDsense: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s12e18

Bain Capital acquires AqueoUS Vets: https://www.baincapital.com/news/water-treatment-innovator-aqueous-vets-secures-growth-investment-bain-capital-double-impact

My conversation with Transcend (ages ago! 😅): https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/17-save-time-boost-value-and-wow-customers-in-a-snap-with-these-5-simple-ai-steps

AqueoUS Vets acquires Dixie Tanks: https://www.pehub.com/bain-capital-backed-aqueous-vets-buys-manufacturer-dixie-tank-company/

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 Introduction

01:45 Private Equity and Water Investments

04:54 AqueoUS Vets: Vision and Strategy

06:08 Innovations in PFAS Removal

08:40 Concept to Commission Approach

11:22 Nationwide Expansion and Vertical Integration

15:04 Media Agnostic Solutions

21:18 Future Technologies and Market Trends

26:11 The Importance of Focus in Business Strategy

28:03 Competing with Industry Giants

31:19 Navigating US Tariffs and Local Manufacturing

33:29 The Future of PFAS Regulation and Market Growth

36:44 Bain's Role and Impact Investment

42:39 Scaling and Operational Efficiency

47:51 Rapid Fire Questions

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Is this the end of Mineral Water? Or just the end of Nestlé Waters? Listen to this!

More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

🙌 Supporters 🙌

A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab

And a great shout-out to Blue Foot Membranes: https://link.dww.show/bluefoot

️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

Lithiated Water - Health Hack or Snake Oil? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNm9fDAAUzk

PFAS in your Tap Water? Don't Panic! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPLgE2ZuSqk

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 5 Million Perrier Bottles Destroyed

00:53 The End of Perrier?

09:28 Why Europeans Venerate Mineral Water

11:01 How Perrier Kickstarted a $300B Industry

12:53 The Ever Increasing Groundwater Contamination

17:14 Epilogue (will Nestlé Sell?)

About this Podcast:

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Why is a mildly successful Water Tech company valued at almost twice the S&P500 M&A average? And how is that link to Private Equity's appetite for water companies? Let's find out!

More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

🙌 Supporters 🙌

A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab

And a great shout-out to Blue Foot Membranes: https://link.dww.show/bluefoot

️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

Pennybacker acquires Cambrian: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTWw9A3S7hU

Sciens Water's Take at the US Water Crisis: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrmORG1scuqIo9oW3O5rLcSe--SulfqHz

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 LG Chem's Water Solutions Sales

00:28 The Story

05:55 The 3 Reasons to Sell

09:17 Private Equity's Appetite for Water

13:57 What Now?

15:49 My 4 Bolt-On Acquisitions Ideas

19:06 Why This Matters (a lot!)

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Why is the Global Water Summit the Davos of Water? Watch this video and you'll find out!

More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

🙌 Supporters 🙌

A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab

And a great shout-out to Blue Foot Membranes: https://link.dww.show/bluefoot

️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

GWI Waterdata: https://www.gwiwaterdata.com/

UltraFacility: https://www.ultrafacility.io/

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 The Most Influential Water Conference

02:11 1 - Water Meets Money

27:51 2 - 5 Water Analyst Picks

38:29 3 - My Take-Home from GWS 25

46:17 4 - 7 Picks from Select Experts

53:04 What's next?

WaterMeetsMoney #WaterTech

About this Podcast: Welcome to the (don't) Waste Water podcast! In each episode, Antoine Walter from DWW Media shares water, wastewater & water entrepreneurship stories. This show will teach you the water industry like you've never seen it. If you're asking how the water sector will overcome the water crises ahead, this video is for you.

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PFAS testing in Water takes 1-3 months according to the AWWA. How can FREDsense make it happen in 5 Days instead without cutting corners? Listen to this!

More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

🙌 Supporters 🙌

A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab

And a great shout-out to Blue Foot Membranes: https://link.dww.show/bluefoot

️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

FREDsense's website: https://fredsense.com/

Reach out to Emily on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilyhicks12/

Check out Julie Bliss Mullen's interview on the podcast: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s11e2-how-aclarity-bootstrapped-its-journey-from-b2c-to-pfas-destruction

Flashback to Meena Sankaran's appearance on the mic': https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s3e7-is-software-to-measure-water-quality-actually-a-matter-of-hardware

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 In this week's episode

01:27 The EPA vs AWWA PFAS lawsuit

04:20 The Economic Impact of PFAS Regulations

06:37 FREDsense and Emily Hicks' journey

10:51 Technical Insights

15:13 Real-World Applications and Case Studies

32:58 PFAS Market Demand and Education

36:51 Global Market Focus and Expansion

39:18 Hardware Development and Bootstrapping

45:48 Business Models and Revenue Streams

47:27 Future Vision and Technological Roadmap

54:51 Rapid Fire Questions

📝 IN THIS WEEK'S EPISODE

🚀 How FREDsense delivers PFAS testing in 5 days vs. industry standard 5 weeks through biosensor technology

💰 The bootstrapped journey from $25K water bottle crowdfunding campaign to pioneering field PFAS detection kits

🔬 Why the company pivoted from arsenic and COVID detection to focusing purely on PFAS chemistry and unmet market needs

🛠️ What makes on-site PFAS testing possible: polymer-based biosensors that bind and measure down to part-per-trillion levels

🤝 Strategic partnerships with treatment leaders like Clarity, Axl, and Avivo for service lab rapid turnaround offerings

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Just received a PFAS Notice at home? Don't panic - let's go through it together!

️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

Johns Hopkins study on PFAS in Bottled Water: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34118648/

Study on PFAS in Beer: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40272161/

The Toronto Paper on LCMS to detect PFAS at ppt levels: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/ac0100648

Decline in vaccine efficiency linked with blood PFAS levels: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22274686/

Increased cholesterol linked with PFAS in blood: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3116641/

Pregnancy disorders linked with PFAS: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35696844/

The AWWA vs EPA lawsuit: https://www.awwa.org/resource/pfas/

Tapscore's PFAS screening test: https://mytapscore.com/products/epa-8327-pfas-screen-water-test

10 PFAS questions answered: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dlH0RSCtH0

🎙️ PODCAST 🎙️

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

👋 SOCIAL MEDIA 👋

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 The PFAS letter

01:23 Detecting PFAS

04:12 There's PFAS. Then what?

06:01 PFAS contamination odds

07:30 PFAS Health Impacts

08:47 3 Wrong Reactions

09:25 PFAS in Bottled Water

13:54 PFAS in Beer

14:42 Solution 1

17:57 Solution 2

19:31 The BEST Solution

22:10 Next Steps

📝 IN THIS VIDEO

💌 Why you're receiving PFAS notification letters and what they actually mean for your health and water quality

🧪 The surprising truth about PFAS in bottled water and beer, with eye-opening research revealing widespread contamination

💰 Why individual filtration costs 200 times more than community solutions, with a detailed cost breakdown of all your options

🚿 Three practical solutions to protect your family from PFAS, with one clear winner that most people overlook

🔬 How water analytics has evolved from detecting "poo in your drinking water" to measuring trace contaminants at parts per trillion

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How can Swirltex claim to succeed where membranes always failed? Listen to this!

More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

🙌 Supporters 🙌

A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab

And a great shout-out to Blue Foot Membranes: https://link.dww.show/bluefoot

️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Episode #️⃣

Connect with Peter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-christou-4b758043/

Swirltex' website: https://swirltex.com/

Peter's first appearance on the podcast: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s11e5-how-swirltex-nearly-crushed-its-founder-before-taking-off

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 In this Week's Episode

01:49 Innovation in Membrane Technology

04:32 Strategic Pivot and Market Focus

08:39 Sales and Testing Process

16:31 Client Relationships and Support

21:31 Market Expansion and Partnerships

25:45 Scaling and Growth Strategy

30:49 Future Plans and Market Expansion

40:15 Execution and Infrastructure

48:18 2030 Vision

📝 IN THIS WEEK'S EPISODE

🔄 How Swirltex's revolutionary membrane technology creates a 50/50 air-water mixture under pressure, achieving unprecedented filtration performance without traditional pre-treatment

💰 Why the company's strategic pivot to standardized membrane skids builds 24% recurring revenue while targeting Food & Beverage as their primary vertical (90% of sales)

🌊 How their unique testing process allows clients to see exact removal rates before proposals, solving consistency problems that plague traditional filtration technologies like DAF

🚀 Inside the company's growth strategy, balancing $5M in confirmed projects while raising capital to scale from direct sales to channel partners and OEM relationships

🔬 The technological breakthrough that makes their membranes excel at handling oil, grease, and colloidal materials that would quickly foul conventional membrane systems

About this Podcast:

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This simple sequence makes 83% of Water Founders Leave Early - that's what I found, investigating 1571 water tech companies and their 3356 founders!

More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

🙌 Supporters 🙌

A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab

And a great shout-out to Blue Foot Membranes: https://link.dww.show/bluefoot

️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Episode #️⃣

The Dynamics of Water Innovation Book: https://www.bluetechresearch.com/the-dynamics-of-water-innovation/

Global Water Intelligence's WaterData: https://www.gwiwaterdata.com/

My Review of Paul O'Callaghan's book: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A36PsBc1cnc

My deep dive in Water Tech's growth stage investment scene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqQwOC-ys4c

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 Why start-up founders matter to investors

01:02 The Universal Sequence

02:33 3 Red Flags that Predict Failure

03:45 Methodology

05:40 Sponsor
06:26 1. Founders' Profile

08:23 2. Fundraising Events
10:06 3. Market Events

12:13 4. Team Development

15:02 5. Board Structure

16:47 6. Future Evolution

18:24 Sponsor

📝 IN THIS WEEK'S EPISODE

🔍 The critical 5-step sequence that predicts 83% of founder departures (and how board appointments trigger the countdown)

💼 Why hiring velocity is the second strongest predictor of founder exits, and what happens when a company reaches 80 employees

🚩 The three red flags that doom startups after founder departures, including why losing two founders in 24 months leads to 72% failure rate

💰 How fundraising impacts founder tenure and why hardware companies see 8% higher founder turnover than software startups

🌐 The surprising geographical differences in founder longevity across regions and what market milestones actually keep founders engaged

About this Podcast:

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Ever wondered if unbreakable membranes really existed? Listen to this!

More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

🙌 Supporters 🙌

A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab

And a great shout-out to Blue Foot Membranes: https://link.dww.show/bluefoot

️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Episode #️⃣

Connect with Stephan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephan-van-hoof-bb77316/

BlueFoot Membranes was spun out from VITO: https://vito.be/en

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 In this Week's Episode

01:38 The Membrane Market

04:38 Unique Features and Benefits

11:03 Stephan's Journey and Blue Foot's Growth

16:01 Commercial Strategy and Partnerships

22:44 Global Expansion Strategies

27:39 OEM Strategy and Customer Relations

32:46 Future Growth and Funding Plans

37:27 Rapid Fire Questions

📝 IN THIS WEEK'S EPISODE

🧠 How Blue Foot combines the best features of flat sheet, tubular, and ceramic membranes into one unbreakable solution

💧 The journey from VITO spin-off to scaling a disruptive membrane technology with OEM partnerships across Europe, Southeast Asia, and Australia

⚡ The real-world benefits of 50% lower energy consumption and compact footprint that's changing how industries approach water reuse

💼 Why Blue Foot's strategic fundraising of €15 million supports their ambitious 2028 target of €40 million revenue with 100% annual growth

🏭 How breakthrough membrane technology is enabling water reuse in challenging industrial applications like breweries and slaughterhouses

About this Podcast:

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Are 100x multiples achievable in Water Tech when no-one ever reached 10x? Peter Yolles (Echo River Capital) believes so... and he's on track to prove it!

How? Listen to this!

More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

🙌 Supporters 🙌

A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab

And a great shout-out to Blue Foot Membranes: https://link.dww.show/bluefoot

️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

Echo River Capital: https://www.echorivercap.com/

Reach out to Peter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yolles/

Epic Cleantec on the mic': https://link.dww.show/epic

Aclarity on the mic': https://link.dww.show/pfas-aclarity

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

📝 IN THIS WEEK'S EPISODE

💸 How Echo River Capital aims for 100X returns in water tech and why Peter believes it's possible within a 10-year investment window

🔬 The "Three Ds" investment thesis - digitize, decarbonize, and decentralize - that guides Peter's strategy in the water technology sector

🏢 Why the 20th century centralized water systems are collapsing and how new decentralized solutions represent billion-dollar opportunities

🌎 How water tech companies can monetize carbon reductions through voluntary carbon markets, opening new revenue streams beyond traditional water utility customers

🚀 Why Peter focuses on university spin-outs with validated technology but pre-commercial status, and how this approach shortens the path to successful exits

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

02:23 The Quest for 100x Returns in Water Tech

07:17 Peter's Journey from Entrepreneur to Investor

09:13 Echo River's Unique Approach to Early-Stage Investments

21:32 The Three Ds of Water Tech

26:48 Decarbonization and Its Business Potential

30:48 The Future of Water Tech Investments

35:17 Is 100x Achievable?

40:18 Investor Literacy in Water

47:47 Future of Water Investments

01:02:18 Rapid Fire Questions

About this Podcast:

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What if decentralized water bottle plants were the key to providing safe and affordable drinking water to rural communities? Learn how in this World Water Day Special!

More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

🙌 Supporters 🙌

A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://gosimplelab.com/

And a great shout-out to Blue Foot Membranes: https://bluefootmembranes.com/

️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

1001 Fontaines' website: https://www.1001fontaines.com/

Amandine's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandine-muret-1a14b369/

Send Amandine a mail: am.muret@1001fontaines.com

My conversation with Gary White: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s11e13-the-world-s-best-water-entrepreneur-actually-runs-a-charity

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

📝 IN THIS WEEK'S EPISODE

🧪 How 1001 Fontaines pioneered a business-minded approach to water access 20 years ago when most NGOs strongly opposed the idea of selling water to vulnerable populations

🏗️ The innovative decentralized water kiosk model that empowers local entrepreneurs while ensuring water quality, service continuity, and affordability

💰 Why focusing on drinking water quality (1.5L per person daily) rather than complete domestic water needs creates a more sustainable and effective solution in rural areas

🌏 How the organization has evolved from Cambodia to Madagascar and Bangladesh, adapting its model from rural kiosks to urban hub-and-spoke systems while maintaining its core mission

🔄 The challenges of working in regulatory "gray areas" and why bottled water as a utility deserves recognition in global water access frameworks

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 Introduction

02:03 Changing Our Approach of Water Development

03:57 The Role of Bottled Water in Rural Areas

04:58 World Water Day Reflections

06:17 The Complexity of Safe Water Access

08:54 1001 Fountains' Unique Model

11:21 Entrepreneurial Approach to Water Development

25:36 Sustainability and Long-Term Impact

39:13 Navigating Legal and Policy Challenges

44:45 Marketing Strategies and Entrepreneur Support

55:28 Funding and Financial Strategies

59:50 Future Directions

01:09:29 Rapid Fire Questions

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What if your next AI prompt could help restore wetlands and improve water security? Listen to this!

More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

🙌 Supporters 🙌

A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://gosimplelab.com/

And a great shout-out to Blue Foot Membranes: https://bluefootmembranes.com/

️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

Connect with Will Hewes on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-hewes-61947232/

Check out Amazon's take to Water Stewardship: https://sustainability.aboutamazon.com/natural-resources/water

My conversation with Botanical Water: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/how-tomatoes-become-drinking-water-and-microsoft-wants-in

My conversation with FIDO Tech: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s5e4-how-to-save-time-money-and-water-thanks-to-92-accurate-leak-detection

My discussion with Lauren Kenyon Enright on measuring Water Stewardship: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s11e9-how-to-end-bullshit-and-measure-your-water-stewardship-commitments-right

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

📝 IN THIS WEEK'S EPISODE

💧 How AWS manages water in data centers while pursuing ambitious water-positive goals by 2030

🔍 The tech and strategies making AWS 10x more water-efficient than industry average with just 0.18L per kilowatt-hour

♻️ Why recycled wastewater and smart replenishment projects are the foundation of AWS's sustainability approach

📊 The metrics and methodology behind AWS's water-positive pledge and how they've already reached 41% of their target

🌱 Real-world examples of innovative water projects in Chile, Brazil, and Ohio that are transforming local watersheds and agriculture

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 Introduction

02:27 Editorial

05:19 Water Efficiency in Data Centers

13:56 Replenishment Goals and Strategies

22:07 Community-Driven Water Replenishment Projects

25:14 Balancing Innovation and Risk

30:39 Scaling Agricultural Water Efficiency

35:36 Future of Water Replenishment and Sustainability

39:29 Rapid Fire Questions

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What went on at Aquatech Amsterdam 2025? What's to remember and take home? Listen to this!

More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

Check out SimpleLab: https://gosimplelab.com/

Check out Blue Foot Membranes: https://bluefootmembranes.com/

️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

Hope Hydration: https://www.hopehydration.com/

QUA's nomination for the Global Water Awards: https://globalwaterawards.com/

Holland Sensor: https://hollandsensor.com/

SUIKI by TDK: https://suiki.earth/

REDstack: https://www.redstack.nl/

Oxyle: https://oxyle.com/

Aquagga: https://www.aquagga.com/

Puraffinity: https://www.puraffinity.com/technology

Purgatoria: https://purgatoria.nl/en/

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 Key Facts about Aquatech 2025

00:51 Pick 5: Hope Hydration

15:31 Pick 4: QUA

24:07 Pick 3: Holland Sensor

33:12 Pick 2: SUIKI (by TDK)

44:49 Pick 1: REDstack

1:04:15 Aquatech's Digital Derby

1:07:11 Contestant 1: Oxyle

1:11:32 Contestant 2: Aquagga

1:16:50 Contestant 3: Puraffinity

1:21:27 Audience Questions

1:24:55 And the winner is...

1:25:39 Closing Thoughts

About this Podcast:

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China proposed to add direct lithium extraction technologies to its export control list. In short: DLE Tech faces an export ban!

What consequences will it have for Lithium Projects around the World? Who's secretly celebrating this export ban, and why? What are quick fixes and long-term solutions? How does this play more broadly in China's long game in the EV revolution? Let's find out!

Check out SimpleLab: https://gosimplelab.com/

Check out Blue Foot Membranes: https://bluefootmembranes.com/

️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

My exploration of Eramet (and beyond) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3bMCdZj760

My interview with Standard Lithium's CEO - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rz3w6IAy_38

My exploration of the Salton Sea - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fN9pmk83_xo

My short on Simbol Material - https://www.youtube.com/shorts/q_2SCrDkC-A

My Lithium Project - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeZJpBySIQo

🎙️ PODCAST 🎙️

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

👋 SOCIAL MEDIA 👋

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 The Chinese ban on DLE Technology Export

01:10 What is China "Retiring"?

06:35 Which Lithium Projects are Impacted?

17:22 Who are the Winners?

24:02 Why did China ban the export of DLE Tech?

DLE #Lithium #DirectLithiumExtraction

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Turing just raised a $14 million Series A to further develop its Artificial Intelligence solutions applied to ware. Curious about the full story? Listen to this!

More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

Big thanks to my sponsor, SimpleLab: https://gosimplelab.com/

️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

Turing's Series A: https://theturingcompany.com/turing-secures-14-million-to-scale-ai-powered-water-management-solutions/

Hiep Le's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hiep-le-187a7a14/

Prakash Govindan's appearance on the podcast: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s11e1-an-unpopular-challenging-yet-true-take-on-venture-capital-in-water

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 In this weel's Episode

02:57 Turing's Journey

05:18 Understanding Real-Time Operational Excellence

07:22 The Story Behind Turing's Formation

12:36 Turing's $14 Million Series A Round

19:24 Turing's Diverse Clientele and Solutions

21:47 Innovations in Singapore's Water Management

24:24 Ideal Customer Profiles & Business Model

29:06 Geographical Expansion

31:20 Adoption Hurdles and Customer Retention

33:49 Revenue, Profitability, and Future Goals

37:51 Rapid Fire Questions

About this Podcast:

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Wanna know how the mountains of shrimp shells polluting our landfills could actually clean our water? Listen to this!

More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

A big thanks to my sponsor, SimpleLab! https://gosimplelab.com/

In short: CrustaTec is transforming shrimp shell waste into sustainable water treatment solutions. Using chitosan, a polymer extracted from shrimp shells, they've developed both a filter for textile dye removal and a natural flocculant for wastewater treatment that offers an eco-friendly alternative to traditional chemical treatments.

️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Episode #️⃣

Crustatec's website: http://crustatec.com/

Maria's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amorinmariaisabel/

The World Bank's Water Youth Innovation Challenge: https://blogs.worldbank.org/en/jobs/calling-youth-aquapreneurs-water-your-innovations-climate-crisis

The EAWAG's website: https://www.eawag.ch/en/

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

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Wanna see the Future of the Water Industry? Listen to this!

More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

A big thanks to my sponsor, SimpleLab! https://gosimplelab.com/

I know the future - so let me share it!

Indeed, yes, I did it again: I drowned myself in 153'482 LinkedIn ads for the keywords "Water" and "Wastewater" from Q2 to Q3 2024 (using a “slightly homemade” scraping approach - please forgive me, LinkedIn!).

I did so, looking for the signals companies believe will make them money in 2025 - that's how I know the future.

Why ads, you ask? Well, for a simple reason: businesses rarely burn ad budgets on dead-ends.

So, if they’re paying to talk about it, they must see an ROI!

Here’s the executive summary of what I learned: that's hopefully enough to give you plenty of conversation starters and investment hints!

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 Why and How I Investigated LinkedIn Ads

07:27 Where is the Real Money Flowing?

10:44 What's behind the buzzword Innovation?

13:53 Which water crisis are companies betting on?

17:03 Sponsor: SimpleLab

17:56 Who's Hiring? And for Which Roles?

21:08 Utilities vs Tech Providers

23:16 What's Overlooked or Oversaturated?

26:18 How are Events shaping the Conversation?

29:00 Which buzzwords lead the Narrative?

31:55 Overall Patterns & FInal Thoughts

WaterTech #WaterIndustry

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🦄 Is Water Tech's Second Unicorn Valuation or Speculation? Let's find out!

More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

🎙️ PODCAST 🎙️

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

📝 Let's review:

💰 The surprising details behind GI Aqua Tech's billion-dollar valuation and what it means for water tech

🔄 How GI Aqua Tech's 25-30x multiple compares against industry standards and tech sector benchmarks

🌟 The Saudi connection: unpacking the Modon contract and its role in justifying the unicorn status

🤔 The clever marketing strategy behind self-proclaimed unicorn status and its potential implications for future funding rounds

and... if I missed anything, let's discuss it in the comments!

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Liquid-liquid extraction technology, when implemented innovatively, can transform lithium extraction by dramatically reducing costs and environmental impact! Wanna understand how? Listen to this!

More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

Thanks to my sponsor, SimpleLab! Check them out ➡️ https://gosimplelab.com/

️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

Altillion's website: https://www.altillion.com/

Connect with Jay Keener on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jay-keener/

My conversation with Chris Wyres from Evove: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s9e7-how-to-eradicate-dead-zones-cut-energy-needs-by-80-and-double-lithium-selectivity

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 Introduction and Background

02:04 Startup Life in Watertech

04:35 Deep Dive into Liquid-Liquid Extraction

10:46 Jay Keener's Entrepreneurial Journey

15:05 The Story of Xedia Process Solutions

22:14 The Birth of Altillion

29:04 Altillion's Focus on Lithium Extraction

34:11 Collaboration with DLE Companies

41:40 Pilot Projects and Future Plans

54:11 Rapid Fire Questions

🔄 Traditional solvent extraction requires 5-7 stages with minutes of residence time per stage - Altillion achieves better results in just 2 stages with seconds of residence time

🧪 Recovery efficiency remains consistent regardless of starting concentration - they can extract lithium down to 3-4 ppm whether starting from 20 ppm or 2000 ppm

💰 The focus in lithium extraction is shifting from OpEx to CapEx reduction due to high interest rates and financing challenges

🤝 In nascent industries like lithium extraction, collaboration between "competitors" often creates more value than pure competition

🏭 What looks like a complex water treatment flowsheet is actually a simple mining/oil & gas project by industry standards

🔄 While most companies scale up their pilot plants, Altillion actually built a smaller second pilot unit because their first one was too large for potential partners' testing needs.

🧪 Despite being based in Texas with deep oil & gas expertise, they shifted focus away from oilfield brines toward mining brines - not because the technology didn't work, but because it worked too well, extracting even trace amounts of lithium effectively.

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🌊 The Investment Wave is Coming to Water, But Does it Make a Splash? Let's find out!

🧑‍🔬 SPONSORS 💰

A big thanks to today's sponsors:

SimpleLab - https://gosimplelab.com/

Sciens Water - https://scienswater.com/

️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

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👋 SOCIAL MEDIA 👋

More #water insights?

Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 In This Week's Episode

01:27 Challenges and Opportunities in Water Investment

04:52 The Trillion Dollar Water Infrastructure Opportunity

05:56 Private Equity and Water Investment

07:10 The Water Investment Pyramid

09:06 Specialist Investors' Insights

10:44 The Importance of Repeat Investments

13:20 Transition Finance and Water

24:43 The Role of Impact Funds

32:13 Investment Opportunities and Challenges

35:22 Water Sector Investment Trends

38:56 The Future of Water Technology

43:18 Building a Water Investment Ecosystem

54:57 Concluding Thoughts on Water Investment

WaterInvestment #VentureCapital #CleanTech

It goes without saying but... none of this is investment advice!

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Wanna understand PFAS? What makes them "forever chemicals"? What to do with them when they're in water? What the regulation says? Listen to this!

More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

Environmental Working Group PFAS Map: https://www.ewg.org/interactive-maps/pfas_contamination/

Northeastern University PFAS Sites Map: https://pfasproject.com/pfas-contamination-site-tracker/

My interview with Julie Bliss Mullen (Aclarity): https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s11e2-how-aclarity-bootstrapped-its-journey-from-b2c-to-pfas-destruction

My conversation with Fajer Mushtaq (Oxyle): https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s11e6-how-oxyle-destroys-pfas-with-the-energy-you-d-actually-waste

My podcast with Kobe Nagar (374Water): https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s4e15-is-supercritical-water-oxidation-a-solution-for-pfas-energy-more

My conversation with Henrik Hagemann (Puraffinity): https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s7e15-should-we-really-destroy-pfas-no-your-fridge-knows-a-better-way

🎙️ PODCAST 🎙️

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 You Have PFAS in Your Blood

01:28 What are PFAS?

03:34 Where do we find PFAS?

05:07 How do PFAS end up in Water?

07:27 What are the Health Impacts of PFAS?

08:48 Why is Removing PFAS from Water so Challenging?

11:18 What are the Current PFAS Regulations?

13:56 How much will PFAS Removal Cost?

16:03 What are the Technologies to Remove PFAS?

21:24 How to Destroy PFAS?

25:17 What's Happening Now?

📝 IN THIS EPISODE 📝

🧪 The shocking truth about PFAS in your blood and why even experts can't avoid them

💧 From rainwater to tap water: How these "forever chemicals" infiltrate every water source on Earth

💰 The mind-blowing costs of PFAS removal and why current budgets might not be enough

🔬 Battle-tested technologies that can effectively remove PFAS from water, and their pros and cons

🌍 How different regions are tackling the PFAS challenge, from strict European limits to American lawsuits

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Ever wondered if there was a better way to desalinate water? Listen to this!

More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

My conversation with Alexander's VC investor: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s10e16-the-secret-formula-for-profit-in-water-tech-ventures-tom-ferguson-s-unfair-advantage

My breakdown of 2024's Water Tech Investment Landscape: https://youtu.be/EqQwOC-ys4c

FLocean's website: https://www.flocean.green/

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 In This Week's Episode

01:34 An interesting Investment Coincidence?

04:01 FLocean's Innovative Approach to Desalination

06:43 Technical Insights into Subsea Desalination

11:08 Challenges and Market Opportunities

23:29 First Commercial References

30:36 Business Model and Economic Considerations

38:08 Funding and Prospects

45:28 Rapid Fire Questions

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What's to learn from 2024's pivotal water tech investment year? Let's find out!

➡️ Download the (Free, no strings attached) infographic: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/vngynn1tc9vce8pzjsnds/7-Must-Know-Water-Tech-Trends-For-Investors-Infographic.pdf?rlkey=313r4mwyx3hsl751tmymdjuqk&st=m7zvchez&dl=0

👍 If it's of value to you, make sure to like and subscribe!

️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

2023's Part One: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCfcigu_oPQ

Lithium's Water Impact: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3bMCdZj760

My 2023 interview with Tom Ferguson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4g-8j8ulWNA

Salinity Solutions - SQM's portfolio company: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EoW9QggUk-Q

🎙️ PODCAST 🎙️

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

👋 SOCIAL MEDIA 👋

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 Introduction

01:05 1 - The Billion Dollar Wave

02:41 2 - The 4 Hidden Champions

07:23 3 - The New Money Rush

13:01 4 - America's Grip Loosens

14:31 5 - The Real Pricetags

16:02 6 - Where Are The Exits?

22:48 7 - The Survival Timeline

In this detailed analysis, I look up the transformative trends in Water Tech investment for 2024, highlighting a significant influx in investing but also a high dropout rate of investors. I track investment patterns over the past seven years, noting a dramatic rise in the amount invested and the number of deals made. I investigate 6 categories and 24 subcategories, identifying top investment areas and key players. I also explore the geographic distribution of investments, the proprietary nature of certain investors, and future projections for Water Tech exits and growth - together with Tom Ferguson (Burnt Island Ventures) and Clayton MacDougald (Emerald Technology Ventures).

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As 2024 wraps up, the water sector is buzzing with unprecedented opportunities.

In this special episode, 20+ visionary water leaders share their most powerful insights on how to capture the next wave of innovation and growth in water tech!

🎯 Unlock the success patterns behind water tech's biggest wins in 2024

💡 Get insider knowledge on where smart money is flowing in water for 2025

💰 Learn why water is becoming the next frontier for climate tech investors

From breakthrough water technologies to game-changing investment strategies, this episode distills years of wisdom from the industry's brightest minds.

Featuring exclusive insights from successful founders, innovative water entrepreneurs, and visionary leaders who are transforming the water sector.

🎯 Subscribe now to join my community of forward-thinking water leaders.

That's the best way never to miss these weekly discussions on water innovation, tech breakthroughs, and investment opportunities that are shaping our water-positive future!

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🌊 Think Lithium Mining Wastes Water? Think Again!

More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

Eramet's DLE project in Centenario: https://www.eramet.com/en/activities/lithium/
My review of Veolia's Deep Dive (that discusses the Eramine DLE project): https://youtu.be/LKcUoTlMmdc
Thacker Pass Project by Lithium Americas with AquaTech International: https://lithiumamericas.com/thacker-pass/overview/default.aspx
My exploration of Salinity Solution's batch RO: https://youtu.be/InWaoDkVLNc
My conversation with Evove (Membrane-based DLE): https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s9e7-how-to-eradicate-dead-zones-cut-energy-needs-by-80-and-double-lithium-selectivity
My conversation with EnergyX (Ion Exchange-based DLE): https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s9e5-the-game-changing-company-with-60-patents-that-s-disrupting-the-battery-industry
My conversation with Adionics (Solvent Extraction-based DLE): https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s11e11-how-adionics-took-a-bold-stand-in-the-competitive-dle-landscape

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast
Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW
Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

👋 SOCIAL MEDIA 👋

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🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 The Lithium Water Crisis

02:22 The Water Impact of Spodumene & Evaporation Ponds

03:56 DLE is a "special animal"

06:43 Brine is NOT water

10:38 Getting to Eramet's DLE Plant

12:18 Eramet's approach to DLE

13:47 Where and How to Water Optimize?

17:32 Zooming Out

LithiumMining #WaterTechnology #CleanTech

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📌 Growing Water with Botanical Water Technologies - A Revolutionary Approach to Water Scarcity!

More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

Botanical Water Technologies: https://www.wegrowwater.com/

Their partnership with Microsoft: https://www.wegrowwater.com/post/microsoft-growing-water-for-india

Terry Paule's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/terry-paule/

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

Main Channel: @AntoineWalter

DWW Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

👋 SOCIAL MEDIA 👋

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dwwpodcast/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AntoineWalter7

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 Introduction

01:54 AI's Water Consumption

04:49 Growing Water

08:14 The Journey of Botanical Water Technologies

17:57 Building the Botanical Water Exchange

21:26 The Role of Blockchain in Water Management

37:37 Defining Water Impact Standards

39:13 Implementing Water ATMs in Nagpur

43:13 Future of Water Technology

46:07 Commercialization and Scaling Up

51:16 Fundraising and Investment Strategies

01:01:29 Rapid Fire Questions

WaterInnovation #WaterTech #SustainableWater

📝 IN THIS WEEK'S EPISODE

🌱 The groundbreaking technology behind extracting drinking water from fruits and vegetables, and how it's revolutionizing water access

💧 How Botanical Water Technologies transforms industrial food processing waste into premium drinking water through their innovative Water Harvest Units

🤝 The strategic partnership with Microsoft and the game-changing project delivering 60 million liters of water to communities in Nagpur, India

🔗 The development of the Botanical Water Exchange platform powered by blockchain technology to connect water producers with communities in need

💫 The ambitious vision to scale from 14 to 200 water harvest units by 2025, bringing sustainable water solutions worldwide

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🌊 Direct Air Carbon Capture AND Water Production? The unlikely duo revolutionizing climate action!

More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Episode #️⃣

• Capture 6: https://capture6.com

• Frontier Climate: https://frontierclimate.com/

• Palmdale Water District (Project Monarch partner): https://www.palmdalewater.org/

• California Energy Commission (Grant provider): https://www.energy.ca.gov/

• Elemental Impact/Elemental Accelerator (Investor & incubator): https://elementalimpact.com/elemental-impact/

• My (quite old, sorry!) conversation with with Kim Baker from Elemental Excellerator (at the time): https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s2e4-how-to-be-a-beacon-and-trigger-1-5-billion-new-funding-as-a-fearless-nonprofit

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

👋 SOCIAL MEDIA 👋

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dwwpodcast/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AntoineWalter7

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 Introduction

01:56 Elon Musk's XPRIZE and Carbon Capture

04:27 Introducing: Luke Shors

08:03 Combining Carbon Capture with Water Scarcity Solutions

17:19 Technical Aspects of Capture6's Process

23:32 Project Monarch: A Case Study

34:24 Global Projects and Future Plans

38:13 Business Model and Financing

42:20 Carbon Credits and CDR

46:16 Future Goals and Regulatory Impact

53:08 Rapid Fire Questions

DirectAirCapture #WaterTech #CleanTech

📝 IN THIS WEEK'S EPISODE

🔬 How Capture 6 transforms salt into a revolutionary carbon capture solution while producing fresh water

🌐 The ambitious roadmap across three continents: Project Monarch (US), Project Wallaby (Australia), and Project Octopus (Korea)

💡 Why turning brine management from a cost center into a carbon removal opportunity could be key to scaling water treatment

💰 How tax credits, government support, and innovative business models are making carbon removal viable

🤝 The critical importance of finding the right project partners and investors in the challenging cleantech landscape

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We treat water with oil - true story! Coagulants and Flocculants used in wastewater treatment are oil-based and often feature Polyacrylamide (or PAM). But there's no other way around, right? Well, there's one, and it looks (very!) promising. Wanna find out? Listen to this!

More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

My conversation with Gingko Bioworks: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s10e9-coding-the-future-ginkgo-bioworks-synthesis-of-biology-and-technology

My Growth Story with MembrIon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPlXltrIvWU

Talk with Amielle on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amiellelake/

... or per email: amielle@carbonet.com

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

Main Channel: @AntoineWalter

DWW Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 In This Week's Episode

03:55 Carbonet's Journey

15:46 The Big Spring Show

19:12 Building an Empire

28:23 Exploring Business Models

34:23 Advanced Material Technology and AI

37:41 Commercialization and Future Plans

41:24 Women's Equity Lab and Investment

44:01 Rapid Fire Questions

WaterChemicals #ScaleUp

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Why is everyone suddenly obsessed with water technology? When GE sold its water division in 2017, nobody blinked. But in 2024, Georg Fischer's stock jumped 15% when they announced they're selling everything BUT water! Plus GF's not alone: DuPont and Danaher are making similar moves, and there's a World in which Veolia might move along.

What changed? Water tech companies are expected to grow from $290B to $1.4T in value by 2034. From being seen as "slow-growth" and "low-tech" a decade ago, water technology is now the hottest asset in industrial portfolios. Let's explore what this means for the future of the #WaterSector - and more precisely for #WaterTech companies!

Get my friend Björn to buy me a beer (and pocket the 10% discount) subscribe to Global Water Intelligence using the code "BJOERN10"

My Full Interview with Mads Joergensen (GF's CFO): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Qg05MfjB7g

My (impromptu) coverage of the Xylem/Evoqua Merger: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrwKzgZYj5U

🎙️ PODCAST 🎙️

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

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Georg Fischer (or GF) just announced that it divested its Machining Solutions arm for about 650 million Swiss francs to United Grinding Group and evaluated strategic options to do the same with its Casting Solutions division. Said differently, GF fully embraced its new trajectory: becoming a Water and Flow solutions company, with, on top of this, the ambition to become the World leader at that (starting from number two).

Here's what I discussed with Mads:

Why are companies like GF pivoting entirely toward water solutions?
How does a traditional industrial company make a leap into sustainable infrastructure?
Can the water market really sustain 8% growth?
How do acquisitions fit into GF’s $5 billion revenue goal?
What makes water infrastructure a smart investment right now?
How can investing in water align with sustainable goals?
What’s the "ketchup effect" in mergers and acquisitions?

If you want to follow up with Mads, reach out to him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/madsjoergensen/

Key Ideas

Strategic Shift in Water Sector: GF divested its machining solutions and plans to exit its casting solutions divisions to focus on water-related products. This pivot, welcomed by the market, positions GF as a pure-play water and flow solutions company in response to global water scarcity concerns, increasing the attractiveness of water infrastructure investments.
Acquisition of Uponor: GF’s recent 2.1 billion CHF acquisition of Uponor bolstered its presence in piping systems and set the foundation for a focus on water solutions. GF sees Uponor as essential to consolidating its market position and is pursuing acquisitions in similar companies to reach its revenue goal of 5 billion CHF by 2030.
Market Fragmentation and M&A Strategy: The water market's fragmentation offers GF a path to scale rapidly through strategic acquisitions of companies between $75 million to $125 million, quickly integrating them to build a resilient, scalable business. This acquisition approach aims to make GF the market leader by capitalizing on economies of scale but mostly scope.
Sustainable Investment Appeal: With investors increasingly focused on environmental impact, GF’s shift aligns with sustainability and long-term profitability. Mads Joergensen highlights how water infrastructure is crucial for economic stability and environmental health, positioning GF as a high-impact investment opportunity that appeals to both financial and environmental investors.
Global Expansion Plans: GF is aiming for geographic diversification with a balanced presence across the U.S., Europe, and Asia. This global reach, coupled with sector diversification across building, industrial, and infrastructure flow solutions, offers resilience and positions GF to capitalize on the growing global water market.
Challenges and Caution in Water Innovation: Water technology has long development cycles, sometimes taking decades to reach market maturity. GF’s approach focuses on proven technologies and scalable solutions, reducing exposure to riskier, early-stage innovations.

Hey, and for the sake of full disclosure: this is NOT a sponsored episode (at all), but GF happens to be my employer when I'm not running this podcast 🙂

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You need to know the rules to beat the rules ⬇️

Water innovation takes decades to be adopted: 35 Years for the average water tech!

For their book "The Dynamics of Water Innovation," Paul O'Callaghan and his team reviewed 488 water technologies to identify patterns, timelines (and ways to accelerate them), and some of the specificities of water entrepreneurship.

In this review, I share with you the key learnings, but also my feelings about the book. Spoiler: you should read it!

➡️ Get the book: https://www.braveblue.world/book

📚 Download the supporting research (free): https://edepot.wur.nl/536755

📣 MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE 📣

My interview with Andrew Benedek (Zenon): https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s5e12-how-to-be-alone-early-crazy-but-actually-right-the-history-of-zenon

My conversation with Graeme Pearce (Membranes): https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s2e9-everything-you-always-wanted-to-know-about-mbrs-without-daring-to-ask

Fluence's take at MABRs: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s2e7-this-astonishing-technology-will-turn-the-wastewater-sector-on-its-head-here-s-why

My conversation with Reinhard Hübner (SKion): https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s5e1-the-7-secrets-of-the-water-company-of-the-year-you-shall-absolutely-steal

My interview with Tom Ferguson (Burnt Island Ventures): https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s10e16-the-secret-formula-for-profit-in-water-tech-ventures-tom-ferguson-s-unfair-advantage

🎙️ PODCAST 🎙️

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

👋 SOCIAL MEDIA 👋

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 Technology Adoption in various sectors

02:14 Anatomy of a Winner

05:08 The WaTA Model

08:30 3 Levers to Market Faster

14:23 Why bother?

15:55 Conclusion

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📚 On the bookshelf: Liquid Asset by Barton Thompson

📘 Subtitle: How Business and Government Can Partner to Solve the Freshwater Crisis

What's the thesis of the book?
What are some key learnings you'll get from it?
What are my own thoughts and criticisms about that book?
And ultimately, should you read it?

➡️ Let's review!

Included: My exclusive interview with the author at this year's Rethinking Water Conference in New York, hosted by Sciens Water

By the way, a big thanks to Sciens for inviting me over! Go check them out: https://scienswater.com/

Get the Book: https://www.sup.org/books/politics/liquid-asset

The two conversations I mentioned in the episode:

Water Trading in Australia with Scott Hamilton - https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s4e6-how-water-trading-unbelievably-killed-one-million-fishes-and-a-river
Groundwater Trading in California with Ellen Bruno - https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s4e13-could-we-please-stop-burning-industrial-wastewater-this-is-much-better

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 Introducing: Liquid Asset by Barton Thompson

01:10 The Book's Thesis

12:43 Review & Critique

15:16 Interview with Barton Thompson

25:40 Conclusion

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Gross Wen Technologies reached $15 Million in yearly sales while rolling out in three verticals and getting selected among hundreds of contestant in THE Global Water Hub - aka Singapore.

All on the back of a simple, even seemingly simplistic technology: algae-based nutrient removal (and recovery).

Oh and did I forget? They profitable from the get-go. What's the secret? Let's find out!

More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

Gross Wen Technologies' Website: https://algae.com/

Connect with Martin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martin-gross-39125755/

The last time we covered Green Algae on the podcast: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s4e11-are-you-still-fighting-green-algae-here-s-what-to-do-instead

My Coverage of WEFTEC: https://youtu.be/UnvaN9ZDjPs

🎙️ PODCAST 🎙️

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

WaterTech #GrowthStage #GreenAlgae

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The World's largest water company is ambitious: it plans on growing 3 times faster than the market, so that its water tech and new solutions business lines will grow by 50% by 2030.

How? By introducing 5 Priority Offers, starting with a new dedicated PFAS removal arm: BeyondPFAS.

Let's dig into it!

🎙️ PODCAST 🎙️

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

👋 SOCIAL MEDIA 👋

More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

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Here are my curated picks from WEFTEC 2024:

💰 Aqua Membranes' Series B (led by Burnt Island Ventures) - with CEO Craig Beckman and Partner Steve Kloos

3️⃣ 3 intriguing Water Techs, finally explained - VorTech (with Sean Mulligan & John McConomy), VVater (with Michael Watt), BioLargo (with Alex Evans)

🤖 ML applied to Water Asset Management (with Jennifer Zach)

🦾 My meeting with Kando's STREAMi (with Ori Reshef)

🧪 PFAS Destruction with Axine Water Technologies (with Mark Ralph) Support my one-man band: leave a Like and share your thoughts in the comments!

More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

🎙️ PODCAST 🎙️

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 Welcome to WEFTEC 2024

01:55 Aqua Membranes' Series B

11:31 Tech1 - VorTech

19:42 Tech2 - VVater

28:30 Tech3 - BioLargo

38:51 Thank You!

40:37 MentorAPM's Applied ML

46:57 Imagine H2O's Croc Tank

47:32 Meeting Kando's STREAMi

53:46 Axine's First PFAS Destruction Reference

01:01:07 See You Soon!

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The US Water Infrastructure is crumbling - and it may be time for Policy to effectively jump in. Let's discuss how and why with:

➡️ Mae Stevens (the highly praised water lobbyist who wrote the Bill in response to the Flint Crisis - and SO much more): https://www.linkedin.com/in/maestevens/

➡️ Melisa Logan (Mayor of Blytheville, Arkansas): https://www.mrcti.org/meet-our-mayors

➡️ Aurélie Rodzynek (Program Coordinator at the Columbia Water Center): https://www.linkedin.com/in/aurelie-rodzynek/

& a short "BlueField on Tap" segment with Reese Tisdale (President & CEO of BlueField)

More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

🎙️ PODCAST 🎙️

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

👋 SOCIAL MEDIA 👋

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dwwpodcast/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AntoineWalter7

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DontWasteWaterPodcast

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 The $2 Trillion Water Infrastructure Challenge

06:08 The Water Lobbyist (who wrote the Flint Bill)

16:32 The Water Silver Wave

23:50 BlueField on Tap (Sorry Dave!)

25:32 The Mayor with a Dry River

35:02 How to get Woman in Water?

37:07 The Academic (who worked with the UN)

44:16 My Last Take on the UN Water Conference

49:13 See you in New Orleans!

WaterPolicy #DeepBrief

Hey, I'm introducing this "Deep Brief" segment, and I'd crave your feedback! What do you think of it? What shall I do better? Let me know in the comments! (or send me a DM on LinkedIn or a mail: antoine@dww.show)

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In January 2023, MembrIon raised a $12.5M Series B. Roughly two years later, they're on the verge of raising their Series C, but in between, it's been a bumpy road!

From zooming in on their target market to turning their business model around through signing their first commercial deals and re-modeling key positions in the team, there's A TON to learn from the MembrIon crew.

They've opened me the door of their offices, factory (and investor), and openly shared everything that matters, so the best I could do was to articulate their story best!

How does a Series B transform a growth stage water tech? How does a water tech company align for growth? What sacrifices do you need to make to succeed in water technology adoption? How does a Series B company grow towards its Series C? How does a VC Investor interact with its water tech portfolio? This - and much more - is in this week's story: MembrIon's Growth Story

(As always, if this is of value to you, make sure to subscribe.)

More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

MembrIon's Website: https://membrion.com/

PureTerra Ventures' Website: https://pureterra.com/

My first interview with Greg Newbloom: https://dww.show/membrion-ceo-that-raised-22m-reveals-his-one-trick-you-must-copy-today/

Value Driven / Crisis Driven: https://dww.show/how-long-will-it-take-to-grow-the-4-stages-of-water-innovation/

🎙️ PODCAST 🎙️

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 MembrIon's Growth Story

03:42 Embracing the Journey 1

0:49 Gathering a Crew

17:10 Product Market Fit

21:34 Market Adoption

27:24 Business Model Pivot

34:13 The First Order

40:04 Ramping Up

48:42 Series C

51:01 2030

54:40 Epilogue

WaterTech #GrowthStage #GrowthStory

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How did Veolia overcome the Leader's Curse to supercharge its internal and external tools with AI and LLMs when so many sat on the edge? Let's find out!

More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

🔗 Come say hi to Andrew on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewlcollier/

🔗 Veolia's water tech zone website: https://www.veoliawatertechnologies.com/en

🔗 Introducing Hubgrade on this microphone... 4 years ago! https://dww.show/how-to-almost-double-treatment-capacity-in-about-no-time/

🔗 Already praising Veolia's agility (with Glenn Vicevic) last year: https://dww.show/how-to-foster-innovation-and-agility-when-youre-the-worlds-largest-water-company/

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

👋 SOCIAL MEDIA 👋

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dwwpodcast/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AntoineWalter7

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 Introduction

02:26 Entropy Theory applied to Veolia

05:31 Introducing Andrew Collier

06:15 Applying LLMs to IoT Data

09:05 Veolia's Water Tech Zone and Digital Team

11:12 Hubgrade Water Footprint and Sustainability

23:21 User-Centric Software Development at Veolia

26:33 Driving User Adoption and Measuring Impact

30:48 Leveraging AI for Operational Efficiency

32:17 Fine-Tuning AI Models

34:36 The Future of Automated Plants

37:05 Training the Next Generation with AI

42:28 Generative AI and Design Optimization

46:06 Personal Reflections and Future Outlook

48:02 Rapid Fire Questions

WaterTech #BlueTech

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Ever wondered how to FINALLY use AI right in water tech? Let's find out with this Episode!

More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

🔗 KANDO's website: https://www.kando.eco/

🔗 Ori Reshef's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ori-reshef-84440a6/

🔗 WEFtec: https://www.weftec.org/

🔗 KANDO's first appearance on the podcast: https://dww.show/how-to-fight-a-pandemic-with-the-help-of-your-feces/

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

👋 SOCIAL MEDIA 👋

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dwwpodcast/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AntoineWalter7

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 Introduction

01:33 The Future of AI in Water Tech

05:43 KANDO's Mission and Evolution

09:56 Ori Reshev's Journey to KANDO

12:11 Introducing STREAMi

13:40 STREAMi's Capabilities and AI Integration

21:30 Water Industry challenges that AI could solve

26:11 The Role of Human Intelligence in Automation

28:05 Adapting STREAMi for Different Customers

29:38 Data Security and Customer Reactions

32:22 STREAMi Lite and Marketing Strategies

39:35 Rolling out STREAMi as Kando's UI

45:15 Rapid Fire Questions

WaterTech #AI

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What does it take to Create a 500 Million dollar bio-based market? And how can you replicate these strategies for your own growth-stage endeavors? Let's find out with this Episode!

More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

🔗 Come say hi to Riikka on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/riikka-timonen-6ba9533/

🔗 Kemira's website: https://www.kemira.com/

🔗 The IFF's website: https://www.iff.com/

🔗 Crustatec's take at bio-based chitosan: http://crustatec.com/

🔗 The World's Bank Water Acceleration Program: https://connect.newibnet.org/youthinnovationchallenge

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

👋 SOCIAL MEDIA 👋

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dwwpodcast/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AntoineWalter7

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 Introduction

02:34 Understanding the HOT Acronym

04:17 Creating a Market for Biopolymers

06:22 Kemira's Biopolymer Goals

09:04 Economic and Performance Challenges

12:19 Exploring New Business Directions

20:38 Addressing Greenwashing Claims

22:15 Exploring New Markets and Innovations

24:24 Challenges and Strategies in Renewable Water Treatment

25:37 Purpose-Driven Decisions and Company Culture

27:41 Future Goals and Personal Impact

31:41 Rapid Fire Questions

WaterTech #BlueTech

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Ever wondered how the largest Pump Company in the World turned into a Water Tech player that will enable 300 Million People to get access to Water? Listen to this Episode!

More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

Say hi to Laura on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-gallindo/

Connect with Phil: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philtomlinson/

Check Grundfos' website: https://www.grundfos.com/

Grundfos acquires Metasphere: https://www.grundfos.com/media/latest-news/grundfos-acquires-metasphere-to-pioneer-solutions-to-the-world-s

My conversation with Patrick Decker (another pump company turned water tech mogul): https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s7e14-what-s-patrick-decker-s-call-to-action-let-us-solve-water

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

👋 SOCIAL MEDIA 👋

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dwwpodcast/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AntoineWalter7

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 Grundfos' Ambitious Goals for 2030

02:26 Grundfos' Transformation Journey

04:19 Grundfos' Strategic Focus and Vertical Markets

08:19 Metasphere Acquisition and Integration

14:27 Challenges in Wastewater Management

17:41 Innovative Solutions for Sewer Overflows

29:33 Building Hope: Grundfos' Vision for the Future

29:46 Key Objectives and Strategies for Water Utilities

30:24 Sustainable Aquifer Management and Innovation

31:13 Energy Transition and Decarbonization Goals

32:07 Grundfos' Commitment to Scope 1, 2, and 3 Reductions

33:17 Digital Solutions and Natural Capital

37:13 Sewer Security and Utility Partnerships

43:12 Rapid Fire Questions

WaterTech #BlueTech

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When traditional chemistry or oxidation processes fall short, SUDOC gives them a hand by putting their efficiency on steroids. Better: it applies the Cuckoo Tactic and may well outgrow its host process, something you may want to emulate! Wanna learn how? Listen to this episode!

More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

SUDOC's website: https://www.sudoc.com/

Momentum Capital's website: https://www.momentum-capital.com/

PureTerra Ventures' website: https://pureterra.com/

Christopher Gasson's appearance on the podcast: https://dww.show/these-2-global-water-business-blocks-will-help-to-mitigate-the-3rd-one/

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

👋 SOCIAL MEDIA 👋

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dwwpodcast/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AntoineWalter7

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DontWasteWat...

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 Introduction

01:28 The Chemical Challenge: Endocrine Disruptors

03:33 Sudoc's Innovative Catalysts

04:34 Investment and Market Strategy

07:49 Sudoc's Dual Business Model

13:06 The Science Behind New TAML Catalysts

19:24 Commercial Applications and Market Adoption

25:46 Future Goals and Scaling Up

30:52 Industrial Wastewater Treatment Innovations

31:23 Addressing PFAS and Emerging Contaminants

33:38 The Broader Water Treatment Conversation

36:45 The NABC Methodology and Water Sector Challenges

38:02 Sudoc's Commercial Focus and Future Plans

39:47 The Impact of Chemicals on Human Health

44:43 Sudoc's Recent Fundraising Success

47:56 Production and Scaling Strategies

49:48 The Vision for Sudoc's Future

54:06 Personal Reflections and Company Mission

57:13 Rapid Fire Questions

Catalyst #EndocrineDisruptors

About this Episode: Welcome to the (don't) Waste Water podcast! In each episode, Antoine Walter from DWW Media shares water, wastewater & water entrepreneurship stories. This show will teach you the water industry like you've never seen it. If you're asking how the water sector will overcome the water crises ahead, this episode is for you.

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How do you go in just a decade from an MIT lab to a billion-dollar valuation in Water Tech? Everybody thought it was impossible until... Gradiant did it! Wanna find out how and what's next? Listen to this episode!

More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

Will Gradiant succeed with H+E where SUEZ, Stulz, and Rena failed? https://youtu.be/GMk99gRjRSc?si=zAWY2rfg3GXFSWt2E

Gradiant's website: https://www.gradiant.com/

The Global Water Awards 2024: https://globalwaterawards.com/

Prakash Govindan's LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prakash-govindan-87168310/

The 3 VCs that made money in Water Tech (the greatest success being... Gradiant): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqLn4j3w0P0

Full blog article: https://dww.show/how-gradiant-became-the-first-and-only-water-tech-unicorn/

Prakash Govindan on My Climate Journey: https://www.mcjcollective.com/my-climate-journey-podcast/gradiant

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@dwwpodcast

Main Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@AntoineWalterDWW

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

👋 SOCIAL MEDIA 👋

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dwwpodcast/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AntoineWalter7

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 In This Week's Episode

02:29 Will Gradiant be named Water Company of the Year?

04:20 Gradiant's "Special Sauce" by Prakash Govindan

05:46 How big is Gradiant today?

07:06 Where does Gradiant's journey start?

14:33 How did Gradiant strive where Incumbents gave up?

16:38 Why did Gradiant focus on the industrial market?

18:35 What is Turing, Gradiant's new AI spin out?

20:25 When did Gradiant start expanding its water tech portfolio?

23:02 How does Gradiant open a new region?

26:10 The secret to Gradiant's "Proprietary Deals"

30:50 How does Gradiant engineer its "unfair advantage"

31:23 Gradiant's unbelievable employee participation scheme

33:41 What's next after their record-breaking Series D?

36:53 Will Gradiant ever enter the municipal market?

38:04 Are Gradiant's founders ready to pass the baton?

39:53 Gradiant's new verticals: PFAS & DLE

42:20 Gradiant's two aces up their PFAS Removal sleeve

45:33 Gradiant's M&A tricks

48:18 Succeeding with H+E Mission Impossible?

50:07 Gradiant's plans for Europe

50:46 Gradiant's next M&A moves

51:50 What makes Gradiant the 2024 Water Company of the Year?

54:38 Rapid Fire Questions

57:53 7 Insights from the First Ever Water Tech Unicorn

WaterTech #WaterUnicorn #WaterEntrepreneurship

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Hydraloop stole the show despite Samsung, Sony, or Mercedes aiming at big bangs. Yet, how easy is it to create a category in the #WaterSector? More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

🔗 Hydraloop's website: https://www.hydraloop.com/

🔗 Netflix - Brave Blue World: https://www.netflix.com/title/81326710

🔗 Sydney Water: https://www.sydneywater.com.au/

🔗 Hydraloop's concept: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X37eivmtgV0

🔗 Become Hydraloop's next Growth Hacker: https://www.hydraloop.com/post/job-opening-growth-hacker-digital-marketeer

🔗 Connect with Sabine Stuiver on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sabine-stuiver-10325319/

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

Main Channel: @AntoineWalter

DWW Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

👋 SOCIAL MEDIA 👋

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dwwpodcast/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AntoineWalter7

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 Hydraloop's Rise to Fame at CES 2020

03:32 Challenges in Water Infrastructure

08:03 Introducing: Hydraloop

13:23 The Journey and Vision Behind Hydraloop

20:16 The Impact of Winning at CES 2020

32:17 Reflecting on Missed Opportunities

33:46 Building the Foundation for Growth

35:20 Scaling Up and Expanding

35:59 Strategic Partnerships and Market Penetration

37:29 Innovative Manufacturing Solutions

41:05 Marketing and Consumer Engagement

47:11 Global Market Strategy

49:13 Future Vision and Profitability

54:51 Rapid Fire Questions

WaterRecycling #WaterScarcity

About this Episode:

Welcome to the (don't) Waste Water podcast! In each episode, Antoine Walter from DWW Media shares water, wastewater & water entrepreneurship stories. This show will teach you the water industry like you've never seen it. If you're asking how the water sector will overcome the water crises ahead, this podcast is for you.

Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

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In November 2023, Cambrian announced a $200 Million Growth Equity commitment from Pennybacker. That came along a bizarre move: Pennybacker was also acquiring Cambrian (for an undisclosed amount).

So, what's to think of this? What factors led to this unconventional move? Why would I feel there's a bittersweet taste to it? What does it actually mean for other water tech companies? Why is it great news for early-stage water investors? And... who's Cambrian, if you never heard of them?

Let's explore!

More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Episode #️⃣

Cambrian's Website: https://www.cambrianinnovation.com/

Pennybacker Capital's Website: https://www.pennybackercap.com/

My interviews with Matthew Silver (be kind; it was a while ago, and my sound quality dramatically improved in between 😅)

Part 1: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s2e3-can-this-astonishing-aerospace-technology-improve-beer-s-taste
Part 2: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s2e5-how-to-get-water-as-a-service-below-utility-prices-with-zero-money-down

Recommended next video to watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4AmlA0DbKQ

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Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

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DWW Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 Cambrian: from MIT and NASA to Impact

01:32 Cambrian: the New American Water?

06:50 What led to Cambrian's "bizarre" exit?

12:41 A Bittersweet deal?

13:31 Why is it GREAT news, still?

14:24 What does it mean for the future?

WaterTech #WaterTechnology #WaterInvestment

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️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

🔗 Hydraloop's website: https://www.hydraloop.com/

🔗 Netflix - Brave Blue World: https://www.netflix.com/title/81326710

🔗 Sydney Water: https://www.sydneywater.com.au/

🔗 Hydraloop's concept: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X37eivmtgV0

🔗 Become Hydraloop's next Growth Hacker: https://www.hydraloop.com/post/job-opening-growth-hacker-digital-marketeer

🔗 Connect with Sabine Stuiver on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sabine-stuiver-10325319/

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Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

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⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 Hydraloop's Rise to Fame at CES 2020

03:32 Challenges in Water Infrastructure

08:03 Introducing: Hydraloop

13:23 The Journey and Vision Behind Hydraloop

20:16 The Impact of Winning at CES 2020

32:17 Reflecting on Missed Opportunities

33:46 Building the Foundation for Growth

35:20 Scaling Up and Expanding

35:59 Strategic Partnerships and Market Penetration

37:29 Innovative Manufacturing Solutions

41:05 Marketing and Consumer Engagement

47:11 Global Market Strategy

49:13 Future Vision and Profitability

54:51 Rapid Fire Questions

WaterRecycling #WaterScarcity

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Gary White and his co-founder Matt Damon have enabled water access for over 66 million people! How? Let's find out.

More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Episode #️⃣

🔗 Water.org's website

🔗 Water Equity's website

🔗 The World Bank's "Funding a Water Secure Future"

🔗 The UN SDG 6 Data Portal

🔗 The Do's and Don'ts of Rural Water Supply

🔗 Tom Ferguson's appearance on the podcast

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▶️ Key Ideas

WaterCredit’s Impact: WaterCredit has provided loans totaling $5.5 billion, impacting 66 million people, with a 98% repayment rate.
Philanthropy as a Catalyst: Traditional philanthropic approaches often involve one-time spending. In contrast, Water.org creates a sustainable cycle of investment and repayment.
Challenges in Water Access: Water.org’s dual approach—bottom-up financing for immediate needs and top-down investment for infrastructure—addresses these challenges comprehensively.
Importance of Women in Water Solutions: Empowering women with access to loans for water solutions has broader social benefits, including improved health, education, and economic opportunities.
Sustainability and Climate Resilience: Water.org emphasizes the need for climate-resilient infrastructure, ensuring that water solutions are sustainable in the face of environmental changes.
Global Collaboration: Water.org collaborates with a network of 140 financial institutions worldwide, facilitating access to water solutions tailored to local needs.
Role of Governments and Institutions: While private sector innovation drives much of Water.org’s work, governments and international institutions play a critical role in scaling these solutions.
Educating Stakeholders: Public perception and education are crucial. Water.org’s success stories and data-driven approach help change narratives around water access.
Future Goals: Water.org aims to reach 100 million people with an additional $1 billion in investment capital. Their long-term vision includes comprehensive water access solutions that integrate both individual and infrastructure needs.

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⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 Meeting Gary White: A Water Legend

01:27 The Impact of WaterCredit

02:57 Challenges and Innovations in Water Access

04:42 Gary White's Journey and Insights

07:10 Financial Strategies for Water Access

09:01 Scaling Water Solutions Globally

11:32 Creating Sustainable Water Infrastructure

15:32 Future Goals and Challenges

18:49 Innovative Financial Models for Water Projects

29:12 Accelerating Project Development with DFIs

30:17 Challenges and Innovations in Water Equity

30:38 Market Gaps and Unique Approaches

33:30 Investor Interest and Financial Returns

35:44 Public Perception and Education

38:23 Role of Governments and International Organizations

43:56 Future of Traditional Charity in Water Projects

48:27 Confidence in Solving the Water Crisis

50:48 Rapid Fire Questions

WaterDevelopment #SDG6

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Gary White, co-founder of Water.org, has been at the forefront of innovative solutions for water access. Alongside Matt Damon, White has provided water and sanitation to over 66 million people through the WaterCredit program. Unlike traditional charity models, WaterCredit offers loans to individuals for water and sanitation projects, which are repaid at a remarkable 98% rate. This approach not only empowers individuals but also creates a sustainable financial model by recycling philanthropic funds.

White highlights the significant role of women in this model, as 90% of the borrowers are women. These loans, averaging $377, enable access to essential water and sanitation services, improving health, education, and economic outcomes. The impact is profound: with every loan repaid, the funds can be reused to help more people, creating a multiplier effect.

One of the key challenges addressed by Water.org is the need for infrastructure in rural areas. While WaterCredit addresses immediate needs through microloans, Water Equity, another initiative by White, focuses on investing in water infrastructure projects. This dual approach ensures that both individual and community needs are met, providing a comprehensive solution to water access.

Water.org’s innovative financial models also emphasize climate resilience. Their projects incorporate environmental impact studies, ensuring that water solutions are sustainable and adaptable to climate change. This forward-thinking approach is crucial for long-term water security.

Collaboration is at the heart of Water.org’s strategy. With a network of 140 financial institutions worldwide, they tailor solutions to local needs, ensuring effectiveness and sustainability. This extensive partnership network is vital for scaling their impact and reaching more communities.

While private sector innovation drives much of Water.org’s success, White acknowledges the critical role of governments and international institutions. Collaborative efforts are necessary to bridge the financing gap and ensure universal access to safe water and sanitation. Institutions like the World Bank are increasingly recognizing the value of Water.org’s models and incorporating them into their platforms.

Public perception and education are also crucial. Changing narratives around water access from a charity issue to a viable market opportunity is essential for attracting investment and support. Water.org’s data-driven approach and success stories play a significant role in this.

Looking ahead, Water.org aims to reach 100 million people with an additional $1 billion in investment capital. Their vision includes integrating individual and infrastructure needs, ensuring comprehensive and sustainable water access solutions. By continuing to innovate and collaborate, Water.org is set to make significant strides toward global water security.

Full Episode: https://dww.show/how-adionics-took-a-bold-stand-in-the-competitive-dle-landscape/

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Imagine transforming the way we extract one of the most critical elements for our green future—lithium. Adionics may be that game-changer in the Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) market, with their solvent extraction process!

More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

🔗 Have a look at Adionics' website https://www.adionics.com/

🔗 Come say hi to Gabriel on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabriel-toffani/

🔗 Check out my Lithium deep dive https://youtu.be/JeZJpBySIQo

🔗 Get a glimpse into the various DLE generations https://youtu.be/CxZk9MuWgkY

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⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 Introduction

01:49 Gabriel's Journey from Suez to Adionics

03:23 The Promise of Adionics' Technology

09:12 Challenges and Opportunities in the Lithium Market

14:38 Adionics' Industrialization and Future Plans

22:53 Adionics' Global Reach and Partnerships

26:19 SQM's Investment and Future Plans

28:26 Expanding into Hard Rock and Battery Recycling

30:30 Geographical Focus and Market Strategy

32:46 Opening New Offices in South America

33:40 Impact of Lithium Price Fluctuations

35:37 Future of DLE Technologies

38:02 Personal Insights and Career Decisions

41:22 Rapid Fire Questions

DirectLithiumExtraction #Lithium #DLE

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Adionics, a French company specializing in advanced ionic solutions, has developed a breakthrough technology for lithium extraction known as Flionex. This solvent extraction process is distinguished by its high selectivity, extracting lithium without removing other elements such as boron, potassium, or magnesium. This results in extremely pure lithium chloride, making the process both efficient and environmentally friendly due to its low water consumption. Adionics has demonstrated the industrial readiness of their technology through successful pilot projects in the lithium triangle, particularly at high altitudes, showcasing its scalability and robustness in real-world conditions.

Originally focused on desalination, Adionics strategically pivoted to lithium extraction in 2017, anticipating the rising demand for lithium driven by the green energy sector. This shift has allowed the company to position itself as a leader in the lithium extraction market. Adionics targets brines with lithium concentrations ranging from 200 to 50,000 ppm and continually refines its process to address lower concentrations more efficiently.

The company offers two primary business models: providing technology and process support to mining companies or forming joint ventures to finance and manage lithium extraction projects. This flexibility allows Adionics to adapt to various market needs and ensure the successful implementation of their technology.

Looking ahead, Adionics plans to expand its commercial presence and invest in research to develop more efficient Flyonics molecules for different concentration ranges. They are also exploring applications in lithium battery recycling and hard rock lithium extraction, aiming to extend their innovative approach to new markets. With a strong focus on industrial readiness and environmental sustainability, Adionics is well-positioned to meet the growing global demand for lithium and contribute to the advancement of green mobility .

Key Points

Adionics specializes in advanced ionic solutions.
Flionex technology selectively extracts lithium.
High purity and low water consumption.
Industrial pilots in the lithium triangle.
Pivoted to lithium extraction in 2017.
Targeting brines with 200-50,000 ppm lithium.
Offers technology support or joint ventures.
Plans to expand commercial presence.
Investing in research for more efficient Flyonics.
Exploring lithium battery recycling applications.

Full Episode: https://dww.show/how-adionics-took-a-bold-stand-in-the-competitive-dle-landscape/

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What's Aquaporin's Path to Profitability? Let's explore the Nobel-Prize-Rooted water tech company's path with CEO Matt Boczkowski!

More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

Aquaporin's website: https://aquaporin.com/

Philips Water Solutions: https://www.philips.co.uk/c-e/ho/watercare.html

Gallo: https://www.gallo.com/

Singapore's PUB: https://www.pub.gov.sg/

Aquaporin's Annual Report 2023: https://s28.q4cdn.com/433354207/files/doc_financials/2023/ar/240405-Annual-Report-Presentation.pdf

Come say Hi to Matt on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-boczkowski-2733271/

Full Blog Entry: https://dww.show/how-aquaporin-channels-reverse-and-forward-osmosis-together-for-growth/

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Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

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⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 Introduction

01:49 Editorial

05:03 Challenges and Opportunities in Forward Osmosis

07:32 Aquaporin's Unique Branding and Marketing Approach

10:40 Aquaporin's Journey and IPO Experience

19:27 Forward Osmosis: Challenges and Niche Applications

24:20 Aquaporin's Strategic Focus and Partnerships

35:34 PUB Collaboration and Energy Efficiency

38:09 Forward Osmosis vs. Reverse Osmosis

40:26 Product Portfolio and Strategy

46:36 Revenue Diversification and Market Strategy

49:21 Financial Challenges and Shareholder Support

53:24 Future Vision and Technological Aspirations

56:06 Space Mission and Branding

59:44 Rapid Fire Questions

WaterTech #IPO #ForwardOsmisis

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Aquaporin, led by CEO Matt Boczkowski, is at the forefront of integrating biotechnology with water treatment. The company's journey began with the Nobel Prize-winning research of Peter Agre on aquaporins, which inspired Aquaporin to develop membranes that mimic these natural water channels. Initially focusing on forward osmosis due to its natural alignment with aquaporin proteins, the company has since expanded into reverse osmosis to tap into established markets and ensure revenue growth.

Aquaporin's strategic shift from a primarily residential revenue base to a balanced residential and industrial mix reflects its adaptive market approach. High-profile partnerships with companies like Gallo and Philips underscore Aquaporin's innovative edge and market credibility. The collaboration with PUB in Singapore to create energy-efficient reverse osmosis membranes exemplifies the company's commitment to addressing global water challenges through cutting-edge technology.

The company's branding, inspired by the fashion industry, sets it apart in the traditionally conservative water sector. This unique approach not only enhances Aquaporin's market presence but also resonates with consumers and industrial clients alike. Despite the challenges of being a publicly listed company, including the need for financial transparency and rigorous compliance, Aquaporin leverages its public status to secure significant partnerships and investments.

Aquaporin's focus on niche applications for forward osmosis, such as wine concentration and lithium extraction, demonstrates a strategic approach to market penetration. By concentrating on specific, high-potential sectors, Aquaporin aims to create impactful solutions that can scale effectively. The company's commitment to innovation and strategic growth is evident in its diverse product portfolio and ongoing efforts to develop new applications for its technology.

Looking ahead, Aquaporin aims to achieve profitability within the next few years, balancing growth with financial sustainability. The company's vision includes expanding its technological capabilities, particularly in making its aquaporin protein structures more universally applicable across different membrane technologies. This forward-thinking approach positions Aquaporin to continue leading in the water treatment industry, driving both technological advancements and market success.

Key Points:

Aquaporin uses biomimetic technology for water purification.
Initial focus was on forward osmosis due to natural alignment with aquaporins.
Expanded into reverse osmosis to access established markets.
Revenue shift from residential to balanced residential and industrial.
High-profile partnerships with Gallo and Philips.
Collaboration with PUB for energy-efficient reverse osmosis membranes.
Branding strategy inspired by the fashion industry.
Publicly listed on NASDAQ Copenhagen.
Focus on niche applications like wine concentration and lithium extraction.
Goal to achieve profitability within the next few years.
Diverse product portfolio including residential and industrial applications.
Innovative marketing approach differentiates Aquaporin in the market.
Strategic growth through targeted niche applications.
Commitment to technological advancements in water treatment.
Vision to make aquaporin proteins universally applicable across membrane technologies.

Full Episode: https://dww.show/how-aquaporin-channels-reverse-and-forward-osmosis-together-for-growth/

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Desalination often means high energy consumption and OPEX. Is there a way to make it more efficient and sustainable? Ionic Solutions thinks so - let's explore this intriguing water tech company.

Desalination technology can revolutionize water treatment by significantly reducing energy consumption and allowing controlled mineral content in the water. This approach is crucial for addressing water scarcity and improving sustainability in both industrial and municipal applications.

More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

🔗 Ionic Solutions' Website

🔗 Come say Hi to Jordan on LinkedIn

🔗 Read my full blog entry here!

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

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🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 Introduction

04:44 Challenges and Benefits of Ionic Solutions' Technology

10:10 Commercialization and Market Adoption

11:00 Founding Story of Ionic Solutions

14:51 Early Adopters and Market Penetration

17:08 Case Study: Utility in New York City

19:02 Overcoming Market Barriers

27:26 Innovative Water Desalination Solutions

28:23 Lithium Extraction and Brine Concentration

30:40 Global Expansion and Market Adoption

32:47 Demonstration Projects and Market Strategy

36:24 Future Vision and Company Growth

44:56 Rapid Fire Questions

Desalination #WaterTech #IonExchange

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Ionic Solutions is transforming the desalination landscape with its innovative ion exchange membrane technology, which offers significant advantages over traditional reverse osmosis (RO) systems. The company's technology stands out due to its exceptionally low power consumption, with some applications achieving up to 97% less energy use compared to RO. This efficiency is particularly evident in low salinity brackish water desalination, though the technology performs well across various applications, typically saving 60-90% in energy costs.

One of the key features of Ionic Solutions' technology is its ability to control the mineral content of treated water, allowing for tailored solutions that reduce the need for post-treatment mineral addition. This flexibility is especially valuable in drinking water applications and other industrial processes where specific mineral balances are required.

The company targets both industrial and municipal sectors, offering solutions that can augment or replace existing RO systems. A notable success story includes a partnership with a utility in New York City, where Ionic Solutions' technology significantly reduced water and energy costs, contributing to the city's sustainability goals.

Strategic partnerships, such as with the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), have been crucial in validating and promoting the technology. These collaborations have helped Ionic Solutions gain credibility and demonstrate the practical benefits of their solutions.

Despite the clear advantages, market adoption remains a challenge. The water industry is heavily invested in traditional RO systems, and there is a learning curve associated with adopting new technologies. However, Ionic Solutions is addressing this through demonstration projects and participation in technical conferences to educate engineers and potential clients.

Looking ahead, the company aims to expand its technology's applications, including potential use in lithium brine concentration and consumer-level water treatment systems. To support this growth, Ionic Solutions plans to scale up manufacturing and potentially establish production centers in different regions to meet global demand.

Fundraising will be a critical component of this expansion, as the company seeks investors interested in making a significant impact on water sustainability. With a mission to increase water security and efficiency, Ionic Solutions is poised to make a substantial contribution to addressing global water challenges.

Key Points

Ionic Solutions redefines desalination as removing salt ions from any water source.
The technology achieves up to 97% less power consumption compared to traditional RO systems.
It allows for controlled mineral content in treated water.
The company targets both industrial and municipal sectors.
Successful case study: Utility in New York City saved water and energy costs.
Strategic partnership with EPRI validated the technology.
Market adoption remains a challenge due to entrenched RO systems.
Future applications include lithium brine concentration.
Plans to scale up manufacturing and establish global production centers.
Fundraising is critical for expansion and impact on water sustainability.

Full Episode: https://dww.show/how-ionic-solutions-trades-high-pressure-for-high-efficiency-in-desalination/

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Water Stewardship and Water Risk Mitigation will be key topics of the upcoming decade. But how can you measure your impact and performance on these if there's no scale? That's where SCS 116 enters the picture: let's explore!

More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

SCS Global Services - https://fr.scsglobalservices.com/services/water-stewardship-and-resiliency-certification

CDP Water - https://www.cdp.net/en/water

Axiom Climate - https://www.axiomclimate.com/

Microsoft / Fido AI - https://fido.tech/news/fido-and-microsoft-collaboration-continues-expansion-to-mexico/

Global Water Intelligence / XPV - https://my.globalwaterintel-insights.com/l/2DC/watersecurityinvestment

Protect Our Winters - https://protectourwinters.org/

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⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 Introduction

04:22 Understanding Water Stewardship and Its Importance

05:00 The Need for Water Stewardship Standards

06:48 The Role of SCS in Water Stewardship

08:29 Challenges and Opportunities in Water Stewardship

20:27 The SCS 116 Water Standard

26:45 Future of Water Stewardship and Standards

34:13 Facing Criticism

37:04 Feedback and Gaps in Standards

41:12 Global Water Index Debate

46:00 Axiom Climate Updates

49:10 Impact of Educational Initiatives

53:58 Rapid Fire Questions

WaterStewardship #WaterImpact #WaterStandard

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Water stewardship is about managing water resources sustainably and equitably for all stakeholders. This involves setting standards, measuring impact, and encouraging companies to adopt best practices for water use, aiming to create a positive impact on local communities and the environment.

Water stewardship is the management of water resources in a sustainable and equitable manner, considering the needs of all stakeholders involved. Lauren Enright from SCS Global Services explains that this concept has evolved over the past decade, expanding from traditional water management to include broader social and environmental impacts. To promote effective water stewardship, standards like SCS 116 have been developed, aiming to provide a structured approach for companies to measure, report, and improve their water use practices.

The conversation highlights the importance of setting quantifiable standards for water stewardship, similar to ESG standards, to ensure that companies can objectively measure their impact and make informed decisions. The challenge lies in determining whether these standards should be voluntary or mandatory, and how they can be effectively implemented and scrutinized.

Lauren emphasizes the role of accurate reporting and measurement in water stewardship, noting that companies must integrate water biodiversity into their corporate cultures to achieve meaningful progress. The development of tools and technologies, such as those by Microsoft and Fido AI for leak detection, plays a crucial role in improving water efficiency and reducing non-revenue water losses.

The discussion also touches on the growing investment in water-related initiatives, driven by regulatory requirements and the recognition of financial opportunities. Projections suggest a significant increase in investment in water stewardship, highlighting the need for companies to adopt best practices and make tangible impacts on local communities and ecosystems.

In addition to corporate efforts, educational outreach and public engagement are essential for fostering a broader understanding of water stewardship. Initiatives like Axiom Climate aim to educate and involve the public in addressing water and climate issues, emphasizing the importance of community involvement.

Overall, the conversation underscores the importance of developing and adopting water stewardship standards, leveraging technology and reporting tools, and engaging both corporate and public sectors to achieve sustainable water management practices.

Key Points

Water stewardship involves managing water sustainably and equitably.
Standards like SCS 116 help quantify and improve water use practices.
The challenge is balancing voluntary versus mandatory standards.
Accurate reporting and measurement are crucial for progress.
Companies must integrate water biodiversity into their cultures.
Innovative technologies aid in improving water efficiency.
Investment in water stewardship is projected to increase significantly.
Effective water stewardship requires both global and local actions.
Corporate leaders like Microsoft are setting examples in water management.
Educational outreach is vital for public understanding and involvement.

Full Episode: https://dww.show/how-to-end-bullshit-and-measure-your-water-stewardship-commitments-right/

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Megan Glover co-founded 120Water in 2016, driven by a personal mission sparked by the Flint water crisis. Fast forward to 2024, and 120Water has transformed from a consumer-focused startup to a robust B2B company, scaling its customer base by 50 times in just four years! Wanna know her secrets? Listen to this episode!

More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

🔗 120Water's website - https://120water.com/

🔗 Come say Hi to Megan Glover on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/megancglover/

🔗 Tom Ferguson's hint: Emulate Megan's approach - https://dww.show/the-secret-formula-for-profit-in-water-tech-venture-capital/

🔗 Johnny Pujol explains how SimpleLab and 120Water work together - https://dww.show/how-simplelab-turned-an-arsenic-removal-failure-into-a-lab-logistics-success/

🔗 120Water teams up with BlueConduit https://120water.com/120water-and-blueconduit-announce-strategic-partnership-to-bring-machine-learning-to-utilities-focused-on-finding-and-replacing-lead-service-lines/

🔗 This week's episode on the blog - https://dww.show/how-120water-profitably-multiplied-its-customer-base-by-50-in-4-years/

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

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⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 In This Week's Episode

01:52 Editorial

04:13 Welcoming Megan Glover Back

09:32 Regulatory Drivers and Data Management

19:10 Growth and Strategic Partnerships

27:52 Upcoming Regulatory Deadlines

29:52 Revenue Streams and Business Model

31:00 The $43 Million Capital Raise

32:42 Exploring New Opportunities

34:43 International Expansion Considerations

36:46 Company Restructuring and Future Plans

38:19 Work Culture and Hiring at 120Water

39:21 Future Vision and Impact

42:58 Rapid Fire Questions

WaterTech #Digitization #Entrepreneurship

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From Compliance to Growth: Megan Glover on Scaling 120Water

In this episode of 'Don't Waste Water,' host Antoine Walter welcomes back Megan Glover, CEO and founder of 120Water. The discussion covers the significant growth and milestones of 120Water since Glover's last appearance, including a major capital raise of $43 million from Edison Partners. They detail how 120Water transformed from an early-stage company to a leading player in the water quality management space, boasting 10,000 customers and expanded software capabilities. Glover explains the challenges of scaling, the importance of compliance with lead and copper rules, and the strategic decisions to broaden their platform to include various water quality and compliance programs. The episode also touches on the crucial role of strategic partnerships and managed services in reaching smaller rural utilities, and future growth opportunities, including tackling PFAS management. Glover shares insights on navigating the fragmented US water market, leveraging data management for better resource allocation, and the evolving business model of 120Water.

Full Episode: https://dww.show/how-120water-profitably-multiplied-its-customer-base-by-50-in-4-years/

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I reviewed 1188 investment deals in Water Technologies since 2018 to find out - amongst others - who the 5 largest by number of deals and by capital deployed are. How attractive is the Water Sector? Let's find out.

More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Episode #️⃣

Aclarity - https://dww.show/how-aclarity-bootstrapped-its-journey-from-b2c-to-pfas-destruction/

Gradiant - https://dww.show/how-gradiant-became-the-first-and-only-water-tech-unicorn/

Burnt Island Ventures - https://dww.show/the-secret-formula-for-profit-in-water-tech-venture-capital/

ZwitterCo - https://dww.show/zwitterions-super-powers-could-solve-wastewater-membranes-number-one-problem/

Membrion - https://dww.show/membrion-ceo-that-raised-22m-reveals-his-one-trick-you-must-copy-today/

Puraffinity - https://dww.show/should-we-really-destroy-pfas-no-your-fridge-knows-a-better-way/

Source - https://dww.show/expensive-heavy-but-desperately-needed-is-source-the-future-of-drinking-water/

Klir - https://dww.show/how-to-establish-compliance-confidence-for-every-water-utility/

120Water - https://dww.show/whats-hidden-in-your-tap-water-dont-worry-your-utility-doesnt-really-know-better/

Transcend - https://dww.show/save-time-boost-value-and-wow-customers-in-a-snap-with-these-5-simple-ai-steps/

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Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

Main Channel: @AntoineWalter

DWW Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 Introduction

00:35 1 - The Water Tech Investment Landscape

02:34 2 - Top 5 by Number of Investments

06:45 3 - Top 5 by Capital Deployed

09:34 4 - Fun Water Tech Investment Facts

11:32 5 - Trends & Outlook

WaterTech #WaterTechnology #WaterInvestment

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This water tech start-up turns reverse osmosis into a batch process, which divides the reject by more than two and at half the energy cost. How? Let's find out!

More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

Salinity Solutions' website: https://salinitysolutions.co.uk/

The crowdfunding platform they leveraged: https://www.crowdcube.com/

Innovate UK: https://www.ukri.org/councils/innovate-uk/

Cornish Lithium: https://cornishlithium.com/

SQM Lithium Ventures: https://sqmlitio.cl/acercando-el-capital-de-riesgo-a-los-negocios-tecnologicos-del-futuro-litio-agua-y-electromovilidad/

SUEZ signing with Salinity Solutions: https://smartwatermagazine.com/news/university-birmingham/suez-pilot-salinity-solutions-low-energy-reuse-technology-france

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: http://youtube.com@dwwpodcast

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🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 Introduction to Don't Waste Water Podcast

03:26 Innovations in Reverse Osmosis

06:14 Entrepreneurial Journey and Market Needs

13:40 Crowdfunding Success and Prototyping

16:36 Real-World Applications and Partnerships

21:54 Future Prospects and Market Expansion

24:02 The Long Road to Partnership with Suez

25:51 Challenges and Advice for Early-Stage Water Companies

29:43 Scaling Up and Commercializing Technology

32:22 Partnerships and Global Expansion

39:52 The Vision for Humanitarian Impact

41:48 Rapid Fire Questions and Final Thoughts

ReverseOsmosis #ZLD #Lithium

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Salinity Solutions: An innovative water technology company specializing in batch reverse osmosis. The company focuses on improving the efficiency of conventional reverse osmosis systems, achieving higher water recovery rates while reducing energy consumption and chemical usage. Their technology is particularly applicable in industries facing water scarcity and pollution issues, such as mining, zero liquid discharge (ZLD), and vertical farming.

Reverse osmosis (RO) is a widely used technology for water treatment, but it has significant drawbacks, including high energy consumption and waste production. Salinity Solutions, led by Tim Naughton, has developed a batch reverse osmosis process that addresses these issues by improving efficiency, reducing waste, and lowering chemical use. This innovative approach offers a more sustainable solution for water treatment needs.

Unique Insights:

Batch Process Innovation: Unlike traditional RO, batch reverse osmosis operates in a non-steady state with varying pressures, making it more efficient and easier to manage waste.
Market Adaptation: The primary challenge for batch RO is market adoption due to its process innovation rather than new technology. However, it offers significant improvements, making it a viable solution for many applications.
Humanitarian Roots: The technology was initially developed for humanitarian aid, utilizing solar energy for remote communities, and has evolved into a commercially viable solution addressing various industrial needs.

Key Ideas:

Reverse Osmosis Drawbacks: Traditional RO systems are energy-intensive, produce a lot of waste, and use significant amounts of chemicals, which limits their efficiency and sustainability.
Batch Reverse Osmosis: Salinity Solutions’ innovation involves a batch process that significantly improves efficiency, achieving up to 98% water recovery with half the energy consumption and reduced chemical usage.
Market Penetration Challenges: Although batch RO is not a new technology but a process innovation, its market adoption is hindered by the need for industries to adjust to its non-equilibrium operation.
Initial Development and Funding: The technology's development began as a volunteer project, leading to a government-funded program that helped commercialize the technology through substantial grants and investments.
Crowdfunding Success: Salinity Solutions successfully raised funds through Crowdcube, attracting over 2,000 shareholders and significantly exceeding their initial funding goals.
Strategic Partnerships: The company has formed key partnerships, including a joint venture in India for ZLD applications and collaborations with large companies like Suez, enhancing their market presence and credibility.
Technology Applications: The batch RO system is versatile, with applications ranging from lithium extraction in mining to phosphate removal in wastewater treatment and water reuse in agriculture.
Future Outlook: Salinity Solutions aims to become a leading technology in the desalination sector, with ambitions to use their technology for humanitarian aid projects, particularly in remote and water-stressed regions.

Counter-Intuitive Facts:

Efficiency Paradox: Achieving 98% water recovery in batch RO is not just 3% better than 95%, but twice as efficient in terms of outcomes.
Market Adoption: Despite being a superior process, batch RO faces market adoption challenges because it’s a process innovation, not a new technology.
Humanitarian Origin: The commercial technology originated from a humanitarian project aimed at providing solar-powered water solutions for remote communities.

Full Episode: https://dww.show/how-oxyle-destroys-pfas-with-the-energy-youd-actually-waste/

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Elon Musk believes that solving the Global Water Crisis is a matter of Better Desalination. Could it start with this revolutionary tech developed by Salinity Solutions?

Let's find out!

More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

The full interview with Tim Naughton from Salinity Solutions will come out on Wednesday. Don't miss out!

Video version: https://youtu.be/InWaoDkVLNc

️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

Salinity Solutions' website: https://salinitysolutions.co.uk/

My conversation with Prakash Govindan (Co-Founder of Gradiant): https://dww.show/how-gradiant-became-the-first-and-only-water-tech-unicorn/

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

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🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 Elon Musk's Bold Claim on Solving the Global Water Crisis

01:42 Introducing Tom Pankratz and Tech Idol

02:46 Highlighting Salinity Solutions and Their Innovations

04:41 The Mechanics of Batch Reverse Osmosis

09:51 Salinity Solutions' Real-World Applications and Partnerships

12:14 Scaling Up and Future Prospects

13:37 The Impact and Future of Salinity Solutions

ReverseOsmosis #ZLD #Lithium

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Water is underfunded yet crucial to keeping the economy afloat: that's what we knew... but it turns out worse. We're failing faster than expected, and we don't even manage to spend the money we have. Yet there's hope: let's dig in.

More #water insights?

Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

The World Bank's Funding a Water Secure Future report: https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/water/publication/funding-a-water-secure-future?trk=feed-detail_main-feed-card_feed-article-content

CDP's Water report: https://www.cdp.net/en/articles/media/new-data-reveals-us23-trillion-investment-opportunity-from-valuing-water

The Latest US EPA assessment: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/new-epa-survey-highlights-wastewater-infrastructure-needs-protect-waterbodies

The GWI/XPV White Paper on the 12.6 Trillion dollar opportunity: https://my.globalwaterintel-insights.com/l/2DC/watersecurityinvestment

My exploration of the 2.3 Trillion dollar opportunity identified by CDP in 2023: https://youtu.be/VFEtYFC0dUo

My full blog entry: https://dww.show/the-economic-fiasco-behind-the-global-water-crisis/

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: http://youtube.com@dwwpodcast

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Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

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🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 Why is the World Struggling to Solve the Water Crisis?

01:00 Is $153.2 Billion enough?

03:17 The Hidden Inefficiencies in Water Utilities

05:30 Water Crisis: a Global Economic Threat?

07:49 From Crisis to $12.6 Trillion Opportunity

SDG6 #WaterFinance #WaterInvestment

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What can you apply from everything Fajer just shared? What can you steal and take home? Well, quite a lot if you ask me, starting with these seven insights I wrote down and number one:

1. Customer-Driven Development:

2. Pilot Strategically, and Prove Quickly

3. Build and Leverage Credibility:

4. Position your technology as Future-Proofing for your Customers

5. Prove your overall Sustainability in concrete terms

6. Build as much as possible on existing infrastructure

7. Data-Driven Customer Assurance:

And there you have it, my 7 insights from Fajer Mushtaq in under 7 minutes, if you disagree with my selection, tell me, and if you'd like to dive deeper, well listen to the full interview!

Remember, that episode came to you free of charge, but I would believe not free of value. It takes me quite some time to put all of those together every week, so all I'm asking is for you to help me distribute them! So take this episode, share it with a friend, a colleague, your boss, or your team, and I'll be back with another one next week!

Full Episode: https://dww.show/how-oxyle-destroys-pfas-with-the-energy-youd-actually-waste/

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We know PFAS removal displaces the problem while PFAS destruction breaks the bank. Or so we thought: Oxyle thinks otherwise, and to understand why, listen to this!

More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

Oxyle's Website: https://oxyle.ch/

Come say Hi to Fajer on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fajer-mushtaq-0908/

Fajer's first appearance 4 years ago: https://dww.show/how-to-solve-a-global-challenge-in-an-easy-affordable-innovative-and-efficient-way/

My conversation on PFAS destruction with Julie Bliss Mullen from Aclarity: https://dww.show/how-aclarity-bootstrapped-its-journey-from-b2c-to-pfas-destruction/

My conversation on PFAS recycling with Henrik Hagemann from Purafinnity: https://dww.show/should-we-really-destroy-pfas-no-your-fridge-knows-a-better-way/

The only water tech unicorn (so far): https://dww.show/how-gradiant-became-the-first-and-only-water-tech-unicorn/

My blog entry on today's episode: https://dww.show/how-oxyle-destroys-pfas-with-the-energy-youd-actually-waste/

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: http://youtube.com@dwwpodcast

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Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

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🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 In This Week's Episode

01:57 The Evolution of Oxyle: From Basement to Breakthrough

03:47 The Pivot: from Micropollutants to PFAS

13:23 The Science Behind Oxyle's PFAS Destruction Technology

27:40 The Future of PFAS Removal

38:45 Challenging the Status Quo: Oxyle's Mission and Vision

43:35 Navigating Water Treatment and Real-Time Monitoring

44:58 Is it possible to benchmark PFAS removal technologies?

48:08 The EPA's Conservative Approach to PFAS Treatment Recommendations

51:39 The European Market Opportunity for PFAS Treatment Technologies

55:18 Strategic Growth and Fundraising: Building a Sustainable Water Tech Company

59:06 Oxyle's Business Model

01:10:55 Rapid Fire Questions

01:15:56 7 Insights to Take Home

PFAS #PFASDestruction #PFASRemoval

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Oxyle is a company intensely focused on the treatment and monitoring of micropollutants, specifically PFAS. Over the last two and a half years, they have honed their technology to address the increasing market need for effective PFAS removal solutions. Oxyle’s approach leverages existing water treatment technologies but with a sharpened focus on PFAS, positioning themselves as a benchmark in the industry.

In this full podcast episode, Antoine Walter discusses with Fajer Mushtaq from Oxyle about the company's strategic refocus on PFAS pollutants. Over recent years, Oxyle has tailored its technology to specifically tackle the complexities of PFAS treatment, driven by market needs and the volume of customer inquiries. This adaptation has not altered their core technology but has sharpened its application, making Oxyle a leader in this niche market. The discussion delves into the technical aspects of their treatment processes, emphasizing the use of mechanical energy to enhance chemical reactions efficiently. Additionally, Fajer highlights the company's commitment to meeting rising regulatory standards while ensuring their treatments remain cost-effective and scalable, a significant concern for many of their clients. Oxyle's approach not only addresses environmental concerns but also aligns with the economic realities of the industries they serve, positioning them as a pivotal player in the water treatment industry.

Unique Insights:

Oxyle has recognized the shift in market demands towards PFAS treatment, adapting their technology to meet these new challenges without fundamental changes to their system.
The company emphasizes the importance of not just meeting regulatory standards but ensuring the treatment process is cost-effective and scalable, which has become a significant concern for their clients.
They highlight an innovative use of mechanical energy sources in their treatment processes, enhancing the efficiency of their catalytic reactions.

Key Ideas:

PFAS Focus: Oxyle has shifted its focus to PFAS due to high demand and regulatory pressure, aiming to establish industry benchmarks in this area.
Technology Adaptation: Their technology uses mechanical energy from water flow, making it energy-efficient and effective at breaking down pollutants.
Market Response: The shift was a direct response to customer needs, with Oxyle prioritizing PFAS treatment due to the volume of inquiries related to these compounds.
Regulatory Compliance and Cost: Oxyle balances compliance with regulatory standards with the economic concerns of their clients, ensuring their solutions are accessible.

Counter-Intuitive Facts:

Use of Mechanical Energy: Oxyle uses the mechanical energy from water flow as a primary energy source for their catalytic process, which is a novel approach in the treatment of PFAS.
Regulatory Ahead of Technology: While regulations are becoming stricter, Oxyle’s technology was already designed to meet future standards, which is uncommon as many companies often scramble to meet new regulations.
Cost-Effectiveness Over Direct Profit: Oxyle’s business model focuses on long-term cost-effectiveness and scalability rather than immediate profit margins from their hardware, choosing to earn through operational excellence and service.

Full Episode: https://dww.show/how-oxyle-destroys-pfas-with-the-energy-youd-actually-waste/

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New Segment! The 7 insights to take home and act upon from my podcast guest this week: Johnny Pujol.

For the ones that don't have a paper and a pen with them during the interview, that's my way to share you my notes.

What can we learn from Peter Christou's rollercoaster of a ride as the President and Founder of Swirltex? Well, quite a lot if you ask me, starting with these seven insights I wrote down and number one:

1. Navigating Market Entry

2. Collaboration and Partnerships

3. Embrace Serendipity in R&D

4. Perseverance Through Hardship

5. Take Bold Risks with Applications

6. Leadership and Team Dynamics

7. Impact Over Profit

I'd say that each of these insights from Swirltex's journey offers valuable lessons on navigating the complexities of entrepreneurship in the water sector. They highlight the blend of passion, innovation, and strategic thinking necessary to not only survive but thrive in this, as you know it, demanding field.

Anyways, there you have it, my 7 insights from Peter Christou in under 7 minutes, if you disagree with my selection, tell me, and if you'd like to dive deeper, well listen to the full interview!

Full Episode: https://dww.show/how-swirltex-nearly-crushed-its-founder-before-taking-off/

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Peter Christou had a water membrane epiphany in his garage in Edmonton. But a terrible timing and some financial difficulties of one of his investors basically turned him... homeless, and in the need to steal food to survive. As Swirltex has since soared and proved its worth, let's explore the full story!

More #water insights?

Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

🔗 Swirltex's Website: https://swirltex.com/

🔗 Come say Hi to Peter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-christou-4b758043/

🔗 My article on this week's conversation: https://dww.show/how-swirltex-nearly-crushed-its-founder-before-taking-off/

🔗 My conversation with one of Peter's Investor, John Robinson: https://dww.show/how-to-mitigate-4-shades-of-water-risk-through-impact-investing/

🔗 Mazarine Ventures' website: https://www.mazarineventures.com/

🔗 Alberta Innovates' website: https://albertainnovates.ca/news/swirltex-puts-a-spin-on-innovation/

🔗 The Creative Destruction Labs: https://creativedestructionlab.com/

🔗 E3 Lithium: https://e3lithium.ca/

🔗 LithiumBank: https://www.lithiumbank.ca/

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: https://youtube.com/@dwwpodcast

Main Channel: https://youtube.com/@AntoineWalterDWW

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Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

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🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

WaterMembranes #WaterTech #WasteWater #Lithium

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Swirltex, the company represented by Peter Christou, develops unique membrane technologies that optimize filtration processes. The company distinguishes itself by manipulating the buoyancy of liquids to enhance filtration efficiency, which is particularly effective in industries where traditional membranes fail. This technology not only reduces energy consumption by up to 70% but also improves flux rates, offering a sustainable solution particularly useful in sectors like oil and gas, mining, and municipal water treatment.

In the podcast, Peter Christou elaborates on Swirltex's innovative approach to membrane technology, which is designed to improve filtration efficiency by manipulating the buoyancy of liquids and integrating air flow. This method reduces the energy consumption of membrane systems by up to 70% and enhances flux rates, making it a game-changer in industries where conventional membranes fail, such as oil and gas and mining. The discussion also touches on the broader implications of this technology for environmental sustainability and how it can reshape industry standards for water treatment and reuse.

Unique Insights:

Swirltex's approach to increasing filtration efficiency by manipulating liquid buoyancy and using air flows represents a significant innovation in membrane technology.
The company's focus on industrial applications where conventional membranes are less effective showcases a strategic move to tap unexplored markets.
Their technology not only addresses the efficiency but also significantly cuts down on energy use, marking a step forward in eco-friendly industrial processes.

Key Ideas:

Innovative Membrane Use: Swirltex's technology uses a combination of air and water flow to prevent fouling and improve the efficiency of membrane filtration.
Energy Efficiency: The technology significantly reduces the energy required for operating membranes, which is crucial for sustainability in resource-intensive industries.
Market Adaptation: Swirltex has successfully adapted its technology for challenging applications like oil and grease-heavy industries, where traditional membranes struggle.
Environmental Impact: By improving the efficiency and reducing the energy consumption of membrane systems, Swirltex contributes to environmental sustainability.
Cultural and Operational Shift: The technology developed by Swirltex necessitates a shift in how industries think about and implement filtration systems, moving towards more sustainable and efficient practices.

Counter-Intuitive Facts:

Energy Reduction in Filtration: Swirltex's technology uses air to manipulate buoyancy, which counter-intuitively reduces energy consumption by 70% compared to traditional methods .
Application in Difficult Industries: Unlike typical membrane applications, Swirltex successfully operates in sectors with high fouling risks like oil and grease industries, traditionally challenging for membrane tech .
Adaptability to Market Needs: Swirltex's strategic focus on non-traditional markets for membranes allows it to tap into new areas, proving that membranes can be highly effective outside conventional settings like municipal water treatment .

Full Episode: https://dww.show/how-swirltex-nearly-crushed-its-founder-before-taking-off/

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Reinhard Hübner (CEO of SKion Water) was my guest on the first episode of the Season 5 of the podcast, a bit more than 2 years ago.

To this date, it's still one of the most successful episodes of all time (check it out here: https://dww.show/the-7-secrets-of-the-water-company-of-the-year-you-shall-absolutely-steal/)

Since then, SKion has led... 13 M&A moves! So, since that first appearance on the podcast, every time I meet Reinhard or his Managing Director, Dirk Brusis, I make it a rule to always question them about their next M&A.

This time, it was on record during the recent Global Water Summit (https://www.watermeetsmoney.com/), and I thought you might want to hear about it, as it's a packed 15-minute conversation, with lots (like... LOTS!) of insights inside.

About SKion Water:

SKion Water is an influential player in both the municipal and industrial water treatment sectors across Europe and North America. The company is pioneering the construction of wastewater recycling plants and deploying advanced technologies for groundwater infiltration of river water. With a budgeted turnover of 1.4 billion for the current year, SKion Water is also involved in global markets, emphasizing sustainability and technical innovation to ensure water security amidst climate change.

Episode Summary:

In this discussion, Reinhard Hübner of SKion Water outlines the company's strategic responses to the challenges posed by climate change on water resources. He discusses the construction of advanced wastewater recycling plants in Germany, a pioneering effort reflecting a shift from traditional practices due to increasing water scarcity influenced by climate change. Hübner emphasizes the necessity of integrating municipal and industrial water management solutions, highlighting projects in both Europe and North America. The conversation also touches on the company’s growth and innovation strategies, noting a slowdown in acquisitions but continued investment in essential technologies and market expansions. Regulatory challenges like the new PFAS guidelines are addressed with proactive technological solutions, showcasing SKion Water's commitment to sustainable and compliant operations. Throughout the interview, the importance of decentralized operations and the integration of new technologies for efficient water management are discussed as critical elements of SKion Water's approach to addressing the global water crisis.

Key Ideas

Climate Change and Water Security: Climate change is creating severe impacts on water availability, affecting both natural ecosystems and human needs. SKion Water is working on solutions like the reuse of municipal wastewater to combat these challenges.
Municipal Wastewater Reuse in Germany: The company is constructing Germany’s first municipal wastewater reuse plant, which reflects a significant shift in traditional water management practices in the country.
Innovation and Growth: Despite a recent slowdown in acquisitions, SKion Water continues to expand strategically, integrating new technologies and markets into its portfolio.
Regulatory Challenges and Solutions: Facing new environmental regulations, SKion Water is investing in technologies such as those for on-site PFAS destruction, highlighting the company’s proactive approach to compliance and sustainability.
Cultural and Operational Adaptations: The company’s adaptation to various global markets showcases its flexible approach to business, emphasizing understanding and integration before expansion.

Stay tuned for more: I recorded 8 pieces at the Summit, so I won't put you ALL in this feed like this one, but I'll share you the key insights in the coming weeks!

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In this special episode of our podcast, Reinhard Hübner from SKion Water joins host Antoine Walter to dive deep into the transformative strategies needed to combat water scarcity brought on by climate change. As the world faces increasingly severe ecological disruptions, SKion Water is leading the charge with innovative water management solutions, including the construction of Germany's first municipal wastewater recycling plant and the adoption of advanced groundwater infiltration technologies. This conversation is not just about the technicalities of water treatment but a forward-looking discussion on the sustainability and adaptation required to secure water resources for future generations. Tune in to understand why water reuse is no longer optional but necessary, and how decentralized operations enhance adaptability across the globe.

Links & Resources:

European Water Reuse Association
Thames Water
Ecopreneur
OVIVO
Fido (Leak Detection Technology)
E2metrix (PFAS Treatment)
Global Water Summit (Podcast Venue)

Quotes:

"If you talk security and changing a planet, the security piece is where's the water going to come from for people?" – Reinhard Hübner
"We need to come up with technical solutions to make water security happen." – Reinhard Hübner

Closing Remarks: Thank you for tuning into this enlightening discussion with Reinhard Hübner. If this conversation about the innovative strategies SKion Water is implementing to ensure water security resonates with you, please remember to rate, follow, and share our podcast. Your engagement helps us bring more insightful discussions like this to you. Don’t forget to leave a review if you enjoyed the episode!

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New Segment! The 7 insights to take home and act upon from my podcast guest this week: Johnny Pujol.

For the ones that don't have a paper and a pen with them during the interview, that's my way to share you my notes.

What can we learn from Johnny's path from selling vacuum cleaners on QVC to rolling out a network of water quality testing across North America and Europe, and in a close future maybe leading SimpleLab to IPO? Well, quite a lot, starting with this seven insight I wrote down:

Customer-Driven Innovation:

Flexibility in Business Strategy:

Maintaining Customer Trust:

Leveraging Digital Tools for Marketing and Efficiency:

Scaling Through User-Friendly Services:

Strategic Phased International Expansion:

Building Strong Partnerships:

And there you have it, my 7 insights from Johnny Pujol in under 7 minutes, if you disagree with my selection, come tell me on LinkedIn or by mail (antoine@dww.show), and if you'd like to dive deeper, well listen to the full interview - you can also jump straight into the chapter you'd like, I'm paving the road, now it's on you to take action!

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What once was a struggling Arsenic Removal company pivoted to a soaring Lab Logistics powerhouse, just about to expand from its US base to Europe! All on the back of... one simple advice you can apply today. Shall we explore this further? (of course, yes!)

More #water insights?

Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

🔗 SimpleLab's Website: https://gosimplelab.com/

🔗 TapScore's Website https://mytapscore.com/

🔗 Come say Hi to Johnny on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnnypujol/

🔗 My conversation with one of Johnny's Investor, John Robinson: https://dww.show/how-to-mitigate-4-shades-of-water-risk-through-impact-investing/

🔗 The Rethinking Water Conference in New York (and my coverage of the Water Crisis in America): https://dww.show/water-crisis-in-america/

🔗 My conversation with Megan Glover from 120Water: https://dww.show/whats-hidden-in-your-tap-water-dont-worry-your-utility-doesnt-really-know-better/

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: https://youtube.com/@dwwpodcast

Main Channel: https://youtube.com/@AntoineWalterDWW

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

👋 SOCIAL MEDIA 👋

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dwwpodcast/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AntoineWalter7

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 In This Week's Episode

01:19 How to Test your Water

03:57 Who was first, SimpleLab or TapScore?

08:32 SimpleLab's Elevator Pitch

10:39 Pivoting from Arsenic Removal to Lab Logistics

15:24 Who gave SimpleLab a Winning Hint?

16:30 SimpleLab's ugly 2017 & 2018

18:14 What was SimpleLab's first product?

20:01 What did it change to Venture into B2B?

23:13 What is SimpleLab disrupting and how?

24:43 How much do Labs "love" SimpleLab?

26:29 SimpleLab's Business Model

28:07 SimpleLab vs 120Water

29:50 Who's competition to SimpleLab?

32:13 What's TapScore's Bestseller?

34:00 How should a Water Quality Test result look like?

36:49 Will TapScore roll out in Europe?

38:32 What's next for SimpleLab?

40:20 Could SimpleLab sell your Data?

44:02 What is SimpleLab's exit route?

46:15 Rapid Fire Questions

52:56 7 Insights from SimpleLab's CEO & Co-Founder

59:04 Conclusion

WaterTest #LabTest #SimpleLab #WaterTech

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Johnny Pujol's company, SimpleLab started with a focus on arsenic removal technology but pivoted to consumer-focused water quality testing. Their approach utilizes direct-to-consumer engagement, providing testing kits through their platform, mytapscore.com, which allows customers to understand what's in their drinking water. This model turned out to be commercially successful and scalable compared to the original technology-focused venture.Innovations in water technology can drive faster economic growth than traditional industrial investments.

The central theme of the conversation is about pivoting a business model from developing arsenic removal technology to providing direct consumer water testing services. This shift occurred when the founders realized that direct engagement with customers about water quality issues through testing was more scalable and sustainable as a business model than their initial focus.

Unique Insights:

The company capitalized on the specific needs for community engagement and education about water quality, which were not adequately addressed by existing solutions.
They utilized direct consumer feedback to pivot their business towards a more sustainable model focused on water testing rather than just technology deployment.
The realization that transparency and direct consumer interaction could be a profitable business model in the water quality industry.

Key Ideas:

Business Pivot: The initial business model focused on a technology for arsenic removal, which was pivoted to consumer water testing due to scalability challenges and market needs.
Consumer Engagement: The new business model thrives on high engagement levels with consumers, providing them with detailed information about their water quality, which has shown high demand and customer satisfaction.
Market Expansion: The company is exploring further expansion into B2B sectors and international markets, adapting their successful consumer model to new demographics and regulatory environments.

Quotes:

"We were going to these towns in central Valley, and the best part about it is that when we tell them what's in their drinking water, everyone is listening."
"You've made a company; you've filed the paperwork; you have some money in the bank. You've learned a lot."
"It's like, suddenly the quiet classroom has come alive."
"You should just sell water tests."
"And then it just started working right? Like the magical thing happened."

Counter-Intuitive Facts:

Direct Consumer Testing as a Business Model: Initially, the concept of selling water tests directly to consumers was not seen as a viable business model, but it proved to be highly successful due to unmet market needs.
Pivoting from Technology to Service: Pivoting from a complex arsenic removal technology to a simpler consumer service was counterintuitive but resulted in better scalability and market penetration.
Community Engagement Over Pure Technology: Focusing on community engagement and education about water quality rather than just the technological solution to contamination proved more effective in building a sustainable business.

Full Episode: https://dww.show/how-simplelab-turned-an-arsenic-removal-failure-into-a-lab-logistics-success/

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New Segment! The 7 insights to take home and act upon from my podcast guest this week: Craig Beckman.

For the ones that don't have a paper and a pen with them during the interview, that's my way to share you my notes.

Craig has been active in the water sector for over three decades. And even though he has the humility to highlight how "even veterans need to learn" I would trust him to have a bunch of insights to share!

So here's my selection of the 7 things to take home from my conversation, and my hours of preparation and post-production, with the CEO of Aqua Membranes.

Innovation Needs Grit and Laser Focus

Sustainability: The New Business Currency

Tech Innovations: Paving the Future of Water

Strategic Investment: Crafting the Perfect Blend

Market Adoption: Bold Moves Make the Difference

Water's Economic Impact: Undervalued but Vital

Vision for Change: More Than Just a Drop in the Ocean

I could have taken more, but I think seven is a good chunk to go out and apply, so here you have it.

If you think I've missed one that's even more important than those seven, come tell me on LinkedIn or by mail (antoine@dww.show).

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Do you want more Flux, better energy efficiency, or lower maintenance from your Reverse Osmosis membrane? Here's where to start!

More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

Aqua Membranes' YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@AquaMembranes

Aqua Membranes' website: https://aquamembranes.com/

Craig's email: craig@aquamembranes.com

My "Ultimate" membrane guide: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUpiL_x7680

John Robinson discusses Impact Investing: https://dww.show/how-to-mitigate-4-shades-of-water-risk-through-impact-investing/

Chris Wyres presents Evove: https://dww.show/how-to-eradicate-dead-zones-cut-energy-needs-by-80-and-double-lithium-selectivity/

The Leading WaterTech Accelerator, Imagine H2O: https://dww.show/how-to-build-the-world-leading-water-innovation-accelerator-imagine-h2o/

Tom Ferguson's take on Venture Capital in #WaterTech https://dww.show/the-secret-formula-for-profit-in-water-tech-venture-capital/

Zwitterions as a new material for Membranes? https://dww.show/zwitterions-super-powers-could-solve-wastewater-membranes-number-one-problem/

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@dwwpodcast

Main Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@AntoineWalterDWW

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

👋 SOCIAL MEDIA 👋

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dwwpodcast/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AntoineWalter7

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 In This Week's Episode

01:20 Why Membrane Companies attracted $300 Million of Growth Capital

04:40 What is a Membrane Spacer?

06:37 What's wrong with Membrane Spacers?

08:01 Why do Membrane Majors skip the Spacers?

10:47 Does the PERFECT Membrane Spacer exist?

13:06 How far can you customize a Membrane Spacer?

14:49 How did Craig Beckman join Aqua Membranes?

18:09 Aqua Membranes' first product (and what they learned from it)

20:46 Did Failure nudge them to Give Up?

22:00 Aqua Membranes' product compatibility

23:53 Spacer, 3D-Printing or Membrane Company?

25:15 How to fit within the Membrane Vertical

29:09 How to guarantee performances as a Start-Up

33:03 Establishing Go-To Market Routes

34:59 How to License your Technology

35:57 Ramping up production capacity

36:38 Raising Money

39:25 Working with majors (Pentair & Kurita)

42:17 The pitfalls of branding as a Start-Up

45:09 The perks of start-up accelerators (Imagine H2O, BREW)

48:02 Speeding up market adoption as a Water Tech

54:13 Path to Impact (and Exit)

55:51 Building a Membrane Giant

57:46 Rapid Fire Questions

01:05:10 7 Insights to Take Home

01:10:35 Conclusion

WaterEntrepreneurs #Membranes

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AquaMembranes is a company that develops novel water treatment technologies, specifically focusing on enhancing the efficiency of reverse osmosis (RO) membranes. Their technology is designed to use less energy and improve the lifespan of membranes, thereby providing both environmental and economic benefits to communities and industries in need.

The podcast features a deep dive into how water technology, particularly the innovations by AquaMembranes, plays a pivotal role in both safeguarding environmental sustainability and bolstering economic performance. Craig Beckman discusses the company’s approach to improving reverse osmosis membranes which significantly reduces energy consumption and extends membrane life—key factors in reducing operational costs and enhancing water availability. The conversation also covers the broader economic impacts of water management, investment trends in green technologies, and the challenges in scaling and adopting new technologies. Insights into the dynamics between financial goals and sustainability objectives offer a nuanced view of the water tech industry’s future.

I hope this teaser makes you crave for more!

If you dive into this week's full release of the podcast, you'll learn how:

🚀 AquaMembranes' technology uniquely prints spacers directly onto membranes, increasing efficiency and decreasing energy use.

📈 The discussion touches on the broader implications of water management on global economies, hinting at water's role as a more critical economic driver than oil.

💪 Insights into the challenges and opportunities in scaling water tech innovations, particularly through partnerships and investment in sustainability-focused ventures.

We also address and discuss:

Water as an Economic Enabler: Water management not only supports sustainability goals but also boosts economic activity by enabling more efficient industrial and municipal water use.
Innovative Water Technologies: AquaMembranes’ approach to improving RO membrane systems can dramatically reduce energy requirements and operational costs.
Investment and Market Adoption: There's a significant discussion about the need for more robust investment in water technologies and the market challenges related to adopting new systems.
Sustainability and Business Growth: The intersection of sustainability goals with business operations is a recurring theme, emphasizing that environmental strategies can also drive business success.

Some quotes:

"Water enables economies more than oil does." - Craig Beckman
"Risk is worth it, fortune favors the brave." - Craig Beckman
"Our sole thesis is greenhouse gas reduction." - Investor comment on shifting focus to water technologies
"We're doubling down on existing markets." - Craig Beckman
"You have to start somewhere." - Craig Beckman on business strategy

Some more facts we discuss:

Despite its critical importance, water is often undervalued economically compared to other resources like oil.
Water management technology can lead to significant reductions in energy usage, contrary to the assumption that environmental sustainability always comes at a higher cost.
Innovations in water technology can drive faster economic growth than traditional industrial investments.

Full Episode: https://dww.show/how-aqua-membranes-prints-three-dimensional-benefits-for-mesh-addicts/

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New Segment! The 7 insights to take home and act upon from my podcast guest this week: Julie Bliss Mullen.

For the ones that don't have a paper and a pen with them during the interview, that's my way to share you my notes.

Narrowing the insights shared by Julie to just seven was a challenge, but hey, it's the rule I set, so this week I've got:

Focus on Market Needs and Testing Hypotheses
Innovate Within Niche Markets Before Expanding
Customer-Driven Development
Leverage Strategic Partnerships and Investments
Preparation for Regulatory Compliance
Strategic Hiring and Team Building
Bootstrapping and Careful Financial Management

As I said, I could have taken more, but I think seven is a good chunk to go out and apply, so here you have it.

If you think I've missed one that's even more important than those seven, come tell me on LinkedIn or by mail (antoine@dww.show).

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How do you survive six years on "just" grants while hiring a team, running 15 pilots, pivoting from B2C, and succeeding in PFAS Destruction at scale where many failed? Aclarity did it! Wanna find out how and how spectacular acceleration was around the corner? Listen to this episode!

More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Episode #️⃣

Aclarity's website https://www.aclaritywater.com/

Julie Bliss Mullen's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/julieblissmullen/

Julie's Email julie.mullen@aclaritywater.com

My conversation with Sivan Zamir (Xylem Innovation Labs) https://dww.show/passing-the-baton-how-to-bring-innovation-to-market-faster-more-reliably/

My conversation with Max Storto (Xylem Innovation Labs) https://dww.show/growing-10-wonder-kids-from-5-to-50-clients-with-0-equity-xylems-weirdest-move/

Tom Ferguson on my mic (aka Julie's VC) https://dww.show/the-secret-formula-for-profit-in-water-tech-venture-capital/

Another take on PFAS Removal with SuperCritical Water Oxidation (374Water) https://dww.show/is-supercritical-water-oxidation-a-solution-for-pfas-energy-more/

Electrochemical removal of PFAS and more with Axine Water https://dww.show/the-best-industrial-wastewater-treatment-system-is-the-one-you-forget/

An early take on this mic' on Micropollutant removal with Oxyle https://dww.show/how-to-solve-a-global-challenge-in-an-easy-affordable-innovative-and-efficient-way/

Julie's independent Board Member, Wayne Byrne (on my mic', of course!) https://dww.show/four-successful-exits-and-counting-whats-next-disrupting-uv-disinfection/

Full blog article: https://dww.show/how-aclarity-bootstrapped-its-journey-from-b2c-to-pfas-destruction/

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@dwwpodcast

Main Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@AntoineWalterDWW

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

👋 SOCIAL MEDIA 👋

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

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Twitter: https://twitter.com/AntoineWalter7

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 In This Week's Episode

02:18 Why is Aclarity a Water Tech "Cool Kid"?

04:22 Are we doomed with PFAS?

05:35 If PFAS is in 98% of people's blood, is it really dangerous?

06:43 Aclarity's elevator pitch

08:06 is Aclarity competing with Ion Exchange and Activated Carbon?

09:55 is Aclarity 10-50x better than competition?

11:40 Aclarity's founder story

14:09 The hints that nudged Julie to create Aclarity

15:30 Turning academic research into a business

16:48 Delegating your "baby" as a water tech founder

18:53 Key Learnings from the first 3 Years in Business

19:45 Aclarity's first prototype

23:33 How to pick your niche

26:27 How to partner with Big Groups

27:46 How did big water companies find Aclarity?

29:29 Working with Xylem vs Working with De Nora

31:15 Bootstrapped by design?

32:57 How to survive 6 years with $2 Million

34:45 Handling a first VC as a Water Tech Start Up

38:28 How a Seed Investor accepts next funding rounds

41:15 Does company valuation matter for a water tech founder?

44:15 What's next in the PFAS Removal landscape?

46:30 How much does it cost to remove PFAS?

47:55 Aclarity's Business Model

48:57 Does Aclarity solve all kinds of PFAS?

53:42 What will the EPA regulation on PFAS change?

58:35 Could Aclarity be acquired? By whom?

01:01:38 Rapid Fire Questions

01:05:31 7 Insights to Act On (right now!)

WaterTech #WaterUnicorn #WaterEntrepreneurship

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Aclarity is pioneering in the field of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) destruction, developing proprietary systems - aka cool water tech - that not only treat but also destroy PFAS in liquid waste. The technology presents a significant advancement over traditional treatment methods, offering an economical and efficient solution to a pressing environmental issue.

I hope this teaser makes you crave for more!

If you dive into this week's full release of the podcast, you'll learn how:

🚀 Aclarity’s technology signifies a radical departure from conventional PFAS treatment methods, focusing on destruction rather than containment, which could set new industry standards.

📈 The market for PFAS management is dynamic, with significant growth potential, indicating room for multiple successful technologies and companies.

💪 Aclarity's journey underscores the importance of agility and focus in developing and deploying breakthrough environmental technologies, especially in fields dominated by larger, less nimble entities.

We also address and discuss:

PFAS Challenge: PFAS compounds, due to their widespread use and persistence, pose a significant environmental and health risk, necessitating advanced solutions for their management and eradication.
Technological Innovation: Aclarity's electrochemical technology represents a novel approach to PFAS destruction, with the potential to transform the industry's approach to dealing with these contaminants.
Market Dynamics: The PFAS management market is evolving rapidly, driven by regulatory changes and increasing awareness of the dangers posed by these substances. Eclarity's success could help catalyze broader market growth and innovation.
Strategic Partnerships: Collaborations with larger entities like Xylem or De Nora and participation in accelerator programs have helped Aclarity gain credibility, refine its technology, and access essential resources for growth.

Some quotes:

"PFAS destruction is hard... but we figured it out." - Julie Bliss Mullen
"There's a place for all of us in the PFAS management market." - Julie Bliss Mullen
"Every time we've leveled up... it's because of a fundraiser or... enjoying the team." - Julie Bliss Mullen
"Full-scale economic PFAS destruction is here. Give us a chance." - Julie Bliss Mullen
"If any of us are super successful, we're all gonna be super successful." - Julie Bliss Mullen

Some more facts we discuss:

Despite the strength of the carbon-fluorine bond in PFAS, making it seemingly indestructible, Aclarity's technology is capable of breaking it down efficiently.
Even as a startup, Aclarity can compete with and potentially surpass larger companies in the PFAS management sector due to its specialized focus and innovative approach.
The PFAS problem is often considered too massive and costly to tackle effectively, yet Aclarity's solution offers an economical and scalable approach to not just manage but destroy these contaminants.

Full Episode: https://dww.show/how-aclarity-bootstrapped-its-journey-from-b2c-to-pfas-destruction/

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More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

Will Gradiant succeed with H+E where SUEZ, Stulz, and Rena failed? https://youtu.be/GMk99gRjRSc?si=zAWY2rfg3GXFSWt2E

Gradiant's website: https://www.gradiant.com/

The Global Water Awards 2024: https://globalwaterawards.com/

Prakash Govindan's LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prakash-govindan-87168310/

The 3 VCs that made money in Water Tech (the greatest success being... Gradiant): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqLn4j3w0P0

Full blog article: https://dww.show/how-gradiant-became-the-first-and-only-water-tech-unicorn/

Prakash Govindan on My Climate Journey: https://www.mcjcollective.com/my-climate-journey-podcast/gradiant

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@dwwpodcast

Main Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@AntoineWalterDWW

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

👋 SOCIAL MEDIA 👋

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dwwpodcast/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AntoineWalter7

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 In This Week's Episode

02:29 Will Gradiant be named Water Company of the Year?

04:20 Gradiant's "Special Sauce" by Prakash Govindan

05:46 How big is Gradiant today?

07:06 Where does Gradiant's journey start?

14:33 How did Gradiant strive where Incumbents gave up?

16:38 Why did Gradiant focus on the industrial market?

18:35 What is Turing, Gradiant's new AI spin out?

20:25 When did Gradiant start expanding its water tech portfolio?

23:02 How does Gradiant open a new region?

26:10 The secret to Gradiant's "Proprietary Deals"

30:50 How does Gradiant engineer its "unfair advantage"

31:23 Gradiant's unbelievable employee participation scheme

33:41 What's next after their record-breaking Series D?

36:53 Will Gradiant ever enter the municipal market?

38:04 Are Gradiant's founders ready to pass the baton?

39:53 Gradiant's new verticals: PFAS & DLE

42:20 Gradiant's two aces up their PFAS Removal sleeve

45:33 Gradiant's M&A tricks

48:18 Succeeding with H+E Mission Impossible?

50:07 Gradiant's plans for Europe

50:46 Gradiant's next M&A moves

51:50 What makes Gradiant the 2024 Water Company of the Year?

54:38 Rapid Fire Questions

57:53 7 Insights from the First Ever Water Tech Unicorn

WaterTech #WaterUnicorn #WaterEntrepreneurship

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What will you learn about Gradiant, the first-ever Water Tech Unicorn, if you listen to this week's release of the Podcast? Well, I have seven insights for you, starting with number one:

Innovative Business Model and Focus on Proprietary Solutions: A significant portion of Gradiant's projects (60%) are sole-sourced, meaning they face no competition for these projects because they develop the solution from scratch for their client. This approach underscores the importance of offering bespoke, innovative solutions to clients' unique problems, a strategy that can be crucial for startups, sure, but also for anyone aiming to differentiate themselves in the competitive and sometimes commoditized water market!
Emphasis Rapid Technology Development: Gradiant's success is partly attributed to their philosophy of pushing technology to market quickly, embracing the concept of Minimum Viable Product (MVP). They focus on developing technologies that are good enough to solve the problem at hand and getting them into the field for testing, rather than waiting for a perfect solution. This approach accelerates adoption and allows for real-world feedback to refine that said technology.
Attracting and Retaining Talent through Generous Incentives: If Prakash is so certain that Gradiant's special sauce lies in its people, it's no wonder that Gradiant has set a high industry standard by allocating 7% of the company for employee participation, excluding the founders. This generous approach to employee equity is indicative of the value they place on their team's contribution to the company's success and can serve as a model for how startups might consider structuring their own incentive programs.
Building a Strong Company Culture and Team: I just touched on how Gradiant attributes a large part of their success to the quality of their team and the company culture they have cultivated. Well, this emphasis on assembling a talented and culturally cohesive team highlights the importance of not just technical skills, but also the alignment of values and vision within the company.
Leveraging Acquisitions for Strategic Growth: Gradiant's strategic acquisitions, particularly in markets where organic growth would be too slow or challenging, demonstrate the value of targeted M&A activities to rapidly expand capabilities and market presence. There's again a talent aspect to this, as their approach to keeping and incentivizing the talent within acquired companies further emphasizes the importance of people in Gradiant's growth strategy.
Adapting Business Models to Market Needs: Gradiant's ability to adapt their business model, such as the Build-Own-Operate (BOO) approach that got them started in Oil & Gas and still gets applied today on certain projects, showcases their flexibility in meeting client needs and market demands. This adaptability is a critical strategy for navigating the complex and varied global water market. Note as well that they don't claim they've been super clever in using this approach; they actually "stole" it from their customers! Listen and adapt; there's win-win potential in that.
Emphasis on R&D and Innovation Centers: The establishment of innovation centers in strategic locations underscores Gradiant's commitment to continuous innovation and development of bespoke solutions. This approach not only fuels their pipeline of proprietary technologies but also positions them as a globally local leader in water tech and in the water industry.

I could have taken more, but I think seven is a good chunk to go out and apply, so here you have it. If you think I've missed one that's even more important than those seven, come tell me on LinkedIn or by mail (my mail is in the description).

Full Episode: https://dww.show/how-gradiant-became-the-first-and-only-water-tech-unicorn/

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Video Version: https://youtu.be/8hjsmIyC9gg

Did $330 Million Go To Waste in 2023 in Water Tech? 72 Venture Capital deals were closed last year (out of 106 deals overall), which, according to later-stage investors like Brian Iversen, is, at best, a gamble. So is it? Let's find out!

More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

Brian Iversen's article - Why Venture Capital is Failing in Water

Brian Iversen on the DWW Podcast

Tom Ferguson on the DWW Podcast

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🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 Growth Capital investment in Water Tech in 2023

01:04 The investor that didn't believe in VC for Water Tech

02:56 The Rules

03:23 VC 1 that may have earned money in Water Tech

04:25 How much?

06:53 VC 2 that made a big buck in Water Tech

08:28 How much?

10:19 VC 3 who won a jackpot in Water Tech

12:08 How much?

13:47 VC 3 reacts (unexpectedly!)

14:20 Summary & Next Steps

🎵 MUSIC 🎵

Don't Start Now (Instrumental) by Dua Lipa, https://t.lickd.co/enLNMWkMoB2 License ID: 28j6xQa8yA9

Rise (Instrumental) by Jonas Blue, https://t.lickd.co/7bPkg1VX2Py License ID: DlJlvwog6OY

Sorry (Instrumental) by Justin Bieber, https://t.lickd.co/eg8RdoR5vOP License ID: qbMDEn2dvy0

Viva La Vida (Instrumental) by Coldplay, https://t.lickd.co/RlK5P5A4nW8 License ID: eJmJAw6RLWo

WaterInvestment #WaterTech #WaterFinance

About this Channel: Welcome to the (don't) Waste Water channel! In each episode, Antoine Walter from DWW Media shares water, water tech, water finance & water entrepreneurship stories. This show will teach you the water industry like you've never seen it. If you're asking how the water sector will overcome the water crises ahead, this video is for you.

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Did $330 Million Go To Waste in 2023 in Water Tech? 72 Venture Capital deals were closed last year, which, according to Brian Iversen, is, at best, a gamble. Wanna get his rationale? Then listen to this episode!

More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

Cimbria Capital https://cimbriacapital.com/

Cimbria Consulting https://cimbria-consulting.com/

Cimbria Nord https://www.linkedin.com/company/cimbria-nord/

Why Venture Capital is Failing in Water https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/why-venture-capital-failing-water-brian-v-iversen/

Brian Iversen's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianviversen/

Tom Ferguson on the DWW Podcast https://dww.show/the-secret-formula-for-profit-in-water-tech-venture-capital/

Reinhard Hübner on the DWW Podcast https://dww.show/the-7-secrets-of-the-water-company-of-the-year-you-shall-absolutely-steal/

Paul O'Callaghan on the DWW Podcast https://dww.show/how-long-will-it-take-to-grow-the-4-stages-of-water-innovation/

John Robinson on the DWW Podcast https://dww.show/how-to-mitigate-4-shades-of-water-risk-through-impact-investing/

My full blog entry: https://dww.show/an-unpopular-challenging-yet-true-take-on-venture-capital-in-water/

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

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Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

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🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 In This Week's Episode

02:18 Did someone ever succeed with Venture Capital in Water?

05:06 Introducing Brian Iversen (Cimbria Capital)

06:07 Is Brian's 2019 Article on Venture Capital still valid in 2024?

11:32 The Problem with Venture Capital in Water Tech

13:44 What are Cimbria Capital, Consulting and Nord?

17:29 What is Cimbria investing in?

19:19 What's Cimbria's Typical Participation in their investments?

21:06 Does Cimbria target specific verticals?

22:52 Could Venture Capital succeed in subsections of the Water Market?

25:46 Is Investing in Water Tech REALLY risky?

30:11 Are Membrane Companies VC's Darling?

35:52 What's the story of Cimbria's First Exit?

37:43 How does Growth Equity rebuild a Midsized Companies Layer?

38:49 Is a struggling company the perfect investment?

39:56 How does Cimbria source its investment deals?

41:08 Could Cimbria become an acquisition target?

42:37 What is Cimbria building over the long run?

44:16 Is ESG Investment any serious?

46:01 Rapid Fire Questions

WaterInvestment #WaterTech #WaterFinance

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Water resilience, especially in the face of climate change, demands innovative and strategic solutions. Mekorot, Israel's national water company, exemplifies this by advancing water management and infrastructure to ensure sustainable water supply amidst growing challenges.

More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

Yossi Yaacoby's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yossi-yaacoby-9b05bb34/

Global Water Summit (including the Water Resilience workshop): https://www.watermeetsmoney.com/

Mekorot's Website: https://www.mekorot.co.il/

OECD's report on Climate Resilient Infrastructure: https://www.oecd.org/environment/cc/policy-perspectives-climate-resilient-infrastructure.pdf

What does resilience mean for urban water services: https://www.jstor.org/stable/26270048

Global Water Resilience Analysis of Water Distribution Systems: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0043135416307473

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🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 In This Week's Episode

02:50 Introducing Water Resilience

04:40 Work with me!

05:14 Introducing Yossi Yaacoby

07:04 Mekorot's Elevator Pitch

09:05 Mekorot's Role in the Water Start-Up Nation

10:40 Water Resilience as a key Pillar of Mekorot's approach

13:57 Climate Change's influence on Infrastructure Planning

16:41 Concrete Examples of Climate Adaptation by Mekorot

21:41 Mekorot's role in the World's Water Resilience

24:01 Mekorot's International Activities

26:19 Nature Based Solutions by Mekorot

28:29 Who will emulate Israel's National Water Law?

30:48 Mekorot's Water Resilience Workshop at the Global Water Summit 2024

32:55 A water resilience workshop: for whom?

34:42 Mekorot's role in the 10 Years to come

36:21 Rapid Fire Questions

WaterResilience #Mekorot #GWS24

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We've got 6 water crises to solve: Water for the wealthy, the many, the unconnected, for good health, for food, and for ecosystems. How do we do that? Let's ask David Sedlak, the author of "Water for All"

More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

David Sedlak's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-sedlak-723b6937/

David Sedlak's "Water for All" https://yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300256932/water-for-all/

David Sedlak's "Water 4.0" https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt5vksm5

David Lloyd Owen's "Global Water Funding" https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-49454-4

Matt Damon & Gary White's "Worth of Water" https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/635415/the-worth-of-water-by-gary-white-and-matt-damon/

Peter Gleick's "Three Ages of Water" https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/62873953

My full Blog Entry about today's topic https://dww.show/how-to-overcome-the-6-water-crises-ahead-the-rise-of-small-scale-solutions/

My conversation with David Lloyd Owen https://dww.show/3-paths-to-reach-sdg-6-by-2050-all-our-hopes-are-on-3/

My interview with Upmanu Lall https://dww.show/are-amazon-water-filters-the-best-way-to-quench-our-thirst/

My conversation with Piers Clark: https://dww.show/how-will-the-trial-reservoir-change-piloting-forever-and-for-good/

My full coverage of the UN Water Conference: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrmORG1scuqLQKWDuQWTKx9P8jPKvAZ9o&si=es59aiiyynlPJx72

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

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🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 In This Week's Episode

01:49 David Sedlak's "Water for All"

03:59 Introducing David Sedlak

05:50 What did "Water 4.0" accomplish over the past 10 years?

08:20 What led to the Writing of "Water for All"?

11:17 What prevents us from solving the 6 Water Crises?

13:01 How do we zoom out to find the right holistic solution?

14:40 At what level shall we reach this holistic view of the challenge?

15:56 What's the public's understanding of the water crises ahead?

18:25 Do we educate the public enough on the water crises ahead?

23:00 Where on earth can we already see the Future in action?

24:39 How could we better support water tech early adopters?

27:31 Are we using our limited financial means efficiently?

31:54 What's the space for innovative solution-driven approaches?

34:45 What's to save from the 2023 UN Water Conference

38:17 Can we achieve SDG6? By when?

40:32 Should we support access to water to avoid massive water migration?

42:14 What's the role of water in geopolitical conflicts?

43:56 What's the role of technology in solving the water crises?

49:51 Who needs to read the book?

52:16 What's one story that stands out in the book?

53:59 Are you a change maker?

56:14 Rapid Fire Questions

WaterCrises #WaterBook #WaterPolicy

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If you're wondering how to do water development even better (having seen MrBeast's 100 Wells for Africa masterpiece), listen to this!

More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

Wanna work with me? Let's chat: antoine@dww.show

️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

Kerstin's website: https://ask-for-water.ch/

Skat foundation's website: https://skat-foundation.ch/

Rural Water Supply Network's website: https://www.rural-water-supply.net/en/

RWSN's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@rural-water-supply-network

My full blog article: https://dww.show/the-dos-and-donts-of-rural-water-supply-100-days-after-mrbeasts-big-splash/

My comments on MrBeast's Video: https://youtu.be/Gyd1RaIF4tU?si=C5Ma3VCcpf53PS4E

My two cents on Water Charities: https://youtu.be/MI2J2oRszCA?si=SuEBr7Kecw88Hf6w

David Danberger's TED Talk: https://youtu.be/HGiHU-agsGY?si=Va9joHecXvmSmBis

🔗 Global Water's Real Water

🔗 Uptime Water

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🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 In This Week's Episode

01:48 2400 Stadiums Full for a Water Story!

05:41 Introducing Kirsten Danert & Sean Furey

10:14 549 Million People in Rural Areas don't have access to Water

13:59 Is it Safe to drink Groundwater without Treatment?

15:50 What are the steps that Precede and Follow the Drilling of a Well?

19:47 Do Local Communities still trust Governments for their Access to Water?

21:54 What is the Lifetime of an NGO-installed Handpump in Sub-Saharan Africa?

27:17 Is Finance the main Road Block in terms of access to Safe Water?

28:49 Why can't we solve the apparently "simple" economic equation of access to Safe Water?

35:05 Should we defocus from water in order to better solve... water?

39:27 Would Generalizing micro-credit approaches be a viable solution?

41:59 Is "Money" clever enough to understand the full cycle of a Water Development Project?

48:58 What are 3 "DOs" and 3 "DON'Ts" of Water Development Projects?

51:25 What does it change that MrBeast focuses 155 Million people's attention on water development?

54:49 Rapid Fire Questions

WaterDevelopment #sdg6

About the Podcast:

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Diving into the world of water stocks is like riding a roller coaster that's mostly going down. Imagine putting your hard-earned money into companies that promise to clean water or make our water use smarter, only to find out later that your investment has shrunk big time!

And the other way round: imagine you've worked decades to build a water company, and you're turning it public, and its valuation is only going down, and down, and even more down...

I looked into 50-ish listed water tech companies to get to the bottom of what's happening with water stocks. It's not about pointing out any bad apples; it's about understanding a trend where even the companies that were supposed to be the next big thing in water tech are struggling to keep their stock prices from dropping.

Why is this happening? It's not because these companies aren't trying to do great things for our planet. They are!

But turning groundbreaking water technology into a successful business is a long and bumpy road. Plus, many investors jump in excited by the big promises but bail out when they realize it's not a quick win. This leaves these pioneering water tech companies in a tough spot. They need money to grow and make their technologies work on a big scale, but if their stock prices fall, getting that money becomes really hard.

So, what can they, you, we do? We need to get smarter about investing in water tech. We need to understand that backing these companies is not just for a quick profit but for helping them build something that matters - which in turn, don't worry, will turn in money.

WaterStocks #WaterInvestment #WaterTech

🎙️ PODCAST 🎙️

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with 🎙️ Tom Ferguson - Founder and Managing Partner @ Burnt Island Ventures

H2Oracle: h2oracle.dww.show

Let's speak: antoine@dww.show

Main Idea: Venture capital plays a crucial role in supporting water entrepreneurs and fostering innovation in the water sector, emphasizing the need for strategic investment and entrepreneurial agility to address the pressing challenges and opportunities within the industry.

Burnt Island Ventures: Burnt Island Ventures is a specialist early-stage fund for the water sector that finds, funds, and supports the best founders in water. Under Tom Ferguson's lead, BIV ignited a "water fire" from its first $30 million fund that closed in early 2022, and now holds stakes in 16 companies (such as ZwitterCo, Aclarity, Ziptility or Daupler)

Key Ideas:

Venture Capital in the Water Sector: Burnt Island Ventures applies venture capital principles to the water industry, aiming to identify and support startups that can significantly impact water sustainability and management.
Entrepreneurial Approach to Water Challenges: Tom Ferguson's journey from the Carbon Disclosure Project to Burnt Island Ventures illustrates the entrepreneurial mindset needed to tackle water-related challenges innovatively.
Tom's unfair advantage: Having intensively worked with water entrepreneurs at Imagine H2O, before and beyond, BIV's Managing Partner knows what to look for in a successful water entrepreneur and hence can improve repeatability in company performances
Investment Philosophy and Strategy: Burnt Island Ventures' strategy focuses on identifying startups with the potential for significant impact, emphasizing the importance of entrepreneurial market fit and the ability to navigate the unique challenges of the water industry.
Future of Water Entrepreneurship: The discussion suggests a growing interest and opportunity in water-related ventures driven by increasing challenges in water management and sustainability efforts.

Summary: Tom Ferguson's discussion provides an in-depth look at how venture capital can catalyze innovation in the water sector. Starting with his background in sustainability and the Carbon Disclosure Project, Ferguson outlines his journey to founding Burnt Island Ventures, motivated by the potential to make a significant impact on water management through strategic investments. The firm's distributed team structure and focus on digital workflows reflect modern business practices, allowing for flexibility and a global perspective on water challenges. Ferguson emphasizes the importance of entrepreneurial market fit and the unique approach Burnt Island Ventures takes in selecting startups for investment, including the critical role of understanding the water sector's complexities and potential for innovation. The conversation also highlights the growing trend of water entrepreneurship, driven by the urgent need for sustainable water solutions and the opportunities for venture capital to support transformative technologies and business models in this space.

Links:

🔗 Have a look at Burnt Island Ventures' website

🔗 Read the BIV Blog

🔗 Listen to the Fundamental Molecule

🔗 Read Brian Iversen's article I refer to in the introduction

🔗 Come say hi to Tom on LinkedIn

🎙️ PODCAST 🎙️

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Full Article: https://dww.show/big-data-deeper-insights-crafting-smarter-water-strategies/

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with 🎙️ Sudhir Gadh - CEO & Founder @ Third Element Water

H2Oracle: h2oracle.dww.show

Let's speak: antoine@dww.show

Micro-dosed Lithium is a surprisingly under-researched field of water science, yet it seems to present a wealth of advantages (as I discovered in this deep dive that kind of fell on me!)

Adding a micro-dose of lithium to tap water could offer numerous health benefits, including improved heart function, bone formation, obesity and diabetes management, reduced risks of Alzheimer's, and more, due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

Unique Insights

Lithium, at micro-doses, is linked to a wide array of health benefits, including lower rates of suicide, homicide, and various chronic diseases, without significant reported adverse effects.
Despite the potential health benefits of micro-dosed lithium, there is a notable lack of regulation and research into its use in drinking water, highlighting a gap in public health policies.
The historical stigma associated with lithium, primarily due to its use in treating severe mental disorders, may contribute to the current lack of traction for micro-dosed lithium as a health supplement.

Key Ideas

Health Benefits of Lithium: Studies suggest that micro-doses of lithium in drinking water can lead to lower rates of suicide, homicide, and Alzheimer's disease. It has also been linked to greater overall wellness, enhanced cognitive abilities, and a potential slowing down of aging processes.
Lithium's Regulatory Void: Despite its potential benefits, there are no specific regulations regarding the presence of lithium in drinking water, leading to a lack of awareness and control over its consumption.
Historical Context: The use of lithium in beverages and medical treatments in the past led to both therapeutic benefits and health controversies, influencing current perceptions and regulations of its use.
Current Research and Evidence: Recent studies continue to support the health benefits of lithium, yet there remains a significant gap in research, especially regarding its low-dose effects and potential adverse outcomes.
The Role of Bottled Mineral Water: Some bottled waters naturally contain lithium in micro-doses, yet there is no obligation to label or promote this fact, leaving consumers unaware of their intake.

General Summary

This podcast episode delves into the surprising health benefits of adding a micro-dose of lithium to tap water, ranging from enhanced cardiac function and bone formation to reduced risks of various diseases. The conversation between the host and Sudhir Gadh, a psychiatrist and representative of Third Element Water, explores the scientific studies supporting these claims and the history of lithium's use and perception in society. Despite the evidence, there's a notable lack of regulation and research on lithium's low-dose use in drinking water, raising questions about public health policies. The episode also touches on the historical stigma around lithium, its depiction in popular culture, and the current opportunities and challenges in promoting its health benefits more widely.

Links:

🔗 Have a look at Third Element Water's Website: https://thirdelementwater.com/

🔗 Come say hi to Sudhir Gadh on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sudhir-gadh-844a5419/

🎙️ PODCAST 🎙️

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Full Article: https://dww.show/micro-dosed-lithium-tap-waters-health-hack/

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➡️ Useful Links:

Sciens Water: https://www.scienswater.com

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The detailed deep dive into micro-dosed lithium with context and research is in this week's main episode, so here's a bonus with my full interview with Sudhir Gadh, the CEO & Founder of Third Element Water.

Main Idea

Adding micro-dosed lithium to drinking water can significantly enhance health, from improving mental well-being and brain health to reducing the risk of chronic diseases, offering a simple yet profound way to boost public health through water mineralization.

Participants

Antoine Walter: Host.
Sudhir Gadh: CEO & Founder @ Third Element Water.

Third Element Water

Third Element Water is a company that specializes in bottling lithiated water found in West Texas. Their mission extends beyond selling water; they aim to raise awareness about the importance of mineral content in water, specifically highlighting lithium for its numerous health benefits.

Unique Insights

Micro-dosed lithium in drinking water has been linked to a range of health benefits, including improved mental health and reduced chronic disease risk, without the high costs or side effects associated with pharmaceutical interventions.
The presence of lithium in water sources worldwide suggests a natural basis for its health benefits, underscoring the potential for widespread, low-cost public health improvements.
The initiative challenges current norms and regulations surrounding drinking water, proposing a shift towards mineral-enhanced water for broader health benefits.

Key Ideas

Health Benefits of Lithium: Lithium, even in micro-doses, can improve electrical balance in the body, potentially offering benefits for conditions like COVID-19 and post-COVID syndrome, enhancing brain health, and promoting overall wellness.
Enhancing Water with Minerals: Sudhir Gadh discusses the concept of not just cleaning water but enhancing it with minerals like lithium, akin to practices with fluoride and chloride, to address deficiencies and improve public health.
Regulatory and Perception Challenges: The initiative faces challenges related to public perception and regulatory norms, as well as the need for education and awareness to overcome skepticism and embrace the health benefits of mineral-enhanced water.
Business and Deployment Strategy: Third Element Water aims to operate both B2C and B2B, selling their lithium-enhancement product directly to consumers and working with municipalities to improve public water supplies.

Key Points

Sudhir Gadh introduces Third Element Water and its focus on lithiated water.
Discussion on the broad health benefits of micro-dosed lithium in water.
Lithium's role alongside other minerals in enhancing water quality.
Challenges in changing public perception and regulatory standards for drinking water.
Strategy for deploying lithium-enhanced water solutions to the public and municipalities.

Quotes

"We are electrical beings, and so small amounts actually improve electrical balance immunologically."
"The latest research...is that there's less not just suicide, homicide, crime, Alzheimer's, psychosis, but there is greater wellness."
"We enhanced salt...we enhanced toothpaste and water now with fluoride. We're just moving to what's sensible."

Counter-Intuitive Facts

Lithium as a Health Enhancer: Commonly associated with treating bipolar disorder at high doses, lithium in micro-doses can significantly improve public health with minimal risk.
Enhancing Water to Improve Health: Unlike the conventional focus on removing contaminants, adding lithium and other minerals to water can address nutrient deficiencies and enhance health.
Accessible and Affordable Health Solution: Contrary to expectations, enhancing water with lithium is a low-cost strategy that could deliver significant health benefits without the need for expensive medical interventions.

Full Article: https://dww.show/micro-dosed-lithium-tap-waters-health-hack/

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Video Version: https://youtu.be/8hjsmIyC9gg

Water reuse is crucial for addressing water scarcity and has many environmental, agricultural, and economic benefits. Yet, despite technological advancements and proven safety, public acceptance remains a challenge due to misconceptions and the importance of communication strategies.

What we'll discuss today:

🥹 The success of water reuse projects is significantly influenced by public perception and media coverage, with emotional appeals often outweighing rational arguments.

💪 Best practices for gaining public acceptance of water reuse include careful framing of the discussion, gradual implementation, and focusing on the treatment process rather than the water's source.

🈷️ The terminology used to describe reused water can greatly affect public acceptance, with terms emphasizing purity and quality being more favorable.

But also:

Technology and Safety of Water Reuse: Advances in water treatment technologies allow for the production of water that exceeds drinking standards, demonstrating that water reuse is a viable solution to water scarcity.
Public Perception and Media Influence: The case of Toowoomba illustrates how public opposition and negative media coverage can derail water reuse projects, emphasizing the need for effective communication and engagement strategies.
Economic and Environmental Benefits: Beyond addressing water scarcity, water reuse offers numerous benefits, including reduced pollution, enhanced agricultural productivity, and groundwater recharge.
Strategies for Public Acceptance: Drawing from cases like Singapore, strategies such as educating the media, using positive terminology, and showcasing successful examples are critical for overcoming resistance.
Importance of Gradual Implementation: Introducing reused water incrementally, starting with non-potable applications or industrial use, can help build public trust and acceptance over time.

WaterReuse #WastewaterReuse #NEWater #ReclaimedWater #Reuse

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with 🎙️ Kimberly Nelson - COO @ True Elements

H2Oracle: h2oracle.dww.show

Let's speak: antoine@dww.show

Main Idea: In a rapidly evolving world, integrating and understanding complex environmental data is crucial for effective decision-making. Leveraging state-of-the-art technology and comprehensive data analysis is key to preserving our natural resources, especially water.

True Elements: True Elements is a pioneering water intelligence company. They specialize in aggregating diverse data sets and applying advanced technologies like AI and machine learning to provide comprehensive insights into water quality and related environmental issues. Their unique approach consolidates and normalizes data from various sources, making it visually accessible and actionable for decision-makers in business, government, and non-profits. True Elements' mission is to equip stakeholders with the necessary tools to make informed decisions for water resource management and environmental resiliency.

Unique Insights:

The concept of "Water Intelligence" is emerging as a vital tool in environmental protection, combining advanced technologies with diverse data for better decision-making.
True Elements' approach to environmental data aggregation and analysis represents a significant leap in how we manage and understand water resources.
The partnership between True Elements and Waterkeeper Alliance showcases a model for strategic collaborations in environmental resiliency.

Key Ideas:

Water Intelligence: True Elements introduces "Water Intelligence," a concept combining technology, scientific analysis, and data aggregation to improve water resource management.
Data Aggregation: The company focuses on collecting and normalizing data from numerous sources, offering a comprehensive picture of water resources.
Environmental Impact: True Elements' work highlights the critical need for better data management and analysis to understand and mitigate environmental impacts effectively.
Strategic Partnerships: The collaboration with Waterkeeper Alliance demonstrates a strategic approach to leveraging localized knowledge and data for global environmental protection.
Technology in Environmental Resiliency: The use of AI and machine learning in environmental protection marks a significant advancement in the field.

Summary: In this conversation with Kimberly Nelson, COO of True Elements, we explore the crucial role of technology in environmental protection. True Elements exemplifies innovation in the environmental sector by introducing "Water Intelligence," a concept that blends state-of-the-art technology, scientific analysis, and comprehensive data aggregation. This approach provides decision-makers with actionable insights, significantly improving water resource management. The company's strategic partnership with Waterkeeper Alliance highlights the power of combining local volunteer efforts with advanced data analysis for global environmental impact. Nelson's journey, from her early days in government to her role at Microsoft, and now at True Elements, underscores the growing importance of technology in environmental resiliency. This evolution in data management and analysis, as discussed in the podcast, is critical for understanding and mitigating environmental impacts in an increasingly complex world..

Links:

🔗 Have a look at True Element's website

🔗 Get to understand the Water Intelligence concept

🔗 Start you water stewardship journey with this interactive tool

🔗 Come say hi to Kimberly on Linkedin

🎙️ PODCAST 🎙️

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Full Article: https://dww.show/big-data-deeper-insights-crafting-smarter-water-strategies/

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➡️ Useful Links:

Sciens Water: https://www.scienswater.com

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I'm pretty sure nobody ever noticed the butterfly effect in real life. Changing a little parameter somewhere, which leads to unexpected consequences at a total other end of the system, might probably happen on a daily basis, but first, as I said, you'd have to notice and, second to understand that the effect you're seeing is, in fact, linked to the tiny change somewhere else.

We can accept that as a fact and try to master our silos to the best of our abilities, or we can see the continuous advancements in artificial intelligence as the missing link that finally enables us to get more holistic in the comprehension of our systems!

For instance, what if super tiny levels of certain components in drinking water had macro consequences, positive or negative, on human health? What if private worksites on a section of a watershed had tremendous consequences on the water risk downstream? What used to be conjectures drawn on a napkin now become data trends you can spot and link in the era of artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Not ChatGPT or MidJourney style, but soft sensor and data crunching style. If you've been listening to this podcast for a while, first, thanks a lot, great choice, I appreciate; then you might recall a topic that we've quite extensively covered on this microphone. So, what's different today with True Elements? I'll let Kim explain in great detail in just a minute, but I'd say it's a matter of scale. We've seen in the past how modeling, machine learning, or AI can help within a plant, an industrial site, or a city with use cases all across the board. Well, True Elements' Water Intelligence introduces the watershed level as one of the many levels where they aim to create value.

Full Episode: https://dww.show/big-data-deeper-insights-crafting-smarter-water-strategies/

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with 🎙️ Aaron Tartakovsky - CEO & Co-Founder @ Epic Cleantec

H2Oracle: h2oracle.dww.show

Let's speak: antoine@dww.show

Main Idea: Change in water reuse practices is essential due to growing water scarcity and infrastructure challenges. Overcoming public perception and outdated regulations is key to adopting more sustainable water management systems.

Epic Cleantec: Epic CleanTech, co-founded by Aaron Tartakovsky, is a pioneering firm in the water reuse sector. The company specializes in transforming wastewater into reusable water, primarily for urban environments. By utilizing innovative technologies like membrane bioreactors, Epic CleanTech helps buildings and communities reduce their water footprint. Their approach includes decentralized water treatment solutions, promoting sustainability and efficiency in water use.

Unique Insights:

Inertia in Water Management: The podcast highlights the inertia in changing water management practices, rooted in centuries-old centralized systems, which poses a significant challenge to adopting water reuse.
Economic Impacts Drive Change: The realization that water scarcity directly impacts economic activities, like construction and agriculture, is accelerating the adoption of water reuse practices.
Policy as an Enabler and Barrier: Policy plays a dual role - both as a barrier and an enabler in the adoption of water reuse technologies. Proactive policy changes are essential for wider adoption.

Key Ideas:

Centuries-Old Water Systems: Modern water systems are still based on ancient principles, making the shift to water reuse challenging.
Necessity Driving Innovation: Water scarcity is pushing cities and companies to adopt water reuse out of necessity.
Economic Incentives: Financial implications are a significant factor driving the adoption of water reuse systems.
Policy's Role: Existing policies often hinder water reuse; changing them is crucial for progress.
Decentralized vs. Centralized Systems: The coexistence and collaboration of decentralized and centralized water systems are essential for future resilience.
Public Perception: Overcoming public misconceptions about recycled water is crucial for acceptance.
Technological Innovation in Water Reuse: Advancements in technologies like membrane bioreactors and digital solutions are key to efficient water reuse.
Global Interest in Water Reuse Models: There's growing global interest in Epic CleanTech's model, indicating a shift in water reuse perspectives.

Summary: Aaron Tartakovsky, co-founder and CEO of Epic CleanTech, discusses the urgent need for change in water management practices due to the growing global water crisis and outdated infrastructure. He explains that the major obstacle to water reuse is overcoming centuries-old centralized water systems and public perception of wastewater. Tartakovsky emphasizes that necessity, driven by water scarcity impacting economic activities, is pushing cities and companies towards water reuse. He highlights the role of policy in both hindering and enabling water reuse adoption. The conversation delves into the importance of both decentralized and centralized systems working together for resilience, the need to address public misconceptions about recycled water, and the significance of technological innovation in making water reuse more efficient and relevant in various industries. Tartakovsky's insights reveal a growing global interest in water reuse models, indicating a shift in perspectives towards sustainable water management.

Links:

Epic Cleantec's Website

🎙️ PODCAST 🎙️

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Full Article: https://dww.show/the-economic-incentives-of-the-water-reuse-revolution/

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Welcome to the second installment of this week's water reuse series! If you've missed the first one, that was a dense conversation with Austin Alexander, Xylem's VP Sustainability; my advice: go back and listen to it once you're done with today's insightful, too short for my taste, but hence packed discussion with Aaron! And yes, I'm slightly biased.

So, in today's episode, we discuss the inherent inertia in water management that stems from centuries-old centralized systems, which pose a significant challenge to adopting water reuse. We'll tackle water scarcity from an unusual angle: looking at it as an economic risk, which in turn may accelerate reuse, assuming... policies play their role. That's to say, as an enabler, not a barrier.

We'll discuss how necessity breeds creativity, how there's still legwork to do to overcome public misconceptions about recycled water, and how technologies are reaching a maturity stage that makes them very approachable and plug-and-play.

Let's cut to the chase, it's time for me to open the mic' to Aaron!

Full Episode: https://dww.show/the-economic-incentives-of-the-water-reuse-revolution/

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with 🎙️ Austin Alexander - VP Sustainability and Social Impact @ Xylem

H2Oracle: h2oracle.dww.show

Let's speak: antoine@dww.show

Main Idea: In a world where technology often outpaces implementation, the real challenge in water reuse lies not in developing new technologies, but in fostering the political will and public acceptance necessary for its widespread adoption. This issue is crucial for addressing the growing global water crisis..

Xylem: Xylem is committed to developing innovative and smart technology solutions to tackle the world's water challenges. The company's focus extends across a comprehensive range of water-related sectors, including treatment, testing, and transportation. With a strong emphasis on sustainability and social impact, Xylem aims to create efficient water management solutions that benefit communities and industries worldwide.

Unique Insights:

Circular Economy and Water Reuse: The podcast highlights a novel approach of framing water reuse within the context of circular economy, emphasizing the sustainable and efficient use of resources.
Public Perception and Policy Change: A key insight is the evolving public perception of water reuse, moving beyond the 'toilet to tap' stigma, and its influence on policy and implementation.
Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability: There is an emerging trend of corporate investment in water sustainability, driven by the realization of water being a critical element for business survival.

Key Ideas:

Water Reuse Technology: The technology for water reuse is largely available and improving, but the challenge lies in implementation, influenced by factors like financing and political will.
Public Perception: Changing public perception towards water reuse, including overcoming misconceptions, is crucial for its broader adoption.
Role of Circular Economy: Incorporating water reuse in the circular economy narrative can be a powerful tool to promote sustainability and efficient resource use.
Corporate Sustainability Initiatives: Major corporations are increasingly investing in water sustainability, recognizing its importance for long-term business viability.
Cost-Effectiveness of Water Reuse: Water reuse is often more affordable than alternatives like desalination, but public awareness of this fact is low.
Role of Digital and Other Technologies: Digital technology plays a significant role in enhancing the efficiency and reducing the cost of water reuse solutions.

Summary: In a detailed conversation with Antoine Walter, Austin Alexander discusses the various aspects of water reuse. He begins by stating that the technology for water reuse is not the major hurdle; rather, it's the implementation, which is hampered by financial constraints and lack of political will. Alexander highlights the shift in public perception towards water reuse, overcoming the 'toilet to tap' stigma, and the importance of educating the public about its benefits. He discusses the role of circular economy principles in redefining water reuse and emphasizes the increasing corporate investment in water sustainability, driven by the realization of its necessity for business survival. Alexander also points out the affordability of water reuse compared to other methods like desalination. He concludes by emphasizing the need for greater public engagement and corporate responsibility in promoting water reuse.

Links:

Xylem's website

🎙️ PODCAST 🎙️

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Full Article: https://dww.show/beyond-technology-the-social-dynamics-of-water-reuse/

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➡️ Useful Links:

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If you're a regular listener of this podcast, I hope I don't need to convince you about the perks of water reuse: it's a widely untapped water resource in an era of growing water scarcity, it's the cheapest of all the unconventional water sources, notably much cheaper than seawater desalination, and it comes with a wealth of welcome side-effects, ranging from much better environmental impact and removal of trace compounds and endocrine disruptors, all the way through resource recovery and circular economy.

Great, that's a very rational story, yet we humans are no rational beings despite what we believe. We're emotional, and the emotions associated with water reuse are, let's face it, tainted. As a result, despite all the good reasons to adopt it, the recent growth we've seen in water reuse's contribution to our water mix might be an optical illusion. It's growing, yes, but a bit like a dragster to which you would have attached a parachute after having placed an elephant in the passenger seat.

So the question becomes: how do we remove that elephant and that parachute? How do we speed up the much-needed adoption of water reuse? And what prevents the elephant from disembarking the car?

To answer these, we'll delve with Austin today into the challenge of fostering the political will and public acceptance necessary for reuse's widespread adoption. We'll follow up on Friday with another brilliant return guest, Aaron Tartakovsky from Epic Cleantec, to look into infrastructure challenges, outdated regulations, and, again, overcoming public perception. And I'll close that tryptic with my own synthesis, leveraging some of my former guest's wisdom - notably David Lloyd Owen and Paul Gagliardo - but also Austin, Aaron, and Henry Charrabé, which you've not heard on that microphone yet, that should be out next Monday and available on my main YouTube channel as well.

Full Episode: https://dww.show/beyond-technology-the-social-dynamics-of-water-reuse/

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Video Version: https://youtu.be/08GBv_Jd3ck

Melbourne's history is deeply intertwined with its water management. Starting as a small village on the Yarra River's banks, it rapidly grew during the Victorian gold rush, leading to increased water demand. To address this, the city built the world's largest artificial reservoir in 1857, signifying its commitment to resolving water issues.

However, the Millennium Drought in the early 21st century was a stark reminder of Melbourne's water vulnerability. This led to the Victorian Desalination Plant project by AquaSure, comprising Thiess, Macquarie Capital, and Suez Environnement. Despite its ambitious goals, the plant faced construction delays and financial setbacks, and remained largely unused post-completion due to sufficient rainfall.

Melbourne's water strategy is unique, with annual assessments to determine the need for desalinated water and a focus on water reuse and sustainability. Although the plant has been underutilized, it's an essential part of the city's long-term water security plan, as climate change continues to pose challenges. T

he city's proactive and adaptive approach serves as a model for urban water management. Despite being built to address water scarcity, the Victorian Desalination Plant didn't produce water for several years due to adequate rainfall. This shows how weather can dramatically change the need for certain infrastructure. Melbourne orders desalinated water annually, based on forecasts rather than immediate need.

This approach differs from the typical on-demand operation of desalination plants worldwide. Paying for the desalination plant's standby costs, even when not in use, highlights a long-term commitment to water security, emphasizing preparation over immediate utility.

Desalination #Melbourne #WaterScarcity

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with 🎙️ Kendra Morris - President Northeast Region at Veolia North America

H2Oracle: h2oracle.dww.show

Main Idea: Kendra Morris (Veolia) serves as a key supporter and advocate for water professionals, ensuring they understand their critical role in public health and the economy through reliable water and wastewater services.

About Veolia: Veolia is a multinational company with a focus on providing integrated solutions across water management, waste management, and energy services. Operating globally, Veolia is dedicated to sustainable development and innovation in environmental services. They work with communities and industries to manage, optimize and sustainably use resources. Veolia's initiatives include improving access to water, recycling waste to create new materials, and contributing to the circular economy.

Unique Insights:

The concept of a "silver tsunami" where imminent retirements could lead to a significant loss of institutional knowledge within the water industry.
Veolia's approach to community integration by employing residents and thus building trust and enhancing the value of their work locally.
The discrepancy between the financial attractiveness of the water sector jobs and the lack of awareness or interest in these roles.

Key Ideas:

Role of a Champion: Kendra Morris describes her role as empowering Veolia's Northeast region employees to see the broader impact of their daily tasks on public health and local economies. She emphasizes the importance of morale and purpose in their roles.
Workforce Development: Veolia is tackling the 'silver tsunami' of retiring workers by creating internship programs with technical high schools to cultivate a new generation of water professionals.
Industry Awareness: Despite offering higher-than-average wages, the water sector struggles with awareness. Veolia, in particular, faces the challenge of making its brand and the opportunities within the water sector more known.
Veolia Academy: Veolia's commitment to education is reflected in the Veolia Academy, which offers free online courses to anyone interested in water and wastewater professions, aiming to address the educational needs of the future workforce.
Diversity and Inclusion: Kendra Morris outlines Veolia's efforts to promote diversity in the water workforce, including gender diversity and cultural inclusion, which are key to bringing different perspectives and strengthening the sector.

Summary: Kendra Morris explains her role at Veolia as a motivator for water professionals, helping them see the importance of their work in public health and economic development. She discusses the 'silver tsunami'—the mass retirement of skilled workers—and Veolia's response through educational programs like internships for high school seniors. Despite higher wages in the water sector, there's a lack of awareness about career opportunities, something Veolia aims to change through initiatives like Veolia Academy. She emphasizes the need for greater diversity in the workforce to improve performance and representation. The future success in the water industry, according to Morris, hinges on standardized data to inform operational decisions.

Links:

Veolia North America
Sciens Water

🎙️ PODCAST 🎙️

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Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Full Article: dww.show/new-year-new-you-new-water-job/

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➡️ Useful Links:

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At the end of 2022, I discussed the silver wave the water sector is facing on that microphone. Well, sorry to start 2024 that way, but as Kendra will explain in a minute, that wave turned into a tsunami, and it's about time we learn how to surf it!

So this week, I'm releasing two twin episodes, the one you're currently listening to - that's a great choice, stay here - and a conversation with Lyle King from Influx Search where we look at the water job market dynamics from a complementary perspective. So, if you haven't heard Lyle yet, add it to your playlist and you know what to do after finishing this one!

In this episode, we'll discuss the role of a water champion, how to tackle the silver tsunami through workforce development in general and the Veolia Academy in particular, Industry awareness and branding, and finally, diversity and inclusion.

I had a blast recording this conversation at the Rethinking Water Conference organized by Sciens Water at the Columbia Water Center in New York, thanks again to Alex Loucopoulos and the Sciens team for inviting me over, and without further due, let me welcome Kendra Morris.

Full Episode: https://dww.show/the-unseen-potential-in-water-careers/

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with 🎙️ Lyle King - Owner & Director at Influx Search

H2Oracle: h2oracle.dww.show

Main Idea: The water industry faces a significant challenge in attracting and retaining talent, particularly due to a looming generational turnover and the evolving skill sets required in the era of digitization and automation. This challenge calls for a strategic approach in recruitment, focusing on not just acquiring new talent but also on retaining and developing existing employees.

Influx Search: Influx Search is a global recruitment consultancy and headhunting organization specializing in the water industry. They work with a wide range of businesses involved in various water applications, not limited to municipal uses but including industrial water and wastewater, as well as commercial and residential applications. Their focus is not just on recruiting new talent but also on helping businesses retain their existing employees, recognizing the value and cost-effectiveness of employee retention.

Unique Insights:

The water industry faces a 'silver tsunami' with a significant portion of its workforce approaching retirement, creating a knowledge gap.
The future of the water sector includes a shift towards data, digital technologies, and automation, requiring new skill sets.
The concept of employer branding is critical in attracting talent, as many companies struggle to communicate their culture and values effectively.

Key Ideas:

Generational Turnover: The water industry is older by an average of five years compared to other sectors, with about 50% of the UK's water engineering force expected to retire in the next two decades. This creates a large knowledge gap and a need for strategic succession planning.
Skills Shift Towards Technology: There is a growing need for skills in digital technologies and data management in the water sector. Roles related to software engineering and customer success management are becoming more critical.
Challenges in Attractivity: The water sector struggles with attracting diverse and young talent due to image and branding issues. There's a need for more efforts in showcasing the sector's impact and opportunities.
Retention and Recruitment Strategy: Influx Search emphasizes the importance of not just recruiting talent but also retaining them. It's cheaper for organizations to keep their staff happy and engaged than to constantly hire new people.
Employer Branding: Companies need to effectively communicate their culture, values, and benefits to attract the right talent. This includes creating a strong online presence and employer brand.

Summary: We discuss the challenges facing the water industry, particularly in talent management. The sector is experiencing a generational turnover, with a significant portion of the workforce nearing retirement, creating a substantial knowledge gap. The industry also faces challenges in attracting young and diverse talent, partly due to a lack of effective employer branding. The future of the water sector is leaning towards automation and digital technologies, necessitating a shift in required skill sets. Influx Search’s approach to recruitment emphasizes not just hiring new talent but also retaining and developing existing employees, recognizing the cost-effectiveness and value of employee retention.

Links:

Influx Search Website

🎙️ PODCAST 🎙️

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Full Article: dww.show/new-year-new-you-new-water-job/

👋 SOCIAL MEDIA 👋

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dwwpodcast/

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DontWasteWaterPodcast

➡️ Useful Links:

Sciens Water: https://www.scienswater.com

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Happy New Year! With a new year comes statistically, for one-third of us, the urge to make good resolutions. If you're under 30, it's even more than half the people who make these good resolutions. In maybe or maybe not related news, 50% of people contemplate changing their careers, and two-fifths of them even contemplate so very openly.

What does that mean. Well, if you're in a super sexy working field, that's great news: more people will want to join you. But the other side of that same coin is that if you're on the maybe less sexy end of the market, you better be prepared to struggle.

Where's the water sector on that scale? Well, despite its promising landscape for job seekers, its competitive wages, especially on the lower end of the qualification ladder, its lower educational barriers to entry, and its tremendous opportunities in a variety of roles that are critical to the infrastructure and environmental sustainability, hence I'd say, despite its high purpose, unfortunately, you guessed it right, we the water professionals are not that sexy.

But once we've said that, what do we do about it? Well, this week, I'm releasing two twin episodes. The one you're currently listening to, with Lyle King, and another one you'll find in your hopefully favorite feed, with Kendra Morris. While the latter deals with training more people to water jobs, the former you're again currently listening to, so this one looks in depth at a few key aspects of the job market and its best practices.

If you belong to the people actively or passively looking for new endeavors, you'll learn what skills are the most in-demand right now, what techniques yield the best mid and long-term results in interview processes, and what water field is the hottest.

If you're looking to recruit the best water professionals out there, you'll learn how and where to find the right fits, how Lyle and his peers might be able to help you out, and what to absolutely avoid if you don't want to experience crazy churn rates amongst your candidates.

But what if you're neither recruiting nor seeking to recruit, shall you skip this episode? Of course I'm biased, but in my humble opinion, you really shouldn't. Because as Lyle will explain, the most efficient use of your HR resources is to ensure you retain and optimize your talents. Which involves employer branding, and efficiently articulating company culture and values.

That's a packed schedule, so let's cut to the chase and without further due, let me open the mic' to Lyle King. Remember, if you like this episode, share it with a friend, a colleague your boss or your team, that's the only way I can spread the message and I'll see you on the other side!

Full Episode: https://dww.show/new-year-new-you-new-water-job/

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⛏️ LITHIUM PROJECT 💧

The full project recap: https://leckerlithium.com/

🎥 IN THIS EPISODE 🎥

I could have titled this video "How I may Accidentally Become a Billionaire" - and it was a fascinating quest that's probably only half-through (that's on you now!)

I embarked on an extraordinary global quest, unraveling a potential solution to a critical challenge facing the electric vehicle (EV) industry: the scarcity of lithium. As the backbone of EV batteries, lithium is in high demand, yet its supply is concentrated in a few locations worldwide, lagging behind the explosive growth of the EV market. This imbalance has catapulted lithium prices, making it a lucrative yet elusive resource.

This journey took me to four continents and made me meet dozens of lithium experts. It all started with a surprising discovery: a vast, untapped lithium source almost in my backyard. This revelation isn't just a stroke of luck but the result of meticulous research and exploration in the once-thriving potash mines of South Alsace.

Not only did I uncover a significant lithium source, but I also built a viable strategy to mine it, potentially producing 20,000 tons annually. This hopefully addresses a global challenge, turning an environmental hazard into an opportunity and potentially transforming the EV industry.

👨‍💻 TO DIVE DEEPER 👨‍💻

All the experts who helped build this deep dive:

Why Water Technologies Matter in Lithium Mining (with Ben Sparrow - Saltworks) - https://dww.show/why-water-technologies-matter-in-lithium-mining-and-why-you-should-buy-now/
The Shocking Requirements of Spodumene Processing (with Tony Strobbe) - https://dww.show/the-shocking-requirements-of-spodumene-processing-and-more-lithium-101-stories/
What are the 10 Simple Secrets behind Standard Lithium's DLE success? (with Robert Mintak) https://dww.show/what-are-the-10-simple-secrets-behind-standard-lithiums-dle-success/
How "Reverse ZLD" made the World's Largest Water Company a Lithium Refinery Expert (with Jim Rieke - Veolia) - https://dww.show/how-reverse-zld-made-the-worlds-largest-water-company-a-lithium-refinery-expert/
The Game-Changing Company with 60 Patents that's Disrupting the Battery Industry (with Teague Egan - EnergyX) - https://dww.show/the-game-changing-company-with-60-patents-thats-disrupting-the-battery-industry/
Vulcan's Clever Strategy to take off its Zero Carbon Lithium: Sell it Years Ahead! (with Cris Moreno) - https://dww.show/vulcans-clever-strategy-to-take-off-its-zero-carbon-lithium-sell-it-years-ahead/
How to Eradicate Dead Zones, Cut Energy Needs by 80% and Double Lithium Selectivity (with Chris Wyres - Evove) - https://dww.show/how-to-eradicate-dead-zones-cut-energy-needs-by-80-and-double-lithium-selectivity/
How Lithium Refining & Water as a Service spark Growth for a Family Business (with Devesh Sharma - Aquatech) - https://dww.show/how-lithium-refining-water-as-a-service-spark-growth-for-a-family-business/
Sustainable Lithium Production has an Overlooked 3rd Component: Here's how to Unlock it! (with Christopher Brown - Helios Corporation) - https://dww.show/sustainable-lithium-production-has-an-overlooked-3rd-component-heres-how-to-unlock-it/
The 5 Rules to a Successful Direct Lithium Extraction Adventure (with Andy Robinson - Standard Lithium) - https://dww.show/the-5-rules-to-a-successful-direct-lithium-extraction-adventure/
The Bill Gates Jewel that pivoted from Water to Chemical Free Lithium Refining (with Saad Dara - Mangrove Lithium) - https://dww.show/the-bill-gates-jewel-that-pivoted-from-water-to-chemical-free-lithium-refining/

🙏 THANKS 🙏

Musée de la Mine et de la Potasse - https://mine.musees-mulhouse.fr/

L&L Location - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550630790742

Evove - https://www.dle.technology/

Saltworks - https://www.saltworkstech.com/

🎙️ PODCAST 🎙️

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

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with 🎙️ Alex Buehler – President & CEO at Integrated Water Services

💧 Integrated Water Services is a leading US design-build provider of water and wastewater solutions.

▶️ This episode is a Bonus to my deep dive on M&A in the #waterindustry check it out on my YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/W6BmMc6D4Qk?si=xGwH0iEettOcSb_B

▶️ Or read the full blog entry on How to buy a Water Company

🎙️ PODCAST 🎙️

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste...

👋 SOCIAL MEDIA 👋

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewa...

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dwwpodcast/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AntoineWalter7

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DontWasteWat...

🌊 What we covered:

🌐 How the middle market in the water industry represents a significant step above the niche that Central State Water Resources (CSWR) serves, focusing on suburban and ex-urban communities.

🛠️ What the three divisions of the company cover: product solutions, technical and digital services, and field services, providing a comprehensive approach to water treatment.

📦 Why the Blue Box represents a breakthrough in water treatment, offering a modular, scalable, and easy-to-deploy solution.

🔄 How horizontal and vertical integration strategies are key to expanding the company's product line and services.

🔍 What the criteria are for selecting M&A targets, including market size, growth potential, competitive landscape, and unique intellectual property or barriers to entry.

🤝 How the M&A pipeline is aggressively filled with potential acquisitions through both organic engagement and strategic searching using tools like IQ and pitch books.

💼 Why engaging with entrepreneurs and sole proprietors requires a nuanced approach due to their businesses often not being prepped for sale.

📈 What a scorecard system looks like for evaluating acquisition opportunities, ranking them based on strategic fit and financial metrics.

🎯 How growth ambitions are fueled by a mix of organic growth and strategic acquisitions, aiming for a 10x increase within a four-year period.

🔍 What the company's core strategic imperatives and enablers are, driving towards financial objectives like revenue, EBITDA, and return on invested capital.

📢 How the current pace of 4-6 acquisitions per year aligns with the company's operational capabilities and growth targets.

🚀 Why the end goal is to build a water/wastewater treatment and water reuse platform with national coverage, focusing on the middle market that is often overlooked.

🔔 Subscribe and Stay Informed:

Don't miss out on our deep dives into water industry trends, strategies, and technologies. Subscribe to "Don't Waste Water" for more content that quenches your thirst for knowledge!

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with 🎙️ Tom Rooney – Chairman at Sciens Water

💧 Sciens is a research-driven investment fund that identifies uncovered, under-researched, or misunderstood water sector opportunities that are undercapitalized.

▶️ This episode is a Bonus to my deep dive on M&A in the #waterindustry check it out on my YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/W6BmMc6D4Qk?si=xGwH0iEettOcSb_B

▶️ Or read the full blog entry on How to buy a Water Company

🎙️ PODCAST 🎙️

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste...

👋 SOCIAL MEDIA 👋

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewa...

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dwwpodcast/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AntoineWalter7

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DontWasteWat...

In this eye-opening episode of "Don't Waste Water," we delve into the dynamic world of water services, examining the significant shift brought about by the consolidation of the industry. Join us as we explore the intricate dance of mergers and acquisitions reshaping the landscape of water utilities.

🌊 Key Insights:

Unraveling the Consolidation Trend: We dissect why major players like Veolia and Xylem are acquiring companies like Suez and Vauquois, and what this means for the future of water services.

Fragmentation vs. Integration: Discover how the U.S. water infrastructure's profound fragmentation contrasts starkly with the emerging trend of consolidation. What are the implications for small and large utilities alike?

Technology Roll-Down: Learn about innovative approaches like the 'Blue Box' technology, transforming the accessibility of advanced water treatment for smaller utilities.

Regulatory Perspectives: We delve into the role of regulators in this consolidation trend, balancing the scales between progress and fair competition.

🔍 In-Depth Analysis:

Guest Insights: Hear from industry experts who provide their unique perspectives on how these changes are influencing the water sector's strategic, operational, and technological directions.

Impact on Communities: Understand how these shifts impact local communities, from the quality of water services to environmental sustainability.

🌐 Global Context:

We broaden the scope to understand how these trends in the U.S. align with global movements in the water sector.

🌟 For Whom?

Whether you're a C-suite executive, investor, water entrepreneur, or simply a water-conscious citizen, this episode offers valuable insights into the changing tides of water services.

📈 The Big Picture:

By the end of this episode, you'll have a comprehensive understanding of the current state and potential future of the water industry amidst this 'Big Shift.'

🔔 Subscribe and Stay Informed:

Don't miss out on our deep dives into water industry trends, strategies, and technologies. Subscribe to "Don't Waste Water" for more content that quenches your thirst for knowledge!

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We think aout carbon emissions when we fly, not when we flush! Let me coin that phrase, which opens up my reflection this week on a water professional's carbon impact and the ways to mitigate it through deploying water technologies.

Let's dive into the heart of the water sector's role in CO2 emissions and explore innovative technologies that could drastically reduce our carbon footprint.

I share my personal journey of grappling with the guilt of my carbon emissions and how it led me to discover solutions far more effective than planting trees.

First, let's summarize Xylem, Cambi and Global Water Intelligence's findings on the Water Sector's Carbon Footprint. It surprisingly compares almost one to one in CO2 equivalent emissions with the aviation industry.

Then, let's explore 5 Carbon Mitigation Strategies in the Water Sector:

1️⃣ Leak Reduction - Discussing the impact of 126 billion cubic meters of lost drinking water annually and how pressure management can significantly reduce this loss and the associated carbon impact.

2️⃣ Smart Pumps: How optimizing pumps with AI and machine learning can slash energy use and CO2 emissions.

3️⃣ Biogas Enhancement: The potential of anaerobic digestion and thermal hydrolysis processes in wastewater treatment plants to produce biogas, replacing fossil fuels. (And what I used to do kind of wrong in that field)

4️⃣ Aeration Optimization: The role of AI in optimizing the activated sludge process, reducing energy consumption, and mitigating nitrous oxide emissions.

5️⃣ Advocacy and Policy Influence: The importance of regulations and incentives in driving sustainable practices in the water sector.

I'm closing on a personal touch, reflecting on the impact of the Water circus on the road twice a week all year long. It's great if the water sector compensates its emissions, but what if it didn't create them in the first place? Let's set ourselves on the path to 2050!

Bottom line; think critically about your own carbon footprint and the broader implications of everyone's daily water use. Let's all challenge conventional ideas and present an opportunity for water professionals and enthusiasts to contribute to a more sustainable future.

Additional Resources

The power of MABR

Better understanding Methane emissions

Fighting Nitrous Oxide emissions in Wastewater Treatment

Cutting the Water Sector's carbon emissions in half (at no cost)

The potential of the Thermal Hydrolysis Process

Following my tracks on the IOT Use Case Podcast (together with Aerzen)

The full blog article on this week's episode covering the Water Sector's Carbon Impact

⬇️ In this Episode ⬇️

00:00 My 12-Ton CO2 Problem

00:50 The Superpower of Water Pros

01:40 Where do the Water Sector's CO2 emissions come from?

02:51 Water Technology n°1

06:26 Water Technology n°2

09:33 Water Technology n°3

12:43 Water Technology n°4

16:11 Water Technology n°5

19:15 Conclusion

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with 🎙️ Tom Rooney - Chairman at Sciens Water

with 🎙️ Alex Buehler - CEO at Integrated Water Services

with 🎙️ Damian Georgino - Partner at Womble Bond Dickinson

🌊 Dive into the riveting world of water company acquisitions in this episode of "Don't Waste Water," where we unravel the strategies behind turning water utilities into profitable ventures.

🚰 Featuring insights from industry giants like American Water, Essential Utilities, and Central States Water Resources (CSWR), we explore their aggressive M&A tactics. American Water's staggering 245 acquisitions since 2000 and CSWR's recent 83 deals in a single year are just the tip of the iceberg.

🔍 Uncover the surprising reason behind the U.S.'s fragmented water utility sector. With over 50,000 water systems and 35,000 wastewater systems, many small-scale utilities are failing to meet health standards. This episode sheds light on the urgent need for consolidation and improvement.

💡 Learn from Tom Rooney, Alex Buehler, and Damian Georgino about the transformative power of scale in improving water utility operations. Discover how larger entities can implement advanced technologies to enhance service quality and ensure safer water for all.

🧐 Examine the potential risk of monopolization in the water industry. We debunk myths and provide a reality check on the pace of consolidation in the U.S. compared to other countries like the UK.

🎙️ Special guests Alex Loucopoulos and Tom Rooney from Sciens Water share their expertise in creating efficient water utility ecosystems. Delve into their innovative approach of "rolling up" service providers and "rolling down" technologies to bridge the gap in the water sector.

🔄 Explore the concept of "tech aggregation" in the water industry. Companies like Integrated Water Services are leading the charge in bundling and scaling up solutions to serve the middle market effectively.

🌐 Go beyond the surface with discussions on the strategies of other leading companies in the sector, including Evoqua, Nijhuis Saur Industries, and SKion Water.

🚀 Wrap up with a forward-looking perspective from Tom Rooney, predicting more consolidation in the water industry and its surrounding ecosystem.

🎙️ PODCAST 🎙️

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Full Article:

👋 SOCIAL MEDIA 👋

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DontWasteWaterPodcast

➡️ Useful Links:

Sciens Water: https://www.scienswater.com

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Fresh from the bustling halls of Aquatech Amsterdam 2023, the water sector's epicenter for cutting-edge insights, here's my personal selection of the water technologies you need to hear about. There's a bit of disruption, a bit of translation, a tad of sturdiness, and a good piece of grit, entrepreneurship, and innovation. Shall we look into it?

This recap from Aquatech Amsterdam 2023 covers the most exciting water technologies on display at the event. In the video, I go through my top five picks, discussing innovative technologies such as the smart removal of cellulose from wastewater by Purgatoria, Zwitterco's brand new reverse osmosis membrane technology, or BluElephant's take at the good old MBR.

The episode also highlights emerging trends in the industry and includes interesting discussions with representatives from various companies, making it essential viewing for professionals in the water sector.

Check out my full article on Aquatech Amsterdam 2023

🎙️What I covered 🎙️

🌊 How Aquatech Amsterdam became the nexus for groundbreaking water technologies in 2023.

🚀 Why the "Cool Kids" of water tech, like Aquacycl and Membrion, are rapidly expanding and innovating.

🌐 What ZwitterCo's revolutionary RO membrane means for the future of water treatment.

🤖 How ZwitterCo is transforming water desalination with their cutting-edge technology.

💡 Why BluElephant's autonomous, off-grid MBR is a game-changer in wastewater treatment.

🌿 What makes BluElephant's MBR unique: combining simplicity, autonomy, and affordability.

🎯 How serendipitous encounters at Aquatech led to unexpected and valuable insights.

🌱 Why green lime innovation could significantly impact carbon emissions in the water sector.

🧠 How Aquatech's unique environment fosters specific and highly relevant conversations.

🔄 What the innovative technology from Purgatoria reveals about recycling toilet paper.

💪 How Purgatoria's technology can boost the efficiency of wastewater treatment plants.

🌍 Why Purgatoria's approach to cellulose recovery could be a major step towards environmental sustainability.

📈 How Aquatech Amsterdam exemplifies the evolution of water marketing and industry trends.

⬇️ In this Episode ⬇️

00:00 A Warm Welcome from Aquatech Amsterdam 2023

0040 5 - the Cool Kids are growing!

02:16 4 - A Technological leap from ZwitterCo?

07:16 3 - The Ideal Decentralized MBR?

12:15 2 - The Best Water Tradeshow?

16:50 1 - The OTHER treasure in your toilets

22:32 Conclusion

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with 🎙️ Kimberly Kupiecki - Senior Director at Gingko Bioworks

💧 Ginkgo Bioworks is the software company for biology, coding DNA to create custom cells that solve real-world problems.

What we covered:

🔬 Why Ginkgo Bioworks is like programming life itself - Kimberly Kupiecki unveils the art of coding cells, not just computers.

💧 How the water sector intersects with synthetic biology - Ginkgo Bioworks eyes growth in the biosensor space.

🏭 What's beyond water - Kupiecki's role spans from industrial applications to dabbling in pharmaceuticals.

🧪 How Ginkgo's foundry's 'secret sauce' lies in high-throughput screening, turning outliers into discoveries.

🌱 Why the synthesis of nature and science at Ginkgo could revolutionize materials, starting with the very building blocks.

🚀 How agility in assimilating feedback and implementing rapid changes marks the cultural shift from DuPont to a scale-up.

🌱 What aggressive 2025 goals balance the scale-up's growth with the necessity of becoming earnings positive.

💡 Why building intellectual property (IP) adds layers of downstream value without expanding physical footprints.

🎢 How embracing risk leads to personal expansion, a sentiment echoed in Kimberly Kupiecki's mentoring approach.

🌟 Why "The Beautiful Mess" captures the essence of juggling motherhood and a career in male-dominated industries.

🌱 What innovative approaches to carbon reduction excite industry leaders? Kimberly Kupiecki reveals a game-changing negative carbon mechanism.

🤝 How stakeholder insight forms the backbone of success; Kimberly Kupiecki emphasizes learning from stakeholder dynamics.

📘 Why endorsements and marketing strategies are crucial for launching your book; Kimberly Kupiecki shares her pre-launch jitters.

🔥 ... and of course, we concluded with the 𝙧𝙖𝙥𝙞𝙙 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚 𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 🔥

🔗 Have a look at Gingko Biowork's website

🔗 Come say hi to Kimberly on Linkedin

➡️ Check out the entire article on Gingko Bioworks

➡️ Reach out to me: antoine@dww.show

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Ready to shake up how you think about water investments? This episode dives into the Value of a Statistical Life (VSL) and how it can be a game-changer for justifying water projects. 💧💰

We're not just talking numbers; we're talking about lives saved and the economic benefits that ripple through communities. From policy decisions on airbags to the cost of treating water, we're breaking down why the VSL could be the missing link in your water investment strategy. 📊

If you're an investor, water entrepreneur, or policy-maker, this episode offers a fresh lens on how to evaluate the ROI of water projects. Don't miss it! 🎧

👉 Got thoughts? We're all ears. Reach out and let's keep the conversation going. 🗨️

If you think we might be a match, reach out to me: antoine@dww.show I’ll send you over my little sponsoring slide deck and we’ll take it from there!

Get Amazing Day by Coldplay and over 1M + mainstream tracks here https://go.lickd.co/Music

License ID: XeJAnanjZM0

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Ever seen a family drama as intense as 'Game of Thrones'? Well, Hager und Elsässer (H+E) has had its share of suitors and heartbreaks, and it's about to get more dramatic.

🤯 Get ready for an M&A rollercoaster that'll leave you hanging on to your seat. Ever wondered why H+E, a company that's been around since 1932, has changed hands like a hot potato? This video deep-dives into the tumultuous journey of H+E—its rise, fall, and limbo.

🇫🇷🇩🇪 From French conglomerates like SUEZ to German family businesses, H+E's narrative is rich in culture clashes and financial woes. Yet, something remains intriguingly 'odd' about the company.

👀 Gradiant has just walked into the arena with a fresh MIT vibe. Will they be the ones to finally sweep H+E off its feet, or are we setting the stage for another M&A tragedy? 🤔

🔑 What's Inside:

A tearjerker of an adoption story that starts with Stulz-Planaqua and Hager und Elsässer.

M&A Blunders & Culture Clashes: SUEZ, Degrémont, RENA - the list is long!

The billion-dollar question: Is H+E's technology misunderstood or just too ahead of its time?

Why Gradiant’s latest move to acquire 51% of H+E is the plot twist we've been waiting for.

💥 Don't miss out on this water-sector saga that could teach HBO a thing or two about plot twists! 🛎 Subscribe now and hit that bell!

👉 Here are the podcast episodes mentioned in today's video:

SKion Water / Reinhard Hübner: https://dww.show/the-7-secrets-of-the-water-company-of-the-year-you-shall-absolutely-steal/

Aquarion / Karl Michael Millauer: https://dww.show/the-fascinating-story-of-the-man-who-has-35-water-companies-to-sell/

Supercritical Water Oxidation / Kobe Nagar: https://dww.show/is-supercritical-water-oxidation-a-solution-for-pfas-energy-more/

⬇️ In this Episode ⬇️

00:00 When Hager und Elsässer was up for Adoption

01:22 Hager und Elsässer's Story

03:04 Cultural Clashes between France and Germany

03:57 H+E's story (continued)

04:21 Cash Troubles and Insolvency

05:54 Aquarion: a New Hope for Hager und Elsässer?

07:29 H+E and Stulz-Planaqua followed different paths

09:29 Gradiant: the Last Hope for Hager und Elsässer?

12:04 A great M&A case study!

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with 🎙️ J. Carl Ganter - Managing Director at Circle of Blue

💧 Circle of Blue is an award-winning team of leading journalists, scientists, data experts, communications designers, and facilitators that reports challenges and solutions to global resource issues with emphasis on the fierce and growing competition between Water, food, and energy in a changing climate.

We're diving deep into a topic that's been swept under the rug for far too long: the media's coverage of water issues—or lack thereof. Are journalists dropping the ball, or is the water sector failing to make its case?

📌 WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

✅ Why mainstream media often overlook critical water issues.

✅ How the water sector struggles with its own narrative.

✅ The role of specialized press bodies like Circle of Blue.

✅ Actionable steps YOU can take to make a difference!

✅ The 6-Step Framework to make journalists and Politicians Craving for the developments of your Water Story

🎙️ PODCAST 🎙️

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Full Article: https://dww.show/is-big-media-failing-us-or-are-we-failing-the-water-folks/

👋 SOCIAL MEDIA 👋

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dwwpodcast/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AntoineWalter7

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DontWasteWaterPodcast

➡️ Useful Links:

Sciens Water: https://www.scienswater.com

Circle of Blue: https://www.circleofblue.org/

⬇️ In Today's Episode:

00:00 We Have a Water Problem

01:10 Big Media and Water Pros: Total Strangers?

02:06 Introducing: J. Carl Ganter (Circle of Blue)

04:52 How to better cover the Story of our Lifetime?

07:07 How to Personalize the Water Narrative?

08:21 The Heartbreaking Story of Pesticides in Nebraska

10:22 How to impress a Congressman on a Plane?

12:55 How to get water into local news?

14:39 What to learn from Matt Damon: The Movie Trailer Magic

15:56 The 6-Step Framework to Make your Story Stick

17:58 Sponsor: Sciens Water

19:13 What is Circle of Blue?

21:21 Conclusion

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In a world saturated with content, what makes a good movie trailer stand out? The answer lies in a potent blend of psychology, novelty, and familiarity. Trailers like Steven Spielberg's "Jaws" and George Lucas's "Star Wars" have set the gold standard, employing a mix of well-known tropes and groundbreaking elements to captivate audiences.

Marvel Studios has taken this to the next level, mastering the "novel yet familiar" approach and leveraging psychological principles like the Zeigarnik effect to leave audiences wanting more.

And if trailers and teasers have proven to be a game-changer for dozens and dozens of movies, beyond the silver screen, the principles that make them compelling can be applied to our everyday storytelling, whether it's a business presentation, a social media post, or a pitch to a local journalist to "news hack" a Global Trend.

By understanding the psychology and strategies behind successful movie trailers, we can craft narratives that not only capture attention but also sustain it, making our stories as unforgettable as the films they promote.

And coincidence or not, if you've ever followed my advice and read the Worth of Water book by Gary White and Matt Damon - who should know one thing or two about movie trailers - the opening chapter exactly follows the 6-step framework that Phill Agnew lays out.

Step 1 - Identify the Core Message

That's the narrative we discussed with Carl minutes ago; in the example of the Water.org founders' book, that's the win-win-win perspective of achieving Water for all.

Step 2 - Blend Novelty and Familiarity

In theory, that's Star Wars combining the Hero's Journey with Space Opera. In the case of our book, that's a water charity, but combined with a bank and Nobel-prize-winning microcredit strategy.

Step 3 - Cast for Impact

Matt Damon, do I need to add anything here? Well actually yes, because it's not just the impact of a big name; it's also a blend of novelty and familiarity, as just explained. The well-known Matt Damon, but not cast as Jason Bourne but as an NGO founder with a high drive for impact.

Step 4 - Craft the Narrative Arc

Remember how Carl explained minutes ago how two pictures ended the Vietnam War? Or the heartbreaking story of the parents of the deceased football player in Nebraska? In Water.org's book, it's Matt Damon getting to know Wema along her long road to collect Water for her family.

Step 5 - Zeigarnik Effect

Don't close the action; let things open. That happens several times in Matt Damon and Gary White's story. But we had an even greater example with Carl's congressman story: when he says "I work in water security. And I leave it at that." the congressman can't resist the urge to get to know what happens next.

Step 6 - Choose the Release Timing Wisely

For the "Worth of Water" book, that was right in time to get people buzzing about it before the UN Water Conference, and guess who then got to feature in the opening segment of that Conference - probably also the only one worth watching? Along the same lines, that's word for word Carl's advice of picking the right story at the right time and constantly being on the lookout for planets aligning with that regard.

So here you go, a bullet-proofed 6-step framework to get your local news reporter intrigued or to shed new light on your water innovation's impact.

➡️ Check out the entire article on how to finally build the Water Narrative

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👀 Think plastic straws are the ocean's worst enemy? Think again! The real culprit is hiding in plain sight—in your closet! In this eye-opening episode, we sit down with Adam Root, the CEO and founder of Matter, a game-changing company tackling microplastics at the source - i.e., the washing machine. Plus, we're diving deep into the facts, figures, and future solutions that could save our oceans. 🌊

🎙️ Featuring:

Adam Root, CEO & Founder of Matter

Hosted by Antoine Walter, your go-to water industry expert

📚 Topics Covered:

1️⃣ The Invisible Threat: What are Microplastics?

2️⃣ The Source: Your Washing Machine's Dirty Secret

3️⃣ Matter's Innovative Solutions: From Laundry to Legislation

4️⃣ The Global Impact: Legislation, R&D, and Education

5️⃣ Your Role: Simple Steps to Make a Difference

🔗 Links & Resources:

Check out Matter's hardware filter, Gulp: https://gulp.online

A big thank you to this episode's sponsor, Sciens Water: https://www.scienswater.com

👇 Why You Can't Miss This Episode:

📈 Investment Insights: Learn why tackling microplastics is not just an environmental need but a business opportunity.

🌍 Global Perspective: Understand the scale of microplastics pollution and what's being done globally.

🛠️ Tech Talk: Get the inside scoop on Matter's groundbreaking technology.

🎧 Also Available as a Podcast:

Find this episode on your favorite podcast platform, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify

👉 Subscribe & Ring the Bell 🛎️:

Don't miss out on our latest episodes, investment tips, and water industry deep dives. Subscribe and hit the notification bell now!

👇 Join the Conversation 👇

What are your thoughts on microplastics? Have you made any changes to reduce your microplastic footprint? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

🎙️ PODCAST 🎙️

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

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with 🎙️ Tuija Pohjolainen-Hiltunen - President Industry and Water Segment at Kemira

💧 Kemira markets safe and sustainable chemistries that are part of a good life, ensuring hygiene, safe water, food safety, and more.

What we covered:

🌍 How Kemira is revolutionizing water treatment with a purpose-driven approach to chemistry.

🤝 Why the power of partnerships is non-negotiable for Kemira's success.

💡 What sets Kemira apart: a relentless focus on innovation to solve real-world challenges.

♻️ Why Kemira is a game-changer in the circular economy, turning waste into valuable resources.

🔗 How Kemira's multi-faceted solutions go beyond just chemistry, incorporating digital tools and AI for optimization.

🎯 What makes Kemira a leader in customer-centric approaches, tackling new challenges as regulations evolve.

📈 How Kemira Beat the Odds: Navigating through COVID-19 and volatile markets to achieve impressive growth.

🌍 Why Global Reach Matters: Dominating Europe and North America while eyeing expansion in China.

🔬 What's ViviMag: Introducing new applications like phosphorus recovery and PFAS treatment.

🌿 How to Go Green: Transitioning from 60% virgin materials to bio-based alternatives.

🤖 Why ChemConnect is a Game-Changer: Leveraging predictive analytics and AI for smarter water treatment.

🚀 How Reliability Fuels Growth: Winning customer trust through consistent delivery, even in crises.

🎯 How Customer Needs Drive Innovation: Kemira's quest to replace fossil-based materials without compromising performance.

🤝 Why Partnerships Matter: Leveraging collaborations and a $500M growth accelerator to fuel bio-based product revenue by 2030.

🌿 What "Walking the Talk" Means: Moving beyond buzzwords to make concrete steps in sustainability and decarbonization.

📊 How Metrics Define Success: Aligning personal KPIs with business targets for a win-win outcome.

🌊 Why Water is the New Cool: Observing a surge in industry excitement and collaboration, especially in digital solutions.

🔥 ... and of course, we concluded with the 𝙧𝙖𝙥𝙞𝙙 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚 𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 🔥

🔗 Have a look at Kemira's website

🔗 Come say hi to Tuija on Linkedin

➡️ Check out the entire article on how Kemira makes a $500 Million biobased bet

➡️ Reach out to me: antoine@dww.show

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🌊 Welcome to a Water Experience Like No Other! 🌊

In this exclusive episode, we're diving deep into the world of water tasting with none other than Milin Patel, THE Water Sommelier. But this isn't just any tasting session; it's an experience that will elevate your understanding of H2O to new heights!

🗽 Where It All Happened 🗽

I had the incredible opportunity to meet Milin during New York's Climate Week, specifically at the "Rethinking Water" conference. This enlightening event was organized by the Columbia Climate School and Sciens Water, and let me tell you, it was a game-changer!

🙏 Special Thanks to Sciens Water 🙏

I owe a HUGE thank you to Sciens Water for inviting us to this transformative event. Your commitment to reimagining the future of water is nothing short of inspiring. I'm so honored to be a part of this journey with you.

🧠 Wanna learn more about Sciens Water? 🧠

Sciens is a fundamental research-driven investor that identifies pockets of opportunity in the water sector that benefit from long-term macro factors but are uncovered, under-researched, and misunderstood, and consequently under-capitalized by the capital markets. Sciens makes control investments in the U.S. water infrastructure and related companies where it can generate both yield and capital appreciation through the application of value-added strategies developed through over 25 years of private equity investment experience.

➡️ Check them out ➡️ https://scienswater.com/

🥤 What's Inside 🥤

A comprehensive backstory to Milin Patel, the Water Sommelier

The art and science of building vocabulary to elevate the Water Experience (especially from Tap)

When to appreciate your tap water and when to open a fine water bottle

Milin's top picks for the most exquisite waters you've never heard of

... And so much more!

Come say hi to Milin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/milionh20/

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with 🎙️ Ann Perreault - Vice President for Strategic Marketing & Growth at Evoqua Water Technologies

with 🎙️ Joshua Griffis - Director of Technology & Innovation at Evoqua Water Technologies

💧 Evoqua is a global leader in helping municipalities and industrial customers protect and improve the world's most fundamental natural resource: water

What we covered:

💧 How net water positivity is the new gold standard, making a splash beyond just offsetting usage to actively generating more water.

🤝 Why strategic IP development safeguards the partnerships Evoqua is building in the industry, making it more than just a game of patents.

📈 What the real playbook behind Evoqua's acquisitions reveals: it's not just R&D expenditure but a broader, synergistic growth strategy.

🤝 How synergy supercharges tech: Joshua and Ann discuss that when two technologies collide, they often create something greater than their individual parts.

🎯 What every water business needs to grasp: Customer needs are like shifting sands, and understanding emerging trends and problems is key to hitting the target, says Ann.

📈 Why mergers and acquisitions aren't just Wall Street buzzwords: M&A is woven into Evoqua's strategy as a critical channel for forging significant partnerships, according to both interviewees.

🌍 How Evoqua's footprint is more global than you think: Contrary to popular belief, Ann implies Evoqua's global presence is often underestimated.

🔍 Why profitability is not an end but a means for Evoqua, enabling them to engage in ambitious, industry-shaping initiatives.

💡 How innovation is the new black: Ann emphasizes that sustainability isn't a sideshow; it's the main act, embedded at the core of impactful innovations.

🎯 Why "de-risking" is your new buzzword: Both speakers agree that helping companies "de-risk" by doing the heavy lifting on feasibility and validation can fast-track adoption.

🤔 What failing fast really means at Evoqua: If you're not failing, you're not learning—this mantra isn't just for startups; it's infiltrating the big players too.

📊 How the Product Vitality Index is your new KPI: Forget conventional metrics; Ann suggests that measuring where your revenue comes from in terms of innovation investment is where the future lies.

🎯 How customer insights aren't a one-and-done deal: Diving deep to truly understand customer problems can reveal the nuanced layers beneath.

🌍 Why location flexibility enriches talent pools: restricting staff to physical locations is yesterday's news, says Perreault, when a world of talent is just a Zoom call away.

📈 What scaling your operation really takes: The journey of scaling a function often throws more curveballs than you initially thought.

🌿 Why sustainability is more than a buzzword: it's about achieving homeostasis with your environment for the long haul, not just slapping a green label on things.

🔥 ... and of course, we concluded with the 𝙧𝙖𝙥𝙞𝙙 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚 𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 🔥

🔗 Have a look at Evoqua's website

🔗 Come say hi to Ann on Linkedin

🔗 Then make sure to also connect with Joshua on Linkedin

➡️ Check out the entire article on how Evoqua applies Open Innovation

➡️ Reach out to me: antoine@dww.show

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Open Innovation is not the only link between last week's conversation with Max Storto from the Xylem Innovation Labs, and this week's deep dive with Ann and Joshua. Indeed, in just a minute, we'll delve into a paradigm-shifting model we touched on last week: Open Innovation.

To ensure we have a common understanding of the term, Open Innovation fundamentally alters how companies think about their innovation process. If you remember my conversation with Glenn Vicevic from Veolia, he defined Open Innovation as Innovation that's not closed. We had a good laugh, still, it's true: the Idea is to break open the former R&D silos, to enter the age of porous boundaries and shading frontiers, where external ideas and technologies flow into the organization, and internal ideas flow out into the broader ecosystem.

Long before this got to be a thing in the Water Sector, we've seen companies like Procter & Gamble, flipping their R&D approach to connect with external innovators. They sourced ideas from around the globe, leading to breakthroughs like the Swiffer.

To take a more techie reference, consider how Apple's App Store empowers an army of developers to build upon iOS, creating value for both Apple and the broader user community. It's a win-win scenario, optimizing resources, and accelerating market-ready solutions.

But why is this a pivotal discussion for the water sector? Open Innovation could be the key to unlocking new technologies, sustainable practices, and financial models that address pressing water issues - you know, the ones that just got evaluated as a multi-trillion dollars business opportunity by CDP - if you missed that one, go check my YouTube channel for more.

But for you listening to this, why does all of that matter: well, companies that successfully adopt Open Innovation practices could leapfrog in growth and impact. They could be faster to ride trend waves, have a more efficient use of their capital, put technology adoption on steroids, and if you're a regular of this podcast, you know how that's the game changer.

Hence if, for sure, everything can't be painted in pink, and silver bullets still don't exist, getting a glimpse of the way Evoqua leveraged open innovation strategies to inspire your own innovation approaches is quite a generous gift from Ann and Joshua, which really didn't hold back when it comes to sharing.

You'll leave this episode understanding the vital metrics and benchmarks to assess Open Innovation opportunities, as well as actionable tips for investors, in-house strategists, and entrepreneurs keen to leverage this model before it becomes an industry norm.

Remember, if you appreciate the value shared today and for free, you can help me out tremendously by sharing this episode with a friend, a colleague, your boss, or your team, if you're new here make sure to subscribe, I insist, it's entirely free, and it helps me to keep getting incredible guests on that microphone. Last word before we take off, if you're in New York on the 19th of September and you like free sharing of incredible water value, you may want to join the Rethinking Water Conference at the Forum at Columbia University, the link is in the description, and I'll be there the entire day to record some more interviews. Come share a recycled wastewater beer with me in the evening, and I'll meet you on the other side!

➡️ Check out the entire article on how Evoqua deployed Open Innovation to turn the tides!

Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

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with 🎙️ xStorto - Lead Innovation Analyst at Xylem Innovation Labs

💧 Xylem is one of the largest water and wastewater technology companies globally and follows the simple motto: "Let's solve water"

What we covered:

🤝 How the Xylem Innovation Labs explore partnerships with early-stage technology providers to enhance offerings and improve portfolio stacks

🚀 What the main tracks within Xylem Innovation Lab entail, from the commercial accelerator focusing on client growth to the early-stage incubation program and open innovation ecosystem targeting specific water-related issues.

⚽ How Max likens his role in scouting potential technology providers to a talent scout in sports, seeking the most promising innovations that align with Xylem's capabilities and customer challenges.

🌍 What main challenges Xylem's customers face, such as decarbonizing the water sector, industrial treatment solutions, decentralized treatment, and addressing contaminants of emerging concern like PFAS and microplastics.

🌊 Why Xylem is looking into areas like digital workforce solutions and flooding issues, aiming to find innovative ways to address these significant concerns in the water management industry.

🎙️ How Max Storto's dynamic and multifaceted role at Xylem brings both planned goals and unexpected chaos into his daily life.

🗳️ Why political work with the Iowa Democratic Party led Max to engage in grassroots conversations, touching on critical water issues in both local and federal contexts.

🚰 How the state of water networks in the U.S., including boiling water notices, reflects challenges in infrastructure investment, public awareness, and income inequality.

📊 How Xylem Innovation Labs aggregates customer-facing team information, interprets data, and involves business units to prioritize decisions, fostering a united approach.

🚀 What makes Xylem's accelerator program unique: sourcing from grants, accelerators, internal recommendations, VCs, and conferences and inviting companies to apply, ensuring a focused approach to innovation.

🤝 Why Xylem's relationship-building with startups is key: no equity taken, a mutual NDA, building trust, and aiming for long-term commercial agreements to foster a truly collaborative partnership.

🚀 What distinguishes Xylem's process of carefully select from 3 to 400 invitations, leading to 40-50 applications for a handpicked 10-count accelerator cohort, ensuring alignment with innovation priorities.

🧠 How Max's role as a market analyst at Xylem intertwines with engineering teams, aiding in financial analysis and business case development for revenue projections.

🌍 What the Xylem Innovation Labs' role in global R&D is, including their part of the R&D package, and how they complement the company's existing product development efforts.

🌱 How innovation with impact at Xylem is characterized by a focus on sustainability metrics and diversity and their efforts in alleviating water challenges and reducing carbon footprints.

👔 Oxford Collar, Decentralized Work Environment, fostering long-term growth, mutual trust and partnership, commercialization over investment, selling solutions vs taking equity... and much more!

🔥 ... and of course, we concluded with the 𝙧𝙖𝙥𝙞𝙙 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚 𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 🔥

🔗 Come say hi to Max on LinkedIn

🔗 Check Xylem Innovation Website's website

➡️ Check out the entire article on Xylem's weirdest move

➡️ Reach out to me: antoine@dww.show

Suggested episodes:

🚀 My interview with Sivan Zamir

🔋 My conversation with Austin Alexander

👔 My short catch up with Patrick Decker

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Max Storto is Lead Innovation Analyst at the Xylem Innovation Labs. Xylem is one of the largest water and wastewater technology company globally and follows the simple motto: "Let's solve water"

A bit more than one year ago, I invited Sivan Zamir on this microphone to discuss the Xylem Innovation Labs, Xylem's shiny, fascinating, and intriguing move into the start-up accelerator world. That has been a well-received episode but also one that sparked quite a lot of conversations.

You know, Xylem is a listed behemoth; everybody is well aware that they have to make money! So when they mention that they will help water industry companies to 10x their customer base, that they will fund pilots with the Trial Reservoir and fund other water accelerators with, for instance, Imagine H2O, it not only raises an eyebrow but also generates a ton of questions. And usually a very logical deduction: of course, they will have a great positive impact on these companies' path, but they will also reward themselves by taking stakes and equity in these companies, hence turning a pretty straightforward positive return on investment.

Now that's where it gets even more intriguing, because, in my process of getting a better understanding of the mechanics of the Xylem Innovation Labs with its scout, Max, I actually uncovered something we had not discussed at all with Sivan last year: Xylem doesn't take any equity in its incubated partners. Zero.

And it doesn't stop there: they don't even expect these companies to be exclusive or tied to Xylem in anything beyond a simple NDA - which is merely more there to protect the start-ups than the water giant.

So, for a layman like me, it's hard to get the strategic sense of that move. Until you shift your internal software and realize that what Xylem is pursuing with its Innovation Labs is not investment, it's R&D. And a bit like in a Google versus Apple approach you would see in tech, their bet here is that adopting an open innovation strategy, is actually the most impactful and the best use of their money for the water ecosystem, yes, because I believe Patrick Decker when he tells me he wants his company to have a positive impact, but also the best path to growth for Xylem itself!

And a bit like the App or Play Stores have been great growth factors for Apple and Google, Xylem's future partnerships with the companies it strategically groomed may be significant commercial assets in a world of water challenges that are not getting easier or simpler.

You'll see that this is just one of the many gems we uncovered while opening the hood and exploring the Xylem Innovation Labs engine with Max, Max who, by the way, has been an incredible sparring partner able to cope with great openness with my sometimes annoying wittiness, I had great fun to record this one, so I'll stop ranting and let you have great fun listening to it.

➡️ Check out the entire article on how to grow 10 wonder kids from 5 to 50 customers

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with 🎙️ Alice Schmidt, MBA lecturer, Adviser to the European Commission, and non-profit organizations like Extinction Rebellion, Protect our Winters, and Chair of the Board of Endeva e.V.

with 🎙️ Claudia Winkler, CEO, and co-founder of Goood Mobile, Europe's first B-Corp Certified telecom provider, and a Founding Partner of Adjacent Possible Network.

💧 Alice and Claudia had been with us for their first book "the Sustainability Puzzle," and are back for an in-depth exploration of the AI world and its potential impact on Societal Progress and a Sustainable Future. This is the topic of their second book: Fast Forward, written with Florian Schütz and Jeroen Dobbelaere.

What we covered:

📚 How Alice and Claudia's "Sustainability Puzzle" hit the zeitgeist by guiding both sustainability newbies and experts through the multifaceted realm of eco-responsibility.

🔬 Why their new book, "Fast Forward," hones in on technology, one of the six puzzle pieces from their first book, to spotlight its transformative potential for sustainability.

🤖 What Claudia sees as the agnostic nature of technology and why Alice casts a skeptical eye on the good intentions behind big tech,

🎯 How both authors urge active participation in shaping AI's direction, suggesting that collective input could steer technology towards a more equitable and sustainable future.

🤖 How Alice and Claudia disagree on the role of tools like ChatGPT, revealing a tension between AI as a utilitarian augmenter versus a potential risk to trust.

🌐 Why both emphasize AI literacy, advocating for the masses to engage with tools like ChatGPT in order to make well-informed decisions.

🚀 Why ChatGPT's viral success is likened to the smartphone revolution, ushering in mass-market adoption of AI technologies and sparking important societal debates.

🎓 How Schools Aren't Necessarily the AI Saviors and What Lifelong Learning Means in the AI Age

🚨 How AI Could Be Its Own Worst Enemy and Why Big Tech Needs a Leash:

🤖 How AI's Multifaceted Analysis Outsmarts Human Limitations

💼 Why Regulations Don't Suffocate Innovation, They Guide It.

🤑 How Money Talks, Even for AI

🌱 Optimism in the AI-Ecology Nexus

🤖 How AI is personalizing Claudia's life and revolutionizing smart cities, making them more livable and sustainable.

🌊 What Tuvalu's digital twin reveals: a poignant, almost meta response to climate-induced existential threats that also sheds light on the term "ecological racism."

🎯 Why stepping into the AI world varies by individual: It's all about awareness, understanding the bigger picture, and leveraging a human-centered approach for universal benefit.

🗳️ How the democratization of AI and active participation in decision-making could be a marker for Alice Schmidt's vision of positive societal impact.

🤖 Why Technology is Finally Joining the Sustainability Conversation: Claudia is optimistic about the growing convergence between sustainability and technology agendas, indicating a maturing landscape.

📖 Claudia's 14-year-old son's ChatGPT book, Parents being the Unsung Heroes in AI Education, Neom as a double-sided sword, Betting big on Circularity, Playing the Long Game with Conferences... and much more!

🔥 ... and of course, we concluded with the 𝙧𝙖𝙥𝙞𝙙 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚 𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 🔥

➡️ Send your warm regards to Alice on LinkedIn

➡️ Then do the same with Claudia on LinkedIn as well

➡️ Get to know the two new brains that worked on "Fast Forward:" Jeroen and Florian

➡️ Check out the entire article on AI prompting a Sustainable Future

➡️ Reach out to me: antoine@dww.show

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Here's the secret: I'm not a one-man band. Yes, I lied all that time. Did you really believe I could push a podcast interview out every week for 163 weeks in a row, all by myself? Of course not. The Don't Waste Water Corporation is a hefty team of 22. But here's the catch: I'm the only human. Let me introduce you to my crew.

First, there's my editing manager, a robot called Descript. In his AI team, we've got the Scribe, which turns all my recordings into text. Pretty standard so far, but it becomes swiftly cooler with the Grammar Maniac. If I record this: "So, what's the uh, name of your book?" The Maniac identifies the filler words and gets them out of the way.

In that same team, the Chopper chops out every word, and so if I were to say something as stupid as: Colmar is not the nicest place on earth, I just have to select the wrong word as you'd do in your text editor, and delete it. Job done!

The work is then handed over to the Audio Engineer. Because sometimes a guest or me, may record on a poor microphone or noisy environment. And you certainly don't want to hear what a poor microphone or noisy environment sounds like. In more difficult cases I escalate it to Adobe Enhance Beta. And in last resort to iZotope's Neutron or Ozone Smart Assistants.

Back to Descript: the Audio Engineer has a quite dangerous colleague I very seldom use, but if needs be, I can emulate any voices and have them say whatever I want. For instance, here are two sentences from Alice. Can you find out which one really belongs to today's interview?

Now, this is for sure an audio podcast, but also a YouTube video. And would you like to watch me speaking if I avoided any eye contact with you? Well, if that was ever to happen, I'd be just one click away from having the rectifier bring back my eyes where they should be. Yes, that one is a bit scary.

What if I lean back a bit too much in my chair and go out of focus? Topaz AI brings me back to sharpness.

And what if I stumble? No wait. And what if I stumble? Not the right dynamic. And what if I stumble? Gling automatically picks my best take!

Then, if I want to lure you into listening to a great interview, I can say it. But if I say it with subtitles, statistics say you're more likely to follow my advice. That's Captionator's job.

And while I record horizontally, getting the word out is more efficient in Vertical mode - but nothing to worry Final Cut's AI always prompts my best profile. And if I don't have time to edit the best quotes myself, OpusClip does it for me!

A cool episode needs a cool title: My ideas are not always top-notch thankfully, Coschedule loves to rate them and propose improvements. While YouTube requires me to provide at least a decent thumbnail to distribute my content, I often have a hard time finding a relevant picture or illustration to promote a water or lithium topic. In these cases, I ask MidJourney for a solid basis and Photoshop Beta for added context.

Finally, while TrueSync, ColorLab AI, Insta 360 Studio, Leia Pix AI, and many I'm probably forgetting here have been sporadic members of the team but didn't stick in the long run, I've recently hired ChatGPT to compile the key episode highlights you'll find in the show notes and on the Don't Waste Water website.

Last but not least, all my English copy is written in Grammarly, which detects that "English" should take a capital letter. Yes, I know, you don't hear my grammar mistakes, so why bother? Well, my prospective guests have to read my emails first, and you only have one chance to make a good first impression.

Why do I tell you all of that? First don't worry, if you were to use any of these tools, I wouldn't get a cent. This wasn't an ad with extra steps. No, I'm telling you that to highlight one of the ideas Claudia and Alice develop in their new book: AI may be neither a threat nor a waste, but used right, a way to enhance humans.

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with 🎙️ Paul Martin, Chemical process development expert & founder of Spitfire Research.

💧 Spitfire research is a Process development consulting company for a decarbonized future, where Paul acts as an antidote to marketing hopium and a tireless advocate for a fossil-fuel-free future.

This episode is a section of my Hydrogen Deep Dive

What we covered:

🧪 How the thermodynamics and fundamental properties of the Hydrogen molecule turn it into a false hope of decarbonization strategies

🌡️ How given the way it's produced, hydrogen actually is a decarbonization problem

🪶 How Goethe is right: hope's preferable to despair unless hope needs the laws of physics to stop applying

⚡ How the biggest problem with green hydrogen production is not its water impact but its energy consumption

🏭 How hydrogen barely moves today, and what that reveals about the difficulty of using it as a transportation fuel

😒 How producing small amounts of hydrogen from wastewater treatment plants is fully doable, yet barely desirable

🦘 How optimizing the production of green hydrogen requires very specific geographic properties, and where that applies

🌬️ How the World barely features half the renewable production capacity needed if we wanted to just switch from gray to green hydrogen

👃 How the Hydrogen economy may well be the false nose of Fossil Fuel Companies to keep striving in a decarbonized world

📈 How Turquoise hydrogen production makes a lot of sense, already today, but has a limited market potential for its byproducts.

🧑‍🔬 How turning Biogas into Hydrogen sounds like a very weird thing to do.

🔬 How electrolysis processes don't really allow to valorize the oxygen byproduct today, and why.

🚚 How Hydrogen is an amazing good and tool, just not to be wasted as a fuel

🌍 How the European Union and the UK daydream about Hydrogen, and how it may be a last resort solution for Japan and South Korea

🔋 How batteries are not perfect but have a clear path to scale

🏚️ How to be serious and earnest about decarbonization, states shall start with relevant policies

🍏 How we shall start with the low hanging fruit when putting hydrogen and decarbonization in the same equation

🦌 Canada tackling carbon taxes, CO2 prices as business enablers, Hydrogen promoters being useful idiots, Hydrogen as a sunk cost fallacy, Hopium... and more!

🔥 ... and of course, we concluded with the 𝙧𝙖𝙥𝙞𝙙 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚 𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 🔥

➡️ Get the Full Story (including an infographic and full transcript)

➡️ Read Paul's best hydrogen articles

➡️ Contact BlueTech Research: info@bluetechresearch.com

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with 🎙️ Saad Dara - CEO and Founder of Mangrove Lithium

💧 Mangrove Lithium produces battery-grade lithium hydroxide or carbonate from a wide array of raw sources

What we covered:

🔄 How Mangrove Lithium, initially focusing on water treatment and desalination, found the ideal product-market fit within the lithium industry.

♻️ How the circularity of chemicals, environmental benefits, and potential for zero-emission processes play a crucial role in Mangrove's approach to lithium conversion.

🌀 How Saad Dara spun the company out in 2017, completing his PhD in 2020, and is on the path to commercialization, aiming to co-locate and operate systems with lithium production companies.

🚀 How the simplicity and flexibility of their operations sets them apart, with the ability to change feedstock and product quickly, offering more choices in a volatile lithium market.

🛠️ How their secret sauce lies not in membranes but in the cathode, providing unique value in energy consumption and purity, a major differentiator in the industry.

🔄 Why their approach appeals to both small and large producers, offering a standardized, modular system that fits various scales, potentially serving as a cooperative refining platform.

🌏 What makes them stand out in the global market is the possibility of bringing lithium refining to regions like North America and Europe, potentially altering the current China-dominated landscape.

🔋 How their technology could redefine the lithium market by being a perfect fit for cooperative refining, an innovative model that could support smaller players as they grow.

📐 How modularity in plant design allows flexibility, optimizing both CAPEX and OPEX, from 3000 to 15,000 tons per year, and the thoughtful combination of modules based on needs.

🤝 Why taking a holistic and consultative approach to the supply chain, working side by side with partners, leads to a more successful and optimized process.

🌋 What differentiates the company's electrochemical approach from other market players like Vulcan, and why their system is simpler and safer to operate.

📈 How focusing on demonstrating a 3000 tons per year system can remove market skepticism, and why operating at a commercially relevant scale and time period is crucial.

💡 Why strong backing by BMW iVentures and Breakthrough Energy Ventures highlights confidence and credibility in the company's innovative approach - and how Bill Gates is cool (ok, I'm the one adding this)

🤖 What makes Mangrove’s “boxes” unique and how they are working to prove their efficiency and effectiveness in real-world applications.

🎤 How the conversation unveils the company's vision, backing, synergies, and future plans, providing a multi-dimensional insight into the world of lithium processing and innovation.

🏢 How Lithium Valley emerged I coin a term for Vancouver's status as the lithium company capital, with a mystery Saad chalks up to community development.

🤝 What makes competitors collaborators: Saad discusses the complementary fit between Saltworks and Mangrove Lithium, shedding a competitive light on the cooperative spirit of the industry.

📈 How to get started with Mangrove Lithium

🎤 What makes the flexible model appealing: Saad explains Mangrove's customizable models for providing technology or production services, reflecting the company's adaptability in the growing lithium industry.

♻️ Why all lithium sources are vital

🔥 ... and of course, we concluded with the 𝙧𝙖𝙥𝙞𝙙 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚 𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 🔥

🔗 Come say hi to Saad on LinkedIn

🔗 Check Mangrove Lithium's website

➡️ Check out the entire article on how Mangrove Lithium is a Jewel in Bill Gates' crown

➡️ Reach out to me: antoine@dww.show

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Saad Dara is the CEO and Founder of Mangrove Lithium. Mangrove Lithium develops an innovative approach to Lithium Refining which is using electrochemical processes to reach battery grade from diverse raw sources.

The decarbonization of our World oftentimes resembles a set of Russian Dolls. First, we needed electric cars, so the manufacturers started shifting their internal combustion lines to EV ones. Then, batteries were on the critical path, so the World frantically built Gigafactories. As a result, Lithium became the bottleneck, and over the next decade, we'll try to catch up. But in doing so, we may well bump into the next problem: missing chemicals.

Don't roll your eyes too fast: I do know that Soda Ash, for instance, is pretty commonplace and shouldn't be an issue. Except if you are in the middle of the high Andes, and especially on the Argentinan side, where dozens of junior lithium companies are currently cutting their teeth.

If you don't have enough Soda Ash, you can't refine your Lithium Chloride to Carbonate, and why is that a problem, well, that means you have to truck large volumes of concentrated brines away, and reach a place where chemicals are available. Not a big deal? Well, except if you compound in the absence of paved roads around most of the Salars that will enter into production in the next years, or simply the fact that bringing a truck up to an altitude of over 4'000 meters is not that easy.

While I was up in Olaroz, Cachi, and Jama, I crossed two different trucks in two different places that had rolled over onto the side of the road. So again, I'd say, not a piece of cake.

But if evaporation ponds are so efficient in the high Andes, it's, of course, thanks to widely available solar energy. Something energy companies start to leverage by installing solar farms.

So what if it were possible to use that electrical energy right where it's produced, to refine the concentrated brines that evaporation ponds output into battery-grade carbonate or hydroxide?

Well, some companies have started to explore that electrochemical road, and you would have guessed, that's where Mangrove Lithium is focusing.

Their technology was born as a water treatment and desalination play, yet the ideal product-market fit seems to rather be in the lithium industry - once again, a proof of the high porosity between those two worlds.

Let me avoid spoiling you all of my conversation with Saad Dara, but what I can already tell you is that we had good fun recording, I hope you'll enjoy it as well, if you do, please remember to take that episode and share it with a friend, a colleague, your boss or your team, wherever you're listening or watching that, make sure to like and subscribe, and I'll meet you on the other side!

➡️ Check out the entire article on how Mangrove Lithium is the Jewel in Bill Gates' crown on the (don't) Waste Water website!

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with 🎙️ Glenn Vicevic - CTO at Veolia Water Technologies & Solutions

💧 Veolia WTS provides Industry-leading water technology and process expertise to solve the toughest water, wastewater, and process challenges

What we covered:

💦 Why the Membrane Filtration Sector is a Thrilling Space and What's to learn from its evolution across the past three decades

🏭 What it Takes to Drive Innovation in the Water Industry and what we can learn from A Peek Inside Veolia's R&D

💼 How Building a Career in Water Treatment Can Lead to Impactful Work, and what we learn from Glenn Vicevic's Journey from Zenon to Veolia through GE Water and SUEZ, all without switching company

🌍 Why The World Should be Paying More Attention to the Role of Water in Climate Change (and How)

🧑‍🔬 How Researchers are still Pushing the Boundaries in Membrane Science - and how the next big thing seems to revolve around MABRs

🚰 What Veolia's Smart Water System Teaches Us About the Future of Water Management

📈 Why Veolia's ‘Digital Twin’ Could Be a Game Changer for the Water Sector - and to which extent

💼 How Veolia's Organizational Structure is Setting It Up for Future Success - in the packed context of a long M&A history, especially on the once Zenon part of the business

🏞️ Why Zenon's Water Treatment Project in Indigenous Communities is an Unforgettable Experience

🚀 Glenn's special trick to Leap Out of His Comfort Zone to Drive Innovation at Veolia (and how you can apply this to your team TODAY)

📊 Why Traditional Wastewater Indicators May Not Be Enough in the Modern Age

🤝 How Collaboration and Communication are Vital for Success in the Water Sector: Lessons from Glenn Vicevic

👨‍💻 Remote Work, using your own medicine, micropollutants, micro-electronics, What Halloween and Water Treatment Have in Common, Stage and Gates, the high cost of failure as a Water Giant... and much more!

🔥 ... and of course, we concluded with the 𝙧𝙖𝙥𝙞𝙙 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚 𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 🔥

🔗 Come say hi to Glenn on LinkedIn

🔗 Check Veolia Water Technologies & Solutions' website

➡️ Check out the entire article on how the World's Largest Water Company fosters innovation

➡️ Reach out to me: antoine@dww.show

Suggested episodes:

🚀 My interview with Glenn's first boss and founder of Zenon: Andrew Benedek

🔋 Glenn's colleague and Lithium Refining guru: Jim Rieke

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Glenn Vicevic s the CTO of Veolia Water Technologies and Solutions. Veolia WTS provides Industry-leading water technology and process expertise to solve the toughest water, wastewater, and process challenges.

Innovation as a water start-up is an uphill battle. If you've ever listened to this podcast, we've covered that topic through many examples: you'll have to commit for years to decades to push your technology through, and it will require a lot of grit, persistence, confidence, and much more.

To describe that Sisyphus-worthy path, we've often taken a few examples on that microphone that illustrate well this entrepreneurship journey, and arguably the n°1 example is Zenon's story.

I guess we don't have to dive into the details here, because we did that extensively with the legendary Andrew Benedek, the founder of Zenon, when he was my guest about 15 months ago.

But Andrew's trajectory is just one of the possible outcomes. Grow your company until it's almost too big to stand alone, exit, and use your well-earned money to start again and strive to save the World.

Yet, when Zenon merged with GE Water, and Andrew Benedek went on to acquire Anaergia, Zenon's Technical Director stayed with the company, and kept growing with it, as it went on to merge with Suez and last but not least, Veolia.

You would have guessed it, this former technical director is Glenn Vicevic, my guest today, and Veolia WTS's chief technical officer.

And what's fascinating about today's conversation is that it gets us to understand the next part of a technological company's path. What do you have to do to stay on top of the game? How do innovation and R&D tick at a different pace and follow different rules once you're a water tech giant, compared to your early steps as an agile Start-Up. What's cooler than exploring the innovation engine of the World's largest water tech company? Let's find out, trust me, you'll get to love Glenn's openness and eagerness to share several nuggets.

➡️ Check out the entire article on how the World's Largest Water Company, Veolia, fosters innovation

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with 🎙️ Andreas Müller - CEO at GF

💧 GF is a sustainability and innovation leader aiming to provide superior customer value across three Divisions enabling the safe transport of liquids and gases, lightweight casting components, and high-precision manufacturing technologies.

What we covered:

🔍 How a 222-Year-Old Company Innovates the secrets of GF and its three divisions

🚗 Why Lithium Production Needs a Leap Frog, How GF is Helping and which solution comes with the best odds

🌎 What Sustainability Means for Lithium Production and EVs, and GF's perspective to that challenge

💡 How Old Unicorns Interact with Cool Kids: GF's Approach to Startup Collaboration, and what it Takes to Lead a two-century old corporation

🤝 Why the Future of Lithium Production Hinges on Symbiotic Relationships between the various actors in the value chain

🌟 How GF's Strategy Aims to Balance Profitability and Environmental Impact and Why People are at the Heart of GF's Success

💼 Why a 'Startup Spirit' is Crucial in Large Corporations and what lessons from GF you can apply in your own business

🎯 What the Key Success Factors in Direct Lithium Extraction Projects are and how one can influence those

💥 How you can Tackle the Challenge of 'Cultural Clash' with Startups by copying some of GF's tactics

🎢 Why 'Stopping' can be as Important as 'Starting' in a Business Journey - and how that's maybe the best business advice you will ever get

🌳 How we need to reinvent Sustainability in the industrial sector and how GF and others are leading the pack and showing the way

🔬 Why Ultra-Precision is the New Gold Standard in e-Mobility

🔄 How GF is Closing the Loop: From Water Reclamation to Non-Revenue Water

🚀 Why GF Believes Profitability and Sustainability are Two Sides of the Same Coin and how that translate in very concrete terms

🌍 Why Going Global is Essential in Today's Business Environment to have a substantial impact and how GF's experience and support can be game changers

📊 Why GF is Targeting Non-Revenue Water: A Look at the Future of Water Management and how GF's Clean Water Foundation is Changing Lives Across the Globe

🚀 The EV Revolution from a GF Piping Systems, Casting Solutions & Machining Solutions perspective, the Water Sector trends GF is watching out for, building a cool place to work, water scarcity as a powerful shaping for the Water Sector, what GF does to solve the pressing need for clean water in remote areas... and more!

🔥 ... and of course, we concluded with the 𝙧𝙖𝙥𝙞𝙙 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚 𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 🔥

🔗 Come say hi to Andreas on LinkedIn

🔗 Check GF's website

➡️ Check out the entire article on GF, the 222 Year Old Start Up on the Don't Waste Water Website

➡️ Reach out to me: antoine@dww.show

More episodes in this Series:

1 - Why Water Technologies Matter in Lithium Mining (And Why You Should Buy Now!)

2 - The Shocking Requirements of Spodumene Processing (and other Lithium 101 stories)

3 - Standard Lithium's 10 Simple Secrets to DLE Success (and how that rolls out in El Dorado)

4 - How 'Reverse ZLD' made the World's Largest Water Company a Lithium Refinery Expert

5 - The Game-Changing Company with 60 Patents That's Disrupting the Battery Industry

6 - Vulcan's Clever Strategy to take off its Zero Carbon Lithium: Sell it Years Ahead!

7 - How to Eradicate Dead Zones, Cut Energy Needs by 80% and Double Lithium Selectivity

8 - How Lithium Refining & Water as a Service spark Growth for a Family Business

9 - Sustainable Lithium Production Has an Overlooked 3rd Component

10 - The 5 Rules to a Successful Direct Lithium Extraction

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Andreas Müller is the CEO of GF. GF is a sustainability and innovation leader aiming to provide superior customer value across three Divisions enabling the safe transport of liquids and gases, lightweight casting components, and high-precision manufacturing technologies.

If you've listened to this Season 9 of the podcast, you've noticed how we covered the lithium and water nexus topic from a wide variety of angles. We've had the helicopter view with Tony Strobbe, the project developers' inputs with Robert Mintak, Christopher Brown, Cris Moreno, and Andy Robinson, and the technology stories with Teague Egan, Devesh Sharma, Ben Sparrow, Chris Wyres, and Jim Rieke.

Spoiler alert, given the success of this season and the topics we covered, we will continue the exploration as one of the topics of the next ones, so stay tuned; I'm currently interviewing more fascinating companies, and as I'm recording this, I'm about to take off to Argentina partially for that.

Still, there's one aspect we had not covered so far, despite regular hints across all the episodes. Direct Lithium Extraction is a high-flow high-stakes application. Evaporation Ponds involve a lot of water as well, and when it comes to lithium refining, be it from hard rock or evaporation ponds, you've got a sizeable bunch of waterish processes, which require to convey fluids, water, and chemicals.

As a process person, that's the boring part. I know it; I'm a process person. Because what can a piping system do, right? Work smoothly, and then it gets zero praise; it just exists, and nobody cares. Or not work, being blocked, leaking, becoming a hazard, and a net loss, and then everybody's aware, and everybody is pissed.

So I thought it might be worth looking into a piping system company's view on that lithium green field. To discuss how they're in to help, how, at what stage, and what they have to propose. Of course, I'm a little bit biased in that story, as I am working for a piping system company.

But there's more than just pipes, fittings, valves, sensors, engineering, prefabrication and process automation in today's episode, as I reached out to the CEO of GF to come discuss all of that on my microphone, which means not only GF Piping Systems, but also Casting Solutions and Machining Solutions, which offers an interesting glimpse into the new Electric Vehicle vertical.

➡️ Check out the entire article on GF, the 222 Year Old Start Up on the Don't Waste Water Website

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with 🎙️ Andy Robinson - President and COO of Standard Lithium

💧 Standard Lithium coins itself America's 21st century Lithium Company. They're expected to become the first lithium developer in the World to produce direct-extracted lithium at a commercial scale in El Dorado

What we covered:

🌊 How a bromine plant in Arkansas is being converted into a lithium extraction mine to create a revolution in lithium production

🔋 Why lithium plays an integral role in clean energy initiatives, powering everything from electric cars to grid storage

💡 What challenges are faced when extracting lithium from natural brine, and how innovative companies are overcoming them

🌍 How Standard Lithium is integrating sustainability into its lithium extraction process to make it more environmentally friendly

⚙️ Why Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) may become the preferred method in the lithium industry, potentially shaping the future of the sector

🚘 What role lithium plays in the electric vehicle revolution, and why is it indispensable for battery production

💰 How we can exploit the significant financial potential of lithium production, as hinted at by industry leaders like Elon Musk (which I may still have outsmarted)

🔄 Why a full disclosure of the entire flow sheet, from resource to end-product, is essential for building investor confidence in lithium extraction

📈 What the future of lithium demand looks like, and how production companies are preparing for a potential structural deficit of lithium chemicals

🌱 How the incorporation of carbon capture technology into lithium extraction processes reduces the environmental footprint and promotes a more sustainable industry

🧪 How continuous chemical processing redefines lithium extraction methods and raises industry standards

💼 What the key factors considered by Standard Lithium are when identifying potential lithium extraction sites

👥 Why stakeholder approval and local government permitting is crucial for the success of lithium extraction projects

🏭 How the use of existing infrastructure in Arkansas simplifies the permitting requirements for new lithium extraction plants

🛰️ What a day in the life of a lithium extraction plant looks like, and what's the path of lithium from entry to final product

🔥 ... and of course, we concluded with the 𝙧𝙖𝙥𝙞𝙙 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚 𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 🔥

🔗 Come say hi to Andy on Linkedin

🔗 Check Standard Lithium's website

➡️ Check out the entire article on the 5 rules to a successful direct lithium extraction adventure on the Don't Waste Water Website