How would your business cope in a world with only half of the water it needs?

At the current pace of water consumption, many companies sector might find out the hard way.

Having reliable access to quality freshwater resources is an operational imperative for most food & beverage companies, yet many are withdrawing from and operating in water-stressed areas.

This whitepaper explores water as a strategic business risk within the context of the F&B sector. Its objective is to highlight the breadth and potential severity of the risks – as well as the strategic opportunities for those who take swift action on water.

With the threat of a global water shortage looming, businesses are increasingly taking action to increase water efficiency and reuse, reduce consumption and protect water quality. But improvements to internal production processes and operations can only go so far. In this article, we explore the growing shift toward collective action, and how businesses – and the communities in which they operate – can best realize the shared benefits.

In September, it was reported that carmaker Tesla would help drill water wells near its planned gigafactory near Monterrey, Mexico. The move was seen as an effort to quell opposition from environmentalists and local officials over water use in an already water-stressed area. According to news reports, Tesla also obtained permits to use treated wastewater in its electric vehicle production.

Demonstrators hold anti-Tesla posters during a protest plans by Tesla to build its first European factory and design center in Gruenheide near Berlin, Germany January 18, 2020.  REUTERS/Pawel Kopczynski

It’s not the first time the company has found itself being forced into action on water. The first phase of construction for its production factory in Brandenburg, Germany was delayed due to environmental concerns, and this year, the company tried to get ahead of criticism, announcing that its plans to double production at the plant would not require additional fresh water.

It’s the latest example of how water is upping the ante for business leaders and creating complex – and operationally significant – risks. At the current pace of industrial activity, the world will already face a 53% shortfall in global water supply by 2050. Climate change is only exacerbating the situation – making weather patterns less predictable and increasing the frequency and intensity of floods and droughts.

As we see with Tesla, for businesses, these changes manifest as higher water-related challenges, including water availability, water quality (e.g. pollution), exposure to floods and droughts, and reputational, regulatory, and financial risks.

Forward-looking businesses have taken steps to improve water efficiency, reduce water consumption in production processes, and control effluent discharges on-site, but the water challenges cannot be solved in isolation.

There is a growing need to view and manage water as a shared resource – beyond the operational ‘fence’ and down to the water catchment level – and to collaborate with stakeholders, including private companies, public sector, and civil society, to address water security, support the regeneration of water resources, and promote biodiversity.

Collaboration with stakeholders for catchment-based actions can generate real business benefits.

First and foremost, collaboration mitigates operational risks, such as preventing project delays and the cancellations of licenses, protecting resources the businesses need to ensure a consistent and good quality water supply, and building resilience to water-related shocks. It also brings intangible benefits in terms of strengthening the reputation and perception of the company by better aligning its actions with the needs of the community.

A company can also leverage outside-the-fence actions to drive innovation, and importantly, to achieve its commitments and ESG goals. Ultimately, collaborative action ensures companies retain their license to operate and hence, supports business growth and resilience.

Outside-the-fence collaboration is a spectrum; ranging from working directly with an NGO on a specific project to more complex collective action in which several companies collaborate to maximize their resources or impact. Regardless of the specific approach, collaborative action must be contextualized, genuine, and transparent in order to maximize its impact and benefits.

The (water) context is key

The starting point of any collaborative action should be to focus on understanding and addressing the needs and risks of the specific water basin in which the business operates or relies – as opposed to seeking to solve an internal business or operational challenge. For many leaders, this means deliberately shifting from a company centric perspective to one that is basin or system centric.

“A basin or system-centric approach focuses on how the company can best contribute to the overall water health of a location in which it operates. A company that does not take this approach runs the risk of an intervention being directed at a problem that isn’t that important in a specific location and coming across as being disconnected from what’s really needed,” says Paul Fleming, President, WaterValue.

Fleming formerly served as Global Water Program Manager at Microsoft, where he helped establish the company’s goal to be water positive by 2030. There, he led investments in nearly 20 access and replenishment projects, including partnering with the Edwards Aquifer Authority to support efforts to acquire conservation easements to keep land from being developed to ensure groundwater recharge.

Taking a basin-centric approach does not mean projects serve no direct benefit to the businesses that lead them. Freeport McMoRan, a mining company with operations in water-scarce regions, wanted to improve the water quantity and quality near its Cerro Verde mine, located near the city of Arequipa, Peru. The city had no wastewater treatment solution and raw sewage was discharged straight into the Chili River.

The company worked with the local utility and invested $500 million to build the city’s first wastewater treatment plant. The plant helped improve local water quality, enhanced agricultural production, and reduced the risk of waterborne diseases, thus supporting the health of its local workforce. At the same time, the company secured water for its mine expansion by using part of the treated effluent for its water supplies. 

Data-driven transparency

Understanding which actions will be the most relevant and meaningful requires data. Specifically, an assessment should be conducted to clearly scope and justify what impact a business could achieve through collaborative action and what kind of collaborative action best aligns with its goals – as well as to identify the right stakeholders to involve in such an initiative.

With a data-driven approach, water stewardship objectives become reportable, and a transparent dialogue is created with company employees, communities, and potential collaborators – ultimately making projects more easily implementable, scalable, and replicable.

For example, beverage company Diageo had implemented a Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) program that was initially limited in scope – driven by a desire to differentiate their brand and motivate employees through philanthropy efforts in Africa. It then undertook a comprehensive risk assessment of its sites to better understand its specific water risks, operational and supply chain needs, and the outcomes from its WASH previous projects.

Through that process, the company identified significant operational and business opportunities – beyond ‘feel good’ philanthropic benefits. It began investing in farming businesses and communities close to its operations to support the health, productivity, and sustainability of these communities – ultimately gaining the trust of key stakeholders and governments and improving their own supply chain resilience.

Water solution providers are positioned slightly differently, with an additional opportunity to leverage their own expertise towards collaborative action and water stewardship. Recognizing that robust data is needed to inform the impactful actions, Ecolab developed the Smart Water Navigator – a platform designed to support companies in identifying and quantifying risks and challenges at a local level. To further encourage businesses to better identify water risks and track efforts, Ecolab made the platform free to use.

By positioning itself as an enabler in water stewardship, Ecolab not only promotes transparent, data-driven, collective action for businesses but also creates opportunity to innovate and sell their expertise across the full life cycle of a company’s water stewardship journey – offering access to technologies for water optimization and management.

Genuine stakeholder engagement and collaboration

In today’s complex business landscape, aligning stakeholders on objectives, responsibilities, and desired outcomes is not just a best practice; it’s an imperative. This is particularly true when it comes to water; a shared resource that transcends corporate boundaries and jurisdictions. 

For businesses seeking to improve their water stewardship, it means identifying like-minded companies that share similar operational and geographical interests and commitments related to water access and water quality. These shared interests foster a sense of common purpose and create opportunities to leverage the strengths of each partner or collaborator.

For example, teaming up with a partner that can better facilitate interactions with local governments and community stakeholders can support a ‘bottom-up’ approach that can ensure that solutions are contextually relevant while also enhancing the project’s impact.

Coalitions and collaboratives play a pivotal role in uniting like-minded organizations with the right tools and resources. These collaborative platforms bring together a diverse array of stakeholders, including corporations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and public entities to collectively tackle water-related issues.

Coalitions can serve as vehicles for shared learning, knowledge exchange, and mobilizing resources – as well as helping ensure local voices are not only heard but are positioned as key drivers across initiatives.

The Water Risk Coalition (WRC) and Alliance for Water Stewardship are just two examples of an industry-driven coalitions to deliver a water resilient future.

The Water Risk Coalition’s 100 priority basins, selected in collaboration with Alliance for Water Stewardship, CEO Water Mandate, Good Stuff International, The Nature Conservancy, Pacific Institute, WRAP, WWF. Map Image Credit: WWF

Collaborative, outside the fence action can only be truly impactful if it is contextualized to specific water needs, developed, measured and/or reported on in a transparent way, and based on genuine stakeholder alignment. Setting clear and measurable goals lays the foundation productive engagement and unlocks opportunities to truly understand the basin context and build trust with local and international stakeholders. With measurable targets, companies can more easily replicate and scale projects – and provide a strong case by which it can attract additional capital and support.

By converting waste materials into heat, electricity, or fuel, waste-to-energy (WtE) not only reduces the burden on landfills but also promotes a circular economy. However, the progress of WtE adoption has been far from uniform across the globe – shaped by diverse geographic, demographic, and regulatory factors. In this article, we consider the historical context and present-day influences on WtE to explain the different growth pathways that market is likely to take.

The world generates two billion tons of municipal solid waste every year – equivalent of 10 Nimitz-class aircraft carriers. Image via military.com

The world generates more than two billion tons of municipal solid waste every year – the equivalent weight of 10 massive Nimitz-class aircraft carriers stacked on top of each other.  And the world’s waste problem is only intensifying. The World Bank estimates that global waste will grow to 3.4 billion tons by 2050 – more than double the population growth over the same period.

While these two challenges may not seem related, the process of converting waste into energy has potential to address both the escalating waste management crisis and the urgent need for sustainable energy sources, particularly in developing countries.

Waste-to-energy refers to the process of harnessing the energy potential of waste materials through various technologies, such as thermal treatment (including incineration and gasification), landfill gas conversion or anaerobic digestion, depending on the waste stream to be treated. By converting waste into valuable resources, WtE minimizes total waste volumes and promotes a circular economy.

It also supports ecosystem regeneration by mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and enriching soils through nutrient-rich byproducts. Unless clearly stated differently, WtE in this article refers to thermal treatment of residual household as well as commercial waste.

With growing awareness of its potential to address the mounting waste crisis and contribute to renewable energy targets, the global growth outlook for WtE is promising. The market size was valued at US$32 billion in 2021 and is projected to reach US$44 billion by 2029.

But while WtE started replacing landfill disposal in the early 1960’s, with countries such as Switzerland, Denmark, Netherlands, and Japan being among the frontrunners, its development has varied significantly across different regions, with many still relying primarily on landfills. Therefore, it is important to consider the historical factors and present-day influences that will impact how the WtE market is likely to evolve in different parts of the world.

There are three broad pathways WtE growth might take, depending on the market’s current maturity level.

For developing countries; a much-needed waste management solution

In developing countries, urbanization and population growth have accelerated waste generation and overburdened existing waste management practices – leading to littering and open dumping.

The East Asia and the Pacific regions generate most of the world’s waste by volume, with 468 million tons per year (23% in 2016). However, the fastest growing regions are Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, Middle East and North Africa, where, by 2050, total waste generation is expected to more than double or even triple.

Source: World Bank, What a Waste 2.0 Report

For many regions all over the world, landfilling is still the most common waste management practice, ranging from open dumping to engineered landfills. When landfills aren’t well engineered and regulated, methane and other greenhouse gases are released into the atmosphere – exacerbating climate change. WtE presents a viable alternative to landfilling, which avoids these methane emissions.

Similarly, many developing countries face challenges in finding suitable land space for waste disposal. WtE plants require less space than landfill sites – making them suitable for densely populated or land-scarce areas. By utilizing smaller footprints, these facilities free up land that can be repurposed for more productive or environmentally friendly uses.

Developing countries also often face energy shortages and rely heavily on non-renewable sources of energy, such as fossil fuels. By generating electricity or heat from waste materials, WtE plants also reduce the dependence on traditional energy sources and contribute to a more sustainable and diversified energy mix.

According to data from the International Solid Waste Association (ISWA), the number of WtE plants in developing regions has doubled in the last decade. This growth is primarily attributed to increasing awareness of environmental issues and the recognition of waste as a valuable resource. Governments and investors have started to view WtE as a viable solution to tackle waste-related problems and simultaneously promote renewable energy generation.

In the early 2000s when China was still considered to be a developing country, it made a conscious effort to move away from landfilling to adopt WtE, leading to a huge boom in new WtE capacities. Soon, it accounted for around three-quarters of the global market for WtE. More recently, Thailand and Vietnam took their first WtE plants into operation. After many years of discussion, these countries will continue their path to rely on WtE.

Successful implementation of WtE, however, requires a supportive regulatory framework, technological expertise, and investments in infrastructure – which can be harder to come by in developing regions. Despite positive trends, financial, regulatory, and political hurdles continue to slow the pace of WtE adoption in the developing world.

In high WtE adoption countries; opportunities for sorting and recycling

The waste hierarchy of ‘reduce, reuse, recycle, recover and disposal’ is the driving force of waste management plans in markets in which WtE adoption has historically been strong. In these markets, the separate collection of waste streams, such as separating organic waste to generate biogas or for the chemical recycling of plastic waste, are areas for continued growth and strategic opportunity.

Waste incineration plant in Oberhausen, Germany

For example, Germany has a well-established and comprehensive approach to WtE that prioritizes waste prevention and reuse over disposal. The country aims to recycle at least 65% of municipal waste by 2030, and has invested in advanced recycling technologies to increase the efficiency of material recovery from waste streams. 

It also operates a significant number of waste incineration plants, with the energy generated being used for local district heating systems or fed into the power grid. Ash generated in the incineration process is processed to recover valuable materials such as metals and minerals suitable for construction purposes.

Another example is the city of Stockholm, which has virtually eliminated the use of landfills for waste disposal (less than 1%). The city has implemented policies to promote extended producer responsibility, pushing manufacturers to design products with recyclability in mind.

In recent years, Sweden has also introduced measures to reduce single-use plastics. For non-recyclable waste, it relies solely on WtE facilities, with energy generated being used to heat residential and commercial buildings. This has contributed to the city’s efforts to achieve a carbon-neutral status.

With little land available for landfills and high population density, Japan has also benefitted from waste-to-energy for decades. The country is now prioritizing waste reduction and recycling to achieve a more sustainable waste management system.

It has set a national target to recycle 60% of its municipal waste and has also been actively promoting resource recycling, such as turning food waste into compost and using recycled materials in construction projects. Japan has also implemented comprehensive waste separation and recycling programs to reduce the overall waste volumes, as well as public awareness campaigns to promote responsible waste sorting and recycling.

As these and other countries prioritize waste reduction, recycling, and advanced waste management technologies, businesses that align their strategies with these goals can create value, drive innovation, and contribute to a more sustainable and circular economy.

In this environment, there are many strategic opportunities to explore, including the development of smart waste collection and sorting technologies, efficient collection networks and logistics solutions, solutions that optimize supply chains for waste collection, sorting, and processing as well as chemical recycling, which has the potential to convert plastic waste back into raw materials or feedstocks for new products. There are also new market opportunities for products that are designed for circularity.

In low WtE adoption markets; biogas and product creation from incineration

The United States is, in principle, a developed market when it comes to WtE, but adoption has been and remains slow. The U.S. possesses vast landfill spaces, which, combined with a less incentivized regulatory environment, has hindered large-scale WtE adoption. Growing demand for renewable energy has sparked interest in WtE but given the country’s potential to generate energy from wind, solar, hydroelectric, and geothermal power and its historically low energy prices, there is less of an economic case for WtE compared to regions with higher energy costs.

There is, however, still plenty of opportunity for waste treatment technology to grow within the U.S. One being the production of renewable natural gas (RNG), also known as biogas, from separately collected organic waste streams. New regulatory and financial incentives are now pushing biofuel and RNG below diesel prices, while the global environment creates continued momentum. In fact, while the size of the U.S. RNG market was $3 billion in 2022, it is predicted to grow to $27 billion by 2027​.

America currently has around 2,500 biogas systems, but new tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act could accelerate the rate of growth. Furthermore, only a portion of those systems are using the biogas they produce – creating an opportunity for RNG upgrades​. There is also an opportunity within the agricultural sector. Agri-waste and animal manure are predicted to be the largest RNG feedstock by 2050​.

Many of the country’s 34,000 dairy farmers, particularly in states such as California, Texas, and Idaho, where the concentration of dairy farms is highest, could leverage existing sites to generate biogas as an additional source of revenue.

Agri-waste and animal manure are predicted to be the largest RNG feedstock by 2050.

Using livestock waste alone as a feedstock, there are potentially some 8,500 new biogas sites that could be developed, as well as an additional 990 animal processing sites which could supply animal waste feedstock. The American Biogas Council estimates that tens of billions of dollars of capital could be deployed resulting in hundreds of thousands of short-term jobs and tens of thousands of permanent jobs.

Captured RNG can be injected into natural gas distribution pipelines, enhancing the supply of renewable energy to homes, businesses, and industries, and can also be used as a sustainable fuel for natural gas vehicles (NGVs).

Similarly, WtE processes, such as advanced gasification, can produce hydrogen-rich syngas from waste feedstocks. This syngas can be further processed to generate hydrogen, a versatile and clean fuel with applications in transportation, industry, and power generation.

Another direction is to aim at a ‘higher value’ use of residual waste, namely, to generate transportation fuels. A number of processes are in a promising development stage.

As we navigate the intricacies of the waste and energy sectors, the future of waste-to-energy unfolds across many different pathways. By empowering developing countries with sustainable waste management solutions, transitioning to recycling-centric practices, and pioneering valuable product creation from incineration, decision-makers hold the key to shaping the sector’s sustainable evolution in their respective markets.

Algae is known for its ability to grow in almost any environment. True to form, the market for algae-based solutions is seeing strong growth, fueled by a dynamic spectrum of applications – from established roles in wastewater treatment to pioneering ventures like algae-derived fertilizers and aviation fuel. In this article, we’ll explore how utilities, technology providers, and investors can harness the potential of this versatile organism.

Earlier this year, scientists discovered the massive bloom of algae floating across the Atlantic had reached its largest size ever. Satellite imagery showed the ‘Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt’ now stretched about 5,500 miles from the coast of West Africa to the Gulf of Mexico. Since its first emergence in 2011, the bloom has disrupted local tourism, wildlife, and water quality every spring and summer – but it’s also a great example of this organism’s incredible growth potential.

Scientists used satellite imagery to map out the sargassum belt. Image: NASA

That growth potential is what many organizations are looking to harness, as they develop new applications for different algae species. While the market’s growth might not be as exponential as that of the organism itself, interest in algae-based solutions is increasing. For example, demand for micro-algae solutions is expected to grow with an 8.9% CAGR over the next five years, with projections to reach a market size of $1.4 billion by 2027.

Note: Market sizes include OPEX and CAPEX. Algae market includes treatment technology, pond and raceway solutions, and dewatering (pelletizing for recovery). Source: Algae market: Cision, Research and Markets, Allied Market Research; Algae for biofuel market: Market Watch, Adroit Market Research

One of the drivers behind this growth is the fact that companies continue to develop new applications for algae and solutions to make existing algae-based processes more efficient, cost-effective and environmentally sustainable.

Let’s look at some of the interesting ways the world can benefit from this fast-growing organism.

Thinking beyond wastewater treatment

Algae is one of the world’s oldest methods of water treatment. The organisms naturally absorb nutrients and organic matter from water and produce oxygen as a byproduct. This oxygenation supports aerobic (oxygen-dependent) microbial processes that further break down organic matter in the wastewater, leading to improved water quality.

Algae treatment systems are integrated alongside traditional wastewater treatment methods.

Algae-based water treatment is a fast-growing subsector of the modern wastewater treatment industry. In fact, while the relevant wastewater treatment market is 400x as large as the algae treatment market, the latter is growing more than double the rate.

Utilities and wastewater treatment plants can integrate algae treatment systems alongside traditional wastewater treatment methods to achieve comprehensive and effective purification before safe discharge or reuse.

Incorporating algae treatment opens up several benefits for plants. As algae are photosynthetic and naturally suited to removing excessive nitrogen and phosphorus, they provide a more energy-efficient and cost-effective treatment option – helping reduce the organization’s carbon footprint while enabling it to adhere to stringent municipal and industrial wastewater discharge limits.

While treatment typically remains the main revenue source for treatment plants, advancements in resource recovery are enabling to extract valuable nutrients as well as energy-dense lipids (oils), carbohydrates, and proteins from the algae biomass. These lipids can be converted into fertilizers and biofuels; enabling plants to increase emissions offsets and creating additional by-product revenue streams to cover operational costs.

For instance, the Stickney Water Reclamation Plant (SWRP), within Chicago’s Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) is running a pilot alongside Gross-Wen Technologies to grow algae from wastewater to offset carbon emissions, while also recovering nutrients that can better protect downstream water quality. The phosphorus collected is converted into a slow-release fertilizer while the remaining nitrogen and phosphorus encourage continued algae growth, which, in turn, increases the removal of carbon dioxide.

Further, the process helps remove more ammonia using less energy, with the algae naturally aiding the nitrification/denitrification process and decreasing the nitrous oxide emissions generated during the conventional ammonia removal process.

Feeding the future

Soil health is essential to feed the world. Chemical fertilizers have increased yields and productivity, but combined with other human activity, have slowly led to the degradation of soil quality. Considering that growing and manufacturing what we all eat and drink accounts for up to 80% of the world’s water use, the need for more environmentally friendly and sustainable agricultural practices is growing.

Algae-based fertilizers are one solution that can help increase soil health and productivity, while reducing water use. Being naturally rich in essential nutrients including nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, algae-based fertilizers have been shown to help support growth, increase crop yields, and contribute to soil health by increasing its water and nutrient-holding capacity.

Algal fertilizers can also play a role in a low-carbon economy, serving as an organic and renewable alternative to synthetic fertilizers, which are energy-intensive to produce and contribute to continued reliance on fossil fuels. They can be manufactured as liquid extracts, granules, and powdered formulations and applied to a wide range of crops, including vegetables, fruits, ornamental plants, and even turfgrass.

In 2022, the market for these fertilizers was estimated to be worth US$600 million and expected to grow at a CAGR of 21.6% through 2035, hitting US$6.3 billion. Technology advances that lower the cost of production as well as government incentives and subsidies are likely to encourage adoption. For instance, the EU Common Agricultural Policy offers additional funding for farmers that adopt sustainable practices that contribute to the EU’s environmental and climate goals, specifically by promoting crop diversity and protecting biodiversity.

An engine of opportunity

New technologies could help turn algae’s ‘grow’ power into ‘go’ power. As mentioned, algae grow rapidly and produce lipids (oils) that can be converted into biofuels such as biodiesel or even sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). In fact, the current market for using microalgae as feedstock for biofuels is estimated to be five to 10 times the market size of algae treatment and recovery solutions by 2027 – reaching an estimated $10 to 15 billion.

SAFs are a compelling area for development as they are chemically identical to conventional jet fuel and can be generated from a variety of feedstocks such as waste oil, tallow, agricultural crops, or yeasts. Utilizing SAFs made from algae would offer significant environmental benefits compared to traditional jet fuel. Considering that the airline industry contributes around 2.5% of global carbon emissions, algae-based biofuels would support the industry in reducing its carbon footprint, as they are considered carbon-neutral or even carbon-negative due to their potential to capture CO2 from the atmosphere. And unlike some other biofuel feedstocks, such as corn or soy, algae cultivation does not compete with food production, mitigating concerns about food security.

Utilizing SAFs made from algae would offer significant environmental benefits compared to traditional jet fuel. Photo: Greenaironline.com

Despite the advantages of lower carbon intensities, lower particulate levels, and even better performance potential, SAFs make up less than 1% of aviation fuel used today, and the current scalability of algae feedstocks is limited compared to the volume of fuel needed. The International Air Transport Association IATA, however, projects 23 billion liters of SAF will be needed by 2030, accounting for 5.2% of the total fuel requirement.

There are a number of factors that could further accelerate the adoption of algae-based SAFs. The global aviation industry has announced an aspiration to be carbon neutral by 2050. While the agreement is not legally binding, it was accepted by the 193 countries within the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO); the UN body promoting co-operation on air transport.

Regulations may provide a further push. President Biden has pledged to produce three billion gallons of sustainable fuel and reduce aviation emissions by 20% by the year 2023. The U.S. Department of Energy also stated in its “Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Grand Challenge Roadmap 2022” that at least 18% of biomass feedstock for SAF will need to come from algae. This would be the second-largest biomass contributor to achieve full SAFs volumes after herbaceous energy crops (19%).

The European Union (EU) is also encouraging the use of SAFs. In April 2023, the EU agreed to increase SAF uptake on a gradual basis; hitting 6% by 2030, 20% by 2035 and up to a maximum of 70% by 2050 as the market matures and more SAF plants ramp up production. The corporate sector has even begun innovating in this space. In 2021, Honeywell announced that its refining process was used to successfully supply commercial flights with SAFs derived from microalgae.

The growth potential of the algae market reflects the versatility and adaptability of this unique organism. As we look ahead, however, it is clear that algae’s potential is far from fully realized.

Utilities, technology providers, investors, and regulatory bodies have a unique opportunity to harness the power of algae to maximize triple-bottom-line benefits. With ongoing research, technological advancements, and regulatory support, we can anticipate even greater utilization of algae-based solutions; paving the way toward a more sustainable and environmentally responsible future.

As we embrace advances in technology and a growing preference for sustainable solutions, utilities, technology providers, investors, and regulatory bodies have a unique opportunity to harness the power of algae; turning it into a force for positive change.

In his new book, Dr. Peter Gleick explores our water past to reimagine our water future.

Is humanity on the verge of ecological destruction or the dawn of a more sustainable and equitable era? A new book explores this question and offers a glimpse at how we can work together to make the latter a reality. The Three Ages of Water, written by Dr. Peter Gleick, details how water has shaped humanity’s greatest achievements in science, technology, medicine, and more, but also how those advancements have resulted in unintended consequences that threaten the quality of our future.

Dr. Gleick is a leading scientist, innovator, and communicator on global water and climate issues. He co-founded the Pacific Institute in Oakland, a non-governmental organization (NGO) addressing the connections between the environment and he is a foremost mind in global sustainability; having received the MacArthur Fellowship, the U.S. Water Prize, and the Carl Sagan Prize for Science Popularization.

We spoke with him about the new book and his positive vision of what the future can hold.

Your book takes readers on a journey through humanity’s history with water – noting three distinct ‘ages’. Why did you choose to frame the discussion in this way?

Dr. Gleick: My experience with water over my career has led me to think about the long history of water, from the very creation of the atoms of hydrogen and oxygen that make up water, through human evolution and our growing relationship with water, to the present water crises we face. And I’ve spent my career thinking about both water problems, and especially future solutions. As I was writing the book, these experiences fell into the natural categories of “past,” “present,” and “future” — what I called The Three Ages of Water — and it permitted me to help express my sense of the world of water.

What can the past teach us about creating a more sustainable relationship with water in the future?

Dr. Gleick: Although my training and career have been in the sciences, I’ve always had a love of history, and the ability of history to offer us insights and lessons about both past failures as well as successes. And as the different stories in the book explore, those failures have led us to our present challenges, but also help us to better understand what paths forward might be most successful.

It’s no accident that many famous historians and pundits point to history as offering a guide to the future, if we’re smart enough to learn from the past.

The book suggests the “hard path” to providing water services, namely, relying on physical infrastructure and large institutions, has largely failed us. Can you share a little about what a ‘softer’ path looks like?

Dr. Gleick: I do believe, and say in the book, that the “hard path” — our past approach to water that has relied on a focus on “supply” and centralized infrastructure and institutions — has brought great benefits to us, or to some of us. But it has also come with serious liabilities and failures.

The “soft path” I describe still looks to technology and infrastructure but understands that the concept of “demand” is more important than “supply” in the sense that our ultimate goal is not to use water, but to provide benefits such as food, clean clothes, industrial goods and services, and so on, and that we can greatly reduce the amount of water needed to provide these benefits.

By using water as efficiently as possible, we can reduce our impacts on ecosystems and the planet, while still meeting our needs and desires. The soft path also recognizes that the environment must also be protected and guaranteed the water needed to thrive, and the soft path calls for better and smarter economics and institutions that reflect the human right to water, current inequities in water allocation, control, and use, and integrate water management with energy, food, and climate issues.

In short, the soft path is a more comprehensive, holistic way to manage our water needs.

What role should the private sector play in bringing about the Third Age of Water?

Dr. Gleick: There is a role for every sector to bring about the Third Age of Water, from individuals to community groups to the private sector to governments at all levels. A substantial amount of water is used, and controlled, by the private sector, and it is vital that they understand the risks to their own operations of failing to manage and use water sustainably and the risks to the public and environment.

At the same time, there is enormous opportunity to improve corporate water stewardship and we are already seeing thoughtful companies working in this direction to reduce their water impacts in both operations and the communities in which they operate. More corporations should move in this direction.

How important is the concept of regeneration in realizing the benefits of the Third Age of Water? What role does it play?

Dr. Gleick: An important strategy for the Third Age of Water is to understand that nature naturally regenerates and recycles water in the hydrologic cycle of the planet, constantly circulating, clean, and reusing water. Human systems can do the same thing, by collecting and treating and reusing wastewater, something already done extensively in Singapore and Israel, and starting to be done in California and other water-stressed regions. This makes wastewater an asset, not a liability. But we can also “regenerate” our natural ecosystems and rivers, taking down damaging, old, dangerous dams and restoring rivers.

Over 1000 dams have already been removed in the United States and we are slowly restoring natural systems, to the benefit of people and the planet.

The Three Ages of Water is available now for purchase on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other retailers. You can learn more about Dr Gleick on his website.

In the face of growing water insecurity, the search for solutions to sustain and revitalize natural water resources is key. Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) is emerging as one such solution to bolster storage, enhance availability, and fortify groundwater resources. Here, we explain some of the basics of MAR and highlight examples of current MAR projects from around the world.

Managed aquifer recharge (MAR), also known as groundwater replenishment, water banking, and artificial recharge, is a technique that involves intentionally introducing water, typically river water, treated wastewater, or stormwater, into an aquifer to increase its storage and availability. Alongside demand management efforts, MAR is an increasingly important strategy to protect groundwater systems and improve water quality.

Research suggests, however, MAR is currently an underutilized solution globally. Data published in 2019 showed that implementation of MAR accounted for around 2.4% of groundwater extraction in countries reporting MAR, although experts predict MAR could exceed 10% of global extraction in the future.

The implementation of MAR schemes is influenced by several factors including the area’s hydrogeology, available water sources, regulatory frameworks and local water management priorities – all of which impact the specific recharge method and costs.

Barriers to implementation include the need for funding and/or investment in infrastructure, including wells, infiltration basins, pipelines, and treatment facilities, as well as technical expertise, sufficient land space, and proper site selection – as not all aquifers are suitable for MAR. Success depends on careful planning, monitoring, and adaptive management to mitigate potential risks and maximize its benefits.

There are, however, interesting examples of MAR in action, with a variety of benefits. The International Groundwater Resources Assessment Centre (IGRAC) has compiled a portal listing more than 1,200 MAR sites globally. Deeper exploration shows diverse contexts in which MAR is applied, ranging from addressing water scarcity in arid regions to managing groundwater in more temperate climates.

New innovations, including remote sensing and GIS modeling, advances in drilling techniques and well design, and new water treatment technologies are improving the efficiency, effectiveness, and sustainability of recharge projects. As climate change continues to alter precipitation patterns and demand for water increases, we can expect the use of MAR to continue to grow.

Here are a few examples of MAR projects from across the globe.

United States

California is home to several MAR projects. One is the Chino Basin Recycled Water Groundwater Recharge Program, which consists of a network of pipelines that direct stormwater run-off, imported water, and recycled water to 16 recharge sites with basins spread across 245 square miles. Water percolates into the ground, with the soil acting as a natural filtration system, to replenish the groundwater supply.

Germany

In Berlin, a water supply region serving a population of 3.6 million, around 75% of drinking water is produced using bank filtration and MAR. Water is pumped from wells drilled along the banks of a river. During the pumping process, river water infiltrates into the riverbed sediments and is naturally purified.

Oman

The MENA region is the world’s most water-scarce region with only two percent of the global average annual rainfall, high rates of pumping and low rates of natural aquifer recharge. Oman, however, has the highest groundwater renewability in the GCC countries (76%), thanks in part to more than 50 recharge dams which store runoff water from streams. The dams help raise the water level in wells and irrigation systems, support farmers and livestock breeders, and increase water sources.

Brazil

Brazil is home to more than 60% of Latin America’s MAR projects. Most projects include in-channel modifications, specifically subsurface dams. The dams help store water used for food production within poorer communities. Infiltration ponds and basins are also used to prevent soil erosion and produce food in rural areas and to support drainage and prevent flooding in urban areas.

South Africa

South Africa has the highest MAR implementation rates on the African continent. One long-standing example is the Atlantis Water Resource Management Scheme (AWSS). It began recharging stormwater and treated wastewater into the soil in the 1970s as an alternative to marine wastewater discharge. Now, 12 stormwater retention and detention basins capture stormwater from the residential and industrial areas. Industrial stormwater is also separated from residential stormwater to enable the highest quality water to reach the most critical areas.

India

In Uttar Pradesh, underground taming of floods for irrigation (UTFI) was trialed as a means of improving water resiliency in advance of dry spells. In a pilot project, an unused pond was retrofitted with 10 gravity recharge wells to store excess water from the Ramganga Basin during the wet season. Over two years, the pond recharged up to 14 times its capacity and provided enough water to irrigate roughly 15 hectares of farmland.

Australia

With long, dry summers and steadily declining rainfall, Perth’s Water Corporation initiated a plan back in 2010 to treat recycled water from the Beenyup Wastewater Treatment Plant to beyond drinking water standards and inject it into the Leederville and Yarragadee aquifers. Since then, the scheme has recycled around 60 billion liters of water. Recently, the government launched a $320 million expansion of the scheme to double long-term capacity and provide enough water to supply up to 100,000 households.

The 2023 Ocean Exchange Awards are just around the corner. That means another batch of innovative companies will soon by vying for top prizes – and the recognition that their solutions can play a role in nurturing healthier oceans and a more sustainable blue economy.

Focusing on oceans, healthy coastal systems, and the decarbonization of ocean transportation, the Ocean Exchange Awards offers startups the chance to accelerate their growth – with three winners each receiving $100,000 in prize money.

This year’s competition is shaping up to be its toughest yet with an 18% increase in the number of applications accepted for consideration. The Awards act as a springboard for many companies – helping them connect with potential investors, secure pilots and expand their teams.

We caught up with four previous finalists to learn how they’ve grown since participating.

CoralVita establishes itself as a rising star in reef regeneration

2018 Winner, Ocean Exchange Neptune Award
Based in: The Bahamas
Website

Coral reefs are much more than just marine habitats. Through coastal protection, tourism, and fisheries, reefs also generate an estimated $2.7 trillion annually and sustain the livelihoods of up to one billion people. Yet half of global coral reefs have died since the 1970s and over 90% are on track to die by 2050 due to a combination of climate change, pollution, overfishing, and habitat destruction.

Coral Vita was created to change the way reefs are restored and rebuilt. The company sells restoration as a service (RaaS) to reef-dependent customers; a departure from typical restoration projects that are often dependent on grants and donations. Coral Vita’s technology involves using land-based coral farms to grow coral up to 50 times faster – helping communities sustain their reef health and diversity from a single location.

Since participating in Ocean Exchange, Coral Vita’s momentum has accelerated. It raised a pre-seed and seed funding round and was one of five companies to win a coveted Earthshot Prize in 2021, including £1 million in additional funding.

The Earthshot win opened new opportunities for the team; it secured a pilot project with Dubai Ports and a contract to operate a coral farm in Saudi Arabia’s new smart city NEOM.

“We’ve gone from strength to strength at Coral Vita. In addition to our projects in the Middle East, we have expanded to three reef restoration sites at our home in the Bahamas and are working with The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and Carnival Cruise Line to market the coral farm as a leading eco-destination for visitors,” says Sam Teicher, Co-Founder of Coral Vita.

“We’ve also signed brand partnership deals with companies such as Corona Beer UK and Cariuma to fund coral restoration and are investing in our team and local community – having hired our first Chief Operating Officer in Austin Martin and expanded our paid internship program for Bahamians.”

“We’re currently planning a Series A round in 2024 to further fuel our mission and impact – with a vision to create large-scale, self-sustaining facilities in every nation with coral reefs and helping preserve ecosystem health for future generations.”


Ebb Carbon installs its first systems to capture CO2 and boost ocean resilience

2022 Finalist, Ocean Exchange Neptune Award
Based in: San Carlos, California
Website

The ocean is one of the planet’s largest carbon sinks, but it’s also a victim of climate change. Rising emissions are making oceans more acidic, which consequently can alter marine food chains and impact food supply. Ebb Carbon is an ocean-based carbon dioxide removal (CDR) company developing technology that enhances and accelerates the ocean’s natural ability to capture and permanently store CO2 from the atmosphere. It delivers a one-two punch; tapping into the ocean’s natural processes to extract acid out of seawater, reversing the acidification of the oceans while also pulling CO2 out of the air.

Its modular system is designed to be sited near any industrial source of salty water, including desalination plants, aquaculture facilities, and manufacturing or energy production facilities that circulate ocean water for cooling. The system can also process seawater directly from the ocean.

Just a few months after being named a finalist for Ocean Exchange’s 2022 Neptune award, Ebb Carbon raised a $20 million Series A round – securing the largest investment in ocean-based carbon removal technology to date. Now, the company is beginning to deploy its first systems, including a 100 ton-CO2 per year system at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Lab in Sequim, WA in partnership with NOAA.

On the announcement, Ebb Carbon’s CEO and Co-Founder Ben Tarbell said:

“While Ebb’s approach to removing CO2 from the atmosphere is novel technologically, it has been perfected over billions of years through the Earth’s natural processes. By accentuating natural processes in the vastness of the ocean, we see a highly scalable and cost-effective CO2 removal solution that is restorative and compatible with a sustainable future.”


NovFeed seeks to revolutionize the production of alternative protein ingredients

2022 Winner, Ocean Exchange Neptune Award
Based in: Tanzania
Website

Every year, over 20 million tons of wild fish are caught and processed into feed – further stressing already dwindling fish populations. But Tanzania-based NovFeed has developed a new approach; offering a sustainable, high-protein alternative feed for fish and livestock. The company uses natural microbes and industrial biotech processes to turn organic waste into a highly concentrated protein product, from which animal feed millers can produce fish feed. Its goal is to provide a scalable and environmentally friendly solution to meet the growing global demand for protein, while mitigating the environmental challenges associated with conventional livestock and aquaculture feed production.

After winning the 2022 Ocean Exchange Neptune Award, NovFeed went on to win the $1 million Milken-Motsepe Prize in AgriTech, which is aimed at advancing progress toward UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Diana Orembe, a microbiologist, and Co-Founder at NovFeed says it’s had a significant impact on their trajectory – enabling the business to invest further in its biotechnological platform and scale its operations.

“Beyond the financial aspect, the recognition from Ocean Exchange boosted our credibility within the sustainable blue economy and the broader biotech industry. This increased visibility attracted strategic partnerships and collaborations, allowing us to access new markets and technologies.”

“It also validated our commitment to addressing critical challenges in ocean health and the sustainable blue economy and we’ve actively engaged in raising awareness about the importance of sustainable protein solutions by participating in industry events, educational initiatives, policy discussions, and by advocating for environmentally responsible practices in the food sector.”

Diana says with additional investment and R&D, NovFeed has the potential to innovate and expand into other areas, including the production of feed additives, enzymes, feed products for other livestock industries, and even protein for human consumption.


HonuWorx readies its subsea robotics system to improve subsea work

2022 Finalist, Ocean Exchange Neptune Award
Based in: UK
Website

HonuWorx is a technology company focused using advanced robotics to drive down the costs and environmental impact of subsea work. Its communications and control platform enables users in multiple locations to see data, collaborate, supervise, and control robotic systems that are beyond line-of-sight.

The company’s goal is to reduce reliance on large, costly, crewed diesel vessels that disrupt and pollute marine environments, and to make the subsea world safer and more accessible for those who defend and sustainably commercialize ocean resources.

CEO Lee Wilson says the technology has several immediate applications across multiple sectors, such as enabling energy companies to reduce their operating emissions, improving margins for new energy sectors such as offshore wind, and improving the health and safety of ocean crews by moving them onshore.

“We are also looking at security applications where there may be a remediation element, such as the removal of historic unexploded ordinances, mine clearance in the Black Sea, and the protection of critical national infrastructure such as pipelines and cables,” added Lee.

Since its participation in the Ocean Exchange Awards, the HonuWorx team has been focused on launching Loggerhead – a new subsea inspection and intervention system designed to operate in all weather conditions.

“We’re looking forward to executing an ‘industry-first’ demonstration of Loggerhead’s major building blocks in Q1 2024,” said Lee.

“We are also focused on scaling our options through the end of this year, with a new headquarters, a number of new hires, and senior appointments.”

The Ocean Exchange Awards will take place October 22-24 in Fort Lauderdale, FL. For more information, visit oceanexchange.org

Consultant Umama Malik is keeping busy outside of her time at Amane – currently planning a global summit designed to develop the leadership skills of young women. She was recently selected as Vice Chair of the Global Summit Steering Committee for Fora: Network for Change. This volunteer position will run through 2025.

Fora: Network for Change is a not-for-profit that delivers programs and opportunities aimed at preparing the next generation of leaders to amplify their voices in decision-making spaces. Its leadership, advocacy, and community-building programs have helped more than 1,700 women ages 18 to 25 gain new skills, confidence, supportive networks, and opportunities to build gender equity movements, advance in their career trajectories, and change the status quo.

The Global Summit is Fora’s flagship program. Taking place in December, it will bring together delegates from 50+ different countries to develop policy recommendations and to work alongside professional management consultants to develop their own social impact initiative(s).

It’s not Umama’s first experience with Fora. In 2019, she served as the sole delegate from Pakistan at what was then called the G(irls)20 Summit in Tokyo. She and the other 29 delegates worked together to develop policy recommendations to advance female leadership that were later presented to world leaders at that year’s G20 Summit.

Part of Umama’s role as Vice Chair is to expand the Summit’s focus to include women from countries not currently represented in the G20.

“Fora’s vision to support and develop young women to amplify their impact globally is very close to my heart,” said Umama.

“Having represented a country that is not included in the G20 was a unique opportunity and I look forward to broadening Fora’s reach and giving young women from developing nations similar opportunities to develop their networks, skills and interests. Serving as a delegate in the Global Summit shaped my career journey – going so far as to inspire me to become a consultant.

“I’m honored to have the chance to help maximize the social impact of female leaders in local communities with an emphasis on diversity and inclusion, regardless of background, race, beliefs, or passport,” she added.

I had the pleasure of being invited to participate as a panelist at this year’s Africa Water Forum, which took place in Rabat, Morocco in early October. It was a wonderful opportunity to connect with other water professionals who share the same ambition of helping Africa progress towards the UN’s SDG 6 targets (on water and sanitation).

We had fruitful discussions on a wide range of topics including how best to strengthen regional cooperation and partnerships to improve water security, using desalination to increase water availability, challenges related to wastewater and reuse, digital water solutions for enhanced water management, and private-public partnerships (PPPs).

While all these topics could easily warrant their own article, here are a few trends and takeaways from those discussions.

Despite significant efforts, the water sector in Africa still has room for improvement in several areas to meet SDG6. Yet, I am confident that Africa and Africans are on the right track to make substantial progress towards achieving SDG6.

In October, Amane’s Bill Malarkey and Vinod Jose attended the Water Environment Federation’s Technical Exhibition and Conference (WEFTEC) in Chicago; connecting with water professionals from around the world and checking out the latest technologies and innovations emerging across the sector. The four-day event is touted as the largest of its kind in North America with more than 10,000 in attendance, nearly 150 interactive educational sessions, 17 hands-on workshops and an exhibition featuring products and services from more than 800 providers.

As one of the leads for Amane’s innovation offering, Vinod got a sneak peek at the future of water innovation at WEFTEC’s Innovation Pavilion.

“The event featured a curated cohort of more than a dozen startups addressing several major innovation themes; including advanced technical solutions, ‘smart water’ solutions utilizing data analytics to improve decision-making, predictive maintenance, and construction, new (PFAS treatment solutions, and solutions exploring the water-energy nexus.

“We also saw companies innovating with ‘digital twins’, which replicate and simulate physical systems and infrastructure in digital form. This technology enables users to model system behavior under different conditions, such as stress tests, environmental changes, or operational scenarios,” said Vinod.

A ‘Shark Tank’ styled pitch competition was also held, with all of the startups participating. Judges.

“The future of the water sector looks promising with more such trailblazing companies leading the way,” added Vinod.