Happy new watery year!! This week, we kick off the year with all the positive environmental stories of 2022. IE highlights two promising water desalination technologies. Aquaconnect raises $15M to digitize aquaculture’s supply chain. Spain invests €356M in recovery wetlands. A new technology could tap into a virtually limitless supply of fresh water: ocean water vapors. Microplastics on the seafloor have tripled over the past 20 years. This week, we are highlighting Dan Bena, one of HydroDAO’s key advisors. Learn about his impressive background and why he is passionate about water policy.
Your weekly Bonus – What’s next in 2023 for water policies?
This week’s quote:
“On the banks of Ganges
I sat in a serene and sombre mood
Looking at the playful water
as the wind like a great artist
Draws playful lines and circles
On the water.
The wind
Tickles the water
And it laughs although I can’t hear.
When the water laughs
And jumps, it moves
In lines and circles
And then rushes swift to the shore.
I sit there at the shore
With my feet in the water
And watch the lines and circles
Reach and kiss my feet
In reverent love.”
– Dr. Antony Theodore
What’s New with Water?
“So, for 2022, as part of our ongoing effort to tackle eco-anxiety, we are going to be keeping track of all the positive environmental stories from this year.”
Two developments in seawater desalination technologies make it into IE’s list of 22 best innovations.
Scottland-based Novus has developed a portable vehicle-mounted water purifier capable of producing safe, medical-grade drinking water.
Idrica Qatar’s GoAigua Sewer Twin solution helped optimize water resource management for the FIFA World Cup.
What’s New in the Industry?
Aquaconnect will use the new capital to build up its product portfolio for both pre-harvest and post-harvest services.
The state’s Rural Infrastructure Fund awarded funding for the development of nine communities’ water infrastructure.
Spain’s government recently announced a hydrological restoration plan and 356 million euro investment for Doñana National Park.
The EPA announced 41 grants totaling $10.3 million to reduce stormwater pollution for the Long Island Sound.
What’s New in the Science?
One currently untapped source is the water vapor above the oceans, which is almost limitless as far as supplies go.
IE discusses the water cycle, its different steps, why it is essential, and some facts about it.
Salinity increases will be well within the range of natural salinity variation due to evaporation.
This new study shows that microplastics are retained unaltered in marine sediments.
Dan Bena founded his Corporate Purpose and ESG consultancy after a long career with PepsiCo, where he served in leadership roles as Corporate Water Steward, Head of Sustainable Development, Food Safety and Quality specialist, and Head of the company’s first-ever corporate function for Occupational Health and Safety.
In addition, he is Senior Consultant for Antea Group USA, and Chair of their Strategic Advisory Board, Advisor to Grimley Capital, Honorary Professor for Glasgow Caledonian University, and Board Trustee of its New York College, which houses the Center for Social Impact and Innovation. Bena advocates for the power of the private sector as a force for good in society. He was recently Senior Advisor to Paul Newman’s charity, Safe Water Network, and serves/has served on the Water Leadership Group of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD); Steering Board of World Bank’s 2030 Water Resources Group; Steering Committee of the United Nations CEO Water Mandate; the Global Agenda Council on Water Security of the World Economic Forum; US Water Alliance; and Creative Visions Foundation, a non-profit whose signature program, Rock Your World, engages middle and high school students from over 70 countries in the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).
We are grateful for Dan’s passionate leadership guiding water policies around the world.
What’s in the Future?
2022 was a landmark year for climate change action—and repercussions.
