Seth Siegel

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LinkedIn

Company: Seth M. Siegel

Location: New York City, NY

Seth M. Siegel is a serial entrepreneur, water activist, and a New York Times bestselling author. His critically acclaimed award-winning book Let There Be Water: Israel’s Solution for a Water-Starved World has been published in 20 languages and is on sale in more than 50 countries. His second book, Troubled Water: What’s Wrong with What We Drink, sets forth an ambitious agenda for a fundamental rethinking of America’s drinking water system. Seth’s most recent book, Other People’s Words: Wisdom for an Inspired and Productive Life, is an inspirational/motivational book that reflects his lifetime collection of inspirational quotations.

In addition to his books, Seth is a Senior Fellow at the University of Wisconsin’s Center for Water Policy and currently is the Chief Sustainability Officer of N-Drip – a revolutionary AgTech start-up. His commentary on a range of topics has appeared in many leading publications, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post. Seth has spoken on water issues at more than 325 venues in 68 cities, 26 states, and on four continents–and during the Coronavirus lockdown, to dozens of others via video.

Amanda Siqueira

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LinkedIn

Company: VAPAR

Location: Greater Bristol Area, United Kingdom

As VAPAR’s CEO, Amanda co-founded the company with a vision to bring emerging technology into the Asset Management space and revolutionise the way infrastructure is tracked, repaired, and maintained.

With a background in civil engineering, Amanda used to manually review CCTV pipe inspection videos for 8 hours a day at the beginning of her career. Since then, she has worked in design, construction and remediation of drainage and sewer pipes for the public sector.

Having guided VAPAR from infancy into an international growth stage, VAPAR now analyzes over two hundred thousand metres of wastewater infrastructure for dozens of clients across Australia, New Zealand, and the UK.

Robert Slovak

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LinkedIn

Company: Water and Wellness

Location: Reno, NV

Robert Slovak devoted himself to the science of water after life-altering experiences. He took his astronautical and mechanical engineering degrees and decided to pursue the research of reverse osmosis with his brother Jack. The dynamic duo were considered the early developers of Reverse Osmosis technology.

Robert is best known for co-founding Water Factory Systems in the early 1970’s. He and his brother were among the early developers of Reverse Osmosis (RO) technology and its many applications.

Their successful innovations encompassed home and office RO drinking water systems, bottled water production, laboratory purification, hemodialysis, seawater desalination, microchip production, bottled water production, water vending, spot-free vehicle washing and more.

As a result of the rapid growth of RO applications, Robert’s ongoing seminars, and a best-selling industry book on the subject of POU (Point of Use) RO, he became a well-known figure in the water industry. In 1989 Water Factory Systems was purchased by CUNO Inc, a global leader in fluid treatment. Since then, it was acquired by the 3M Corporation, which continues to market many of their original products.

The Weekly Dive #9

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Oil companies are recycling fracking wastewater in drought stricken West Texas. Sound waves can boost the production of hydrogen by 14 times. 3M has committed to phase out ‘forever chemicals’ by 2025. XPV Water Partners investigates the link between water and climate change. We now know how old our water is. A new method can destroy PFAS in 45 minutes. This week, we are highlighting David Balsar, one of HydroDAO’s key advisors. Learn about his impressive background and why he is passionate about water solutions.

Your weekly Bonus – Retiring fossil fuel plants could save 687B gallons of water annually.

This week’s quote: 

“Dear stream! dear bank, where often I
Have sate and pleas’d my pensive eye,
Why, since each drop of thy quick store
Runs thither whence it flow’d before,
Should poor souls fear a shade or night,
Who came, sure, from a sea of light?
Or since those drops are all sent back
So sure to thee, that none doth lack,
Why should frail flesh doubt any more
That what God takes, he’ll not restore?”
– Henry Vaughan

What’s New with Water?

Engineers use sound waves to boost green hydrogen production by 14 times 

Sound waves make it much easier to extract hydrogen from water.

Researchers in China create device to directly split seawater to produce hydrogen

The team has successfully tested a sustainable membrane-based seawater electrolyzer.

West Texas Oil companies have begun recycling fracking wastewater 

Oil and gas companies are increasingly reusing “produced water” as West Texas aquifers are being depleted.

Nation’s largest water supplier declares drought emergency 

This clears the way for potential mandatory water restrictions early next year that could impact 19 million Californians.

What’s New in the Industry?

3M to phase out ‘forever chemicals’ PFAS by 2025

3M will exit polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) manufacturing by the end of 2025 and discontinue use across its product portfolio.

AWWA initiative promotes a smart water future

A collaborative initiative led by the AWWA is offering the water sector a faster route to meeting major environmental and infrastructural challenges.

Water sector angles for climate funds

Operators of the nation’s water and wastewater systems are eager to dip into a fledgling $27 billion program taking shape under the Democrats’ Inflation Reduction Act.

WHAT IS THE WATER SECTOR’S ROLE IN CLIMATE CHANGE? 

A new report from XPV Water Partners investigates links between water and climate change.

What’s New in the Science?

Scientists Have Figured Out Just How Old Our Water Is, And It’s Old 

Water is ubiquitous in protoplanetary disks, and water’s origin may not be so mysterious after all.

A new water-based switch is thousands of times faster than current semiconductors

Water becomes conductive within one trillionth of a second.

New Method Can Break Down 95% of ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Just 45 Minutes

It uses UV light and hydrogen gas to break down PFAS found in drinking supplies.

How much of the ocean has been explored? Surprisingly little 

Despite historical oceanic quests and modern technologies, only 5% of the oceans is known.

Our HydroDAO Advisors: David Balsar

David is a seasoned lawyer and economist with a MBA from INSEAD (France) and a MA in Philosophy. He has deep experience working in business development roles for international corporations including FOX (Newscorp) and Endemol Shine in London.

Currently, David is the General Manager of Innovation and Ventures for Mekorot, Israel’s National Water Company. For the last 4 years, he has led the company’s investment strategy, screening hundreds of startups from which Mekorot has invested in 10 innovative burgeoning companies.

David’s diverse professional career has scanned from being a former professional athlete to being a top international model. He has a deep passion for doing good in our world, having served as an Intern in the UN DESA in NYC and volunteered in the World Food Program in Africa.

We are grateful for David’s passionate leadership funding innovative global water technologies that will enrich all of our lives.

What’s in the Future?

Retiring fossil fuel plants could free 687B gallons water annually

New research predicts that, if fossil fuel-fired power plants are not slated to be replaced, the retirement of these plants in the U.S. could make available roughly 687 billion gallons of water each year by 2065.

Kyle Stephan

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LinkedIn

Company: GivePower

Location: San Francisco, California

GivePower is dedicated to bringing renewable energy to the world by increasing access to solar power in communities without the means to build this infrastructure themselves. With a recent focus on productive and impactful end uses of solar power we are turning our attention to water.

With less than 1% of the global fresh water supply accessible and potable, GivePower is opening new sources of high quality, safe, healthy drinking water while minimizing the environmental impact to produce that water. Our products save lives, reduce the global carbon footprint, and help to alleviate stress on one of our most precious natural resources in some of the most underserved communities in the world.

Specialties: Solar Powered Desalination Systems, System Design, Research and Development, Prototyping, System Integration, Technical Writing, Customer Service, Business Development, Project Management

Katie Swanson

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LinkedIn

Company: Ecosphere Ventures, Weave VC

Location: San Jose, CA

With a 9-year career as a wastewater reclamation expert, researcher, and entrepreneur, Katie has gained extensive knowledge and expertise in the field. Building on this experience, she transitioned into the venture capital industry, striving to promote responsible investing in the cleantech sector. Her focus is on supporting innovations in the water sector that drive sustainable solutions and positive environmental impact. Through advocacy, she aims to inspire others to join her in shaping a cleaner and more sustainable future.

It is very important to me that I make a difference in every action I take. I entered the entrepreneurial world by starting a business focused on cleantech. I realized that my career goal was more general – to make the world a better place. My unique set of skills has brought me to where I am today. I help investors and startups tell their story in a strategic way that uniquely positions them to be able to fundraise for their funds or companies. I love to network and connect people with common interests. My core operational priorities are to ensure compliance, efficiency, and ethics. Finding my way into the startup ecosystem through venture capital has provided the opportunity to cast my widest net to make the world a better place. My venture experience expands from onboarding clients through investment operations.

Tee Thomas

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LinkedIn

Company: Quantified Ventures

Location: Montpelier, Vermont

Tee brings 15+ years of water financing and environmental equity experience to Quantified Ventures. Most recently, she served as the Water Finance Director for the state of Vermont. In this role, she managed more than $500M worth of loans, grants, and contracts related to water financing. 

She wrote and helped pass Act 185 which overhauled the state’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund to expand the program to fund natural infrastructure through new mechanisms, including a sponsorship program. She created the Natural Infrastructure Interim Financing Program, which deployed $15M in its first two years of operations, protecting and restoring more than 11,000 acres of land including wetlands, streams, drinking source water protection areas, and river corridor easements. Tee has also been active with the Vermont Legislature, working on water quality policy and legislation related to environmental equity.

Prior to her tenure in Vermont, Tee worked with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources’ Drinking Water Program and later with the Iowa Department of Transportation as the National Environmental Policy Act Manager. 

Tee combines her expertise in the mechanics of the EPA’s Clean Water Act Funding Programs (Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds) with her passion for natural infrastructure. She’s a strong believer in the potential power of public financing to be the catalytic super investor in this fast emerging field of nature-based solutions, while simultaneously and aggressively advancing equity and resilience agendas across the country. 

Tee loves surfing, reading obscure non-fiction, and volunteering as an English teacher.

Udi Tirosh

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LinkedIn

Company: Verstill

I reside in Tel-Aviv by the shores of the Mediterranean, (still) raising 3 grown-up kids, and enjoy open-sea swimming. I am an executive and entrepreneur in advanced technology, recently focusing on breakthrough water desalination and treatment technologies. I founded and headed the Water Reuse Business Unit at IDE Technologies – leading the business case for advanced methods of membranal purification of treated wastewater. I later led the Product Management team at Fluence Corp. (ASE: FLC), promoting market adaptation for new membrane-based products for sewage treatment and seawater desalination.

I implemented advanced water technology pilot installations and water treatment projects in China, Philippines, India, Spain, Taiwan, Norway and USA.

Prior to my Water career I had been in Venture Capital investments, I founded and managed a Software startup and a DIY recreational center, I led Corporate Spin-off of advanced image processing startup, and I designed UI/UX for Israeli Air-Force F-16 cockpit systems.

I have an MBA degree from INSEAD, France, a master’s degree in cognitive science and artificial intelligence from the Technion, Israel, and a bachelor’s degree in physics & mathematics from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.

Reese Tisdale

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LinkedIn

Company: Bluefield Research

Location: Boston, MA

Prior to co-founding Bluefield, Mr. Tisdale was Research Director for IHS Emerging Energy Research, a leading research and advisory firm focused on renewable energy. He also has demonstrated experience in groundwater remediation for oil & gas companies and as an international market analyst for Thermo Fisher Scientific.

Mr. Tisdale’s perspectives on baseline critical infrastructure needs, developing economies, and the world is influenced by his three years in El Salvador, where he led water supply and agriculture projects immediately following the country’s civil war. Always willing to share his experiences and insights, he has been cited by Bloomberg News, CBS News, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times. He is also a frequent panelist and moderator at global industry and corporate events.

Bluefield Research supports companies and organizations that pursuing opportunities and change in the water sector, municipal and industrial, with in-depth, data-backed market intelligence. Our team of water experts guide decision makers with ongoing, global analysis through insight reports, corporate subscriptions, and consulting services.