The Weekly Dive #30

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New York City is sinking! More everyday items discovered to hold PFAS, among them: contact lenses and food . SFO becomes the first US airport to test wastewater to detect Covid-19. Seaweed-based straw gets more funding. A tiny drone that can stay indefinitely under water gets €2M. Swiss Ecorobotix receives $52M to enter the US market. The Biden-Harris administration releases $600M to modernize water power in the US. This week, we are highlighting Chris Clapp, one of HydroDAO’s key advisors. Learn about his impressive background and why he is passionate about water.

Your weekly Bonus – Oceans have been absorbing heat, but there’s a catch.

This week’s quote:

In a 100-year period, a water molecule spends 98 years in the ocean, 20 months as ice, about 2 weeks in lakes and rivers, and less than a week in the atmosphere

Get Featured on Our Newsletters!

This Could Be Your Spot For Your Product, Service, Or Event On Our Newsletters!

As The Weekly Dive provides global exposure to the water leaders of today, we are now accepting features from leading edge companies and people in the water industry. Please share your noteworthy news, innovations and events with our community at didier@hydrodao.io

What’s New with Water Innovations?

A new tiny drone is in the works that can stay underwater almost indefinitely 

A Swiss and Norwegian joint venture has just received 2 million euros in funding to develop a reliable, permanent drone system, initially focusing on the aquaculture sector.

Seaweed-based straw maker Loliware scaling up with new financing

Loliware raised $6 million in a recent round of pre-series A funding, bringing its total to $15.4 million.

MWRD joins Water Research and Innovation workshop 

The Megacity Alliance for Water and Climate organized a workshop on Water Research and Innovation (WRI).

SFO becomes first US airport to launch airplane wastewater testing for Covid-19 

“CDC appreciates the collaboration with SFO to further enhance these efforts.”

What’s New in the Industry?

Brief: Switzerland’s Ecorobotix raises $52m to bring crop protection ‘bots to the Americas 

Ecorobotix will use the funding to expand its business, with a special focus on bringing its ‘bots to the Americas.

Biden-Harris Release $600M To Modernize And Accelerate Water Power In The US 

President Biden’s Investing to Increase Access to Reliable Clean Power for Americans.

Associations endorse bill to hold PFAS polluters liable for cleanup

“CERCLA is intended to hold polluters accountable for the damage they cause”

Senators Working To Address Liability Fears Over U.S. EPA’s PFAS Rules 

“Top senators to address liability fears from farmers and water treatment agencies”

What’s New in the Science?

New York City, it turns out, is sinking under its own weight

Scientists have discovered that New York City appears to be sinking at a rate of a few millimeters yearly. But why?

US food pesticides contaminated with toxic ‘forever chemicals’ 

PFAS at ‘potentially dangerous’ levels in widely used chemicals sprayed on food crops.

Your Contact Lenses May Be a Hidden Source of ‘Forever Chemicals’

A lab has detected signs of PFAS ‘forever chemicals’ in 18 popular brands of contact lenses.

Researchers develop crystals from plants to purify pharmaceutical-polluted water

The porous crystals will degrade pharmaceutical molecules in the local municipal wastewater.

Our HydroDAO Advisor: Chris Clapp

Chris is the Executive Director of the Ocean Sewage Alliance where he is on a journey to end wastewater pollution in coastal waters. Previously, Chris spent 18 years working for The Nature Conservancy as a marine scientist on Long Island.

Chris has made a tremendous impact on The Conservancy’s approach to water quality. His work in shellfish recovery led him to the realization that there was a larger problem to resolve: nutrient pollution from cesspools and septic systems. Consequently, he became TNC’s internal expert on wastewater technology – he drove policies and funding for nitrogen pollution mitigation and also facilitated the development and implementation of sustainable technologies. Given his unique ability to collaborate effortlessly with scientists, agency experts and local stakeholders, Chris has developed a wide and varied network of individuals. Chris is enthusiastic to share his knowledge and experiences to help scale successful programs, which he has already done beyond Long Island in locations including New England, Florida and Hawai’i. He is deeply invested in community engagement and continues to serve on the water quality advisory committees for the Towns of Southampton and East Hampton.

Thank you Chris for your leadership and passion for coastal waters and for your support to our HydroDAO community.

What’s in the Future?

Oceans have been absorbing the world’s extra heat. But there’s a huge payback 

Record sea surface temperatures suggest the Earth is headed for ‘uncharted territory’ in terms of sea level rise, coastal flooding and extreme weather.

The Weekly Dive #29

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Congratulations to Karen Frost and The Water Council for receiving $1 million from the National Science Foundation. A startup is sending spacecrafts into orbit using water propulsion. A new tech can remove 100 tons of CO2 per year. AI solutions are entering the water industry. Gigantic ice deserts full of black algae are making the ice melt faster. Chicago signs a $1 billion deal to sell its water. H&M Foundation invests in a soundwave innovation to reduce microplastics in synthetics. Forget USB keys, we will soon save our data on DNA. Mushrooms’ electric communications increase after rainfall. This week, we are highlighting Heather Callender-Potters, one of HydroDAO’s key advisors. Learn about her impressive background and why she is passionate about water.
Your weekly Bonus – Half the planet will be in ‘new climate zones’ by 2100.

This week’s quote:

“Water is the driving force of all nature.” – Leonardo da Vinci

Congratulations to The Water Council and Karen Frost!!

The Water Council and partners have received a $1 million, two-year Development Award to prepare the region for a Regional Innovation Engine 

Congratulations to our advisor Karen Frost and The Water Council who have received a Development Award from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to plan a Resiliency Innovation Engine in eastern Wisconsin and northern Illinois.

What’s New with Water Innovations?

Startup raises small spacecraft’s orbit by 1.86 miles using water propulsion

Momentus Space CCO Chris Kinman said the system provides “higher efficiency” and “higher thrust” than traditional space tugs.

The 8 most innovative technologies in renewable energy

Renewable energy technologies continue to make seriours strides.

New US tech can successfully remove 100 tons of CO2 from the ocean a year 

The system creates no by-products and doesn’t add anything to the ocean.

Yorkshire partnership at the heart of innovative AI pollution prevention solution

They joined forces to use AI and the Internet of Things (IoT) to reduce wastewater network blockages and pollution.

What’s New in the Industry?

US agency takes unprecedented action to tackle PFAS water pollution 

EPA has ordered chemical company Chemours to stop discharging high levels of the toxic substance into the Ohio River.

Chicago’s $1 billion water deal shows Great Lakes wealth

The Midwest is touting its ample water supplies to spur economic growth.

H&M FOUNDATION FUNDS SOUNDWAVE INNOVATION 

Synthetic textiles are one of the major contributors to the release of microplastics.

Smart Water Metering Market Is Expected To Reach US$ 9586.02M By The End Of 2033 

The estimated market value for smart water metering will grow at a 10% CAGR.

What’s New in the Science?

Forget hard drives and data centers, DNA is the future of data storage 

Every day insane amounts of data are produced, and we’re running out of storage solutions. Therefore, scientists are looking at DNA to store all of the content that’s generated on the internet.

Gigantic ice deserts full of black algae are making the ice melt faster 

The ice is melting 20% faster, according to the estimates of the researchers.

Mushrooms increase electrical communication after rainfall

A type of basidiomycete is able to communicate through electrical signals.

Quantum LIDAR prototype acquires images while underwater

New technology could help model and image hard-to-reach places like underwater pipelines.

Our HydroDAO Advisor: Heather Callender-Potters

Heather has an extensive private equity background, having managed investment capital for 15+ years, involving three funds, with total committed capital of $425 million. She joined the Polish American Enterprise Fund in 1991, a $250 million fund established with US government support, to make private sector investments in Poland.

In 1993, Heather raised a $100 million fund for Entreprise Investors, now the CEE region’s largest private equity fund advisor. Heather was later recruited by Baring Private Equity Partners and Communication Equity Associates to co-manage and lead a start-up CEE/CIS fund focused on 18 countries in Europe.

In 2005, Heather co-founded Pharmajet, a private drug delivery technology company which has developed a family of patented, proprietary needle-free injection technologies. PharmaJet is the only commercial stage needle-free jet injection technology which serves the immunization and vaccine market, enjoying multiple “firsts and onlys” clinical and regulatory claims. 

Heather serves on the Board of our Water Innovation Foundation providing our water community, particularly our youth,  great leadership and support. 

Thank you Heather for your groundbreaking investment leadership, your passion for water innovation, and for your deep support to our HydroDAO community.

What’s in the Future?

Almost Half The Planet Predicted to Enter New Climate Zones by 2100 

Our planet is teetering on the edge of several tipping points that once passed, will topple into a cascade of ecological changes.

waterloop: #179: The PFAS Puzzle: Lessons On Health

Listen Now to The PFAS Puzzle, the Latest Podcast from Travis Loop at waterloop!

The emergence of PFAS has epidemiologists and toxicologists working to understand the health impacts. Researchers in North Carolina are on the leading edge of the science and discuss what is known about human health impacts.

The Weekly Dive #28

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Watch our Oceanside Chat with Giulio Boccaletti. Machine learning reveals a new theoretical phase of Hydrogen.The world’s first 3D-printed fish fillets are here. The world’s largest hydrogen-electric zero-emission aircraft too. Will Sarni is raising $100M for water tech investments. Georgia Military College creates a water tech degree program. Researchers found 20,800 antibiotic-resistant genes in clouds. Long-banned PCB pollutants have been found in the deepest places on Earth. This week, we are highlighting Kyle Stephan, one of HydroDAO’s key advisors. Learn about his impressive background and why he is passionate about water.

Your weekly Bonus – American’s most endangered rivers of 2023…

This week’s quote:

A raindrop is a tiny messenger, delivering hope from the heavens

Watch Our Last Oceanside Chat!

Watch our Latest Oceanside Chat with Giulio Boccaletti Now!! 

For the last 20 years, Giulio’s work has been at the intersection of geophysical and ecological science, public policy, and business strategy. Water security and our relationship with Earth’s climate are particular interests of his.

What’s New with Water Innovations?

The world’s largest hydrogen-electric, propulsion-powered zero-emission aircraft

Alaska Airlines partners with ZeroAvia to retrofit a hydrogen-electric propulsion system into a Bombardier Q400.

Israeli firm ‘Steakholder’ finally produces world’s first 3D-printed fish fillets

The world’s first 3D bio-printed cultivated fish product engineered with customized bio-inks.

Plastic-eating backyard fungi boosts hopes for a solution to the recycling crisis 

Scientists successfully used backyard mould to break one of the world’s most stubborn plastics.

Smart Buoys keep watch on Lake Erie’s water quality, help Cleveland’s economy 

A network of sensors is about to be redeployed and expanded.

What’s New in the Industry?

New $100m water tech fund eyes first close in Q3 

The new vehicle is the brainchild of veteran water investor, general partner, and HydroDAO’s friend Will Sarni.

GMC launching water tech degree program

Georgia Military College last week announced the launch of a new degree program designed to develop a pipeline of certified wastewater treatment operators.

EY Joins SWAN To Accelerate Sustainability In The Smart Water Sector

EY has joined SWAN – the leading global networking hub for the smart water sector.

SUEZ and ONAS sign €200m public-private partnership 

This is the first public-private partnership in the Tunisian water industry which will be financed by the World Bank.

What’s New in the Science?

Researchers sampled fluffy clouds and found 20,800 copies of antibiotic-resistance genes 

“This is the first study to show that clouds harbor antibiotic-resistance genes of bacterial origin in concentrations comparable to other natural environments.”

Scientists Are Alarmed as Sea Surface Temperatures Hit Uncharted Territory 

Temperatures maintain record-breaking highs, pushing the oceans into uncharted territory.

Physicists Discover a Strange New Theoretical Phase of Hydrogen

Their shape morphed from spheres stacked like oranges to something that resembled eggs.

Long-Banned Pollutants Are Even in The Deepest Place on Earth, Study Reveals

The presence of PCBs emphasizes a crucial fact: No place on Earth is free from pollution.

Our HydroDAO Advisor: Kyle Stephan

Kyle is the VP of Solar Water Farms at GivePower. 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 Give Power is turning their attention to water.

Previously, Kyle has developed businesses in water technology companies including desalination systems, water purification, and marine systems. As President of Katadyn Desalination LLC, Kyle cultivated Kaizen culture,  implementing 5S and LEAN manufacturing processes to increase sales by building brand awareness, expanding into new and emergent markets, and positively impacting profitability.

Thank you Kyle for your leadership and passion for water and for your support to our HydroDAO community.

What’s in the Future?

American Rivers Announces America’s Most Endangered Rivers Of 2023 

This year’s list underscores how health and safety are threatened by climate change, pollution, dams, and other threats to rivers. Communities of color and Tribal Nations are disproportionately impacted by these threats.

The Weekly Dive #27

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New robots explore and clean the oceans. Here is how corporations can help solve the water crisis. US water infrastructure has backlog of $625 Billion. Shrimp farming startup Tepbac raises $2.25M. The Air Water Company becomes the first publicly traded SPAC atmospheric water technology company. PFAS linked to post-diet weight gain. Plastic particles found in the Arctic. This week, we are highlighting Katherine Hill Ritchie, one of HydroDAO’s key advisors and part of the leadership of our new VC fund. Learn about her impressive background and why she is passionate about water.

Your weekly Bonus – Another study warns we are on track to experience another 3 degrees of global warming.

This week’s quote:

Water is life’s matter and matrix, mother and medium. There is no life without water.

Get Featured on Our Newsletters!

This Could Be Your Spot For Your Product, Service, Or Event On Our Newsletters!

As The Weekly Dive provides global exposure to the water leaders of today, we are now accepting features from leading edge companies and people in the water industry. Please share your noteworthy news, innovations and events with our community at didier@hydrodao.io

What’s New with Water Innovations?

Dive deeper with the Fifish V-EVO: The underwater drone revolutionizing ocean exploration 

The Fifish V-EVO might be small but its features are impressive.

Jellyfish-inspired robot can gently remove ocean waste without harming marine life

This hand-sized robot moves using electrohydraulic actuators that act as muscles.

MWRD joins Water Research and Innovation workshop

The Megacity Alliance for Water and Climate organized a workshop on Water Research and Innovation (WRI).

Superconductors to enable next-generation transit and energy transmission 

Economic and environmental benefits to transit people, cargo, and energy.

What’s New in the Industry?

How corporations can help solve the water crisis

“I believe that the business community has both the responsibility and opportunity to take stronger and more decisive action to prevent further catastrophe.”

Shrimp farming platform lands $2.25m from Aqua-Spark, AgFunder, Son-Tech

Vietnam-based Tepbac has raised a $2.25 million pre-Series A round.

Air-to-Water Technology Maker To Go Public Via SPAC

This merger will establish the first publicly traded air-to-water technology pure-play.

An Urgent Need To Fund Water Infrastructure 

U.S. Drinking Water Systems Have A $625 Billion Backlog.

What’s New in the Science?

Exposure to PFAS Chemicals Linked to Post-Diet Weight Gain

Researchers tracked 381 Europeans who lost a minimum of 8% of their original weight after two months of dieting and found those who had the highest levels of PFAS in their blood gained back the most weight.

Plastic Particles Found in The Brains of Mice Just Two Hours After They Ate

MNPs can reach the brain a few hours after eaten, possibly thanks to the way other chemicals stick to their surface.

Scientists have found ice algae loaded with microplastics in the Arctic

These microplastics could seriously endanger the food web.

Book Exposes Military BioLab Spill That May Have Leaked Anthrax Into Public Waterways 

There were “repeated and egregious” safety breaches and government oversight failures.

Our HydroDAO Advisor: Katherine Hill Ritchie

Katherine has 21 years of finance and alternative investment experience in venture capital, private equity and hedge funds. She is a frequent keynote speaker and content provider to investment conferences and publications world-wide.

Katherine has worked for 8 family offices, and 4 Billionaires. Her passion and expertise is advising companies and funds on their investments, due diligence, operations, fundraising and strategy. Katherine’s current roles include Senior Director of Venture Funds at TEDCO, Board Member at Nottingham Spirk, Investment Committee for University Impact, and Head of the Investment Committee for Beyond Impact. She is an early-stage Angel Investor in Portfolia, How Women Invest and board member of Citrine Angels, focusing on female and diverse founders, sustainable blue and green technologies, and impact related companies. Katherine founded Private Capital Investments in Geneva, Switzerland providing personalized and objective investment services for family offices beyond typical brokers, bankers and wealth managers. She serves on the board of several non-profits including Chair ACG New York Family Office Committee, Global Co-Chair The Guild, Philanthropy/Education Committees 100 Women in Finance and Fordham MBA Overseers Board.

Thank you Katherine for your investment leadership in advising family offices and for your support to our HydroDAO community.

What’s in the Future?

Yet Another Study Warns We’re On Track To Hit 3 Degrees of Warming 

Humans are quitting coal too slowly to meet targets set under the Paris Agreement, the international treaty on climate change that aims to address global warming by curbing carbon dioxide emissions.

Veda Austin

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Website

Location: New Zealand

Veda Austin is a New Zealand water researcher, author, artist and mother of three. For nearly a decade she has been photographing water in a ‘state of creation’, the state between liquid and ice that she believes is responsive to consciousness. Veda views this important phase from three perspectives. Scientifically, water is becoming a liquid crystal, artistically, water is free to design, and from a spiritual level, water enters a phase of fluidity between space and time, and is in a place of ‘becoming’.

Her desire to find a unifying force that upheld the principles of life, nature, and the cosmos manifested when she began her journey with water at the deepest of levels. Inspired by the genius of Viktor Schauberger, Marcel Vogel, Theodor Schwenk and Rudolf Steiner, Veda embraced a Goethean approach, weaving science with phenomena based learning and years of refined observation. For her, water is not limited, it enters the bodies of people as freely as it enters the bodies of ants…it can be found in the Heavens as well as the Earth, and it never dies, it is always reincarnating between liquid, solid and gas. Veda believes water is FLOW…it does what it is.

With such an extensive collection of macroscopic photographs Veda’s work could easily baffle the rational mind, but by sheer consistency and quantity cannot be disregarded. In fact, Veda believes that through this medium of art an emotional connection can be formed with water, and that this is key to creating change in the way we treat our natural world. She says, “If we think water can feel, we will care for it. If we think it is intelligent, we will learn from it.”

Veda’s passion for water extends out of the freezer and into primary schools where she donates time teaching water science and cleverly intertwines it with art projects. She loves to reconnect children to the living water systems inside and outside of their bodies, believing that the ‘tamariki’ (children) are the water bearers of the future.

“Water is the rebel element, it won’t conform to the laws of physics or gravity and it can’t be killed. Without it there is no life. It reincarnates for all to see and science tells us it came to Earth from outer space. Rebellious, nonconformist, eternal and alien…..just look at the power we are filled with.” – Veda Austin

Giulio Boccaletti

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LinkedIn

Location: London, United Kingdom

For the last 20 years, Giulio’s work has been at the intersection of geophysical and ecological science, public policy, and business strategy. Water security and our relationship with Earth’s climate are particular interests of his.

He started out as a scientist, working on climate dynamics and physical oceanography at Bologna University, Princeton University, where he was a NASA Earth Systems Science Fellow, and MIT.

He then went into business, working for global consultancy McKinsey & Company, where he ultimately became a partner, one of the leaders of its Sustainability and Resource Productivity practice, and the co-founder of its Water practice. During his time there, he produced several public reports on key sustainability issues, including carbon and water security strategies for countries, the role of ICT sector in the climate transition, the economics of climate adaptation, and the economics of water security.

After his experience in the private sector, he joined the Nature Conservancy, first as its Global Managing Director for Water, then as its Chief Strategy Officer.

For his work on water, the World Economic Forum nominated him a Young Global Leader in 2014. He has been a member of the World Economic Forum Global Agenda Council on Water and Global Futures Council on Natural Resource Security.

His book Water: A Biography, a history of the relationship between society and water, was rated by The Economist as one of the best books of 2021.

Dolf Zantinge

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LinkedIn

Location: Netherlands

Dolf Zantinge is a pioneer IT entrepreneur with a background in fiber optics, telecommunications, data mining, enterprise solutions, and artificial intelligence. He is the founder and creator of the Analemma water wand and one of the co-creators of Somarka Coherent Water.

Early in his career, he co-founded Syllogic, an international IT firm integrating artificial intelligence, machine learning, and database management systems, sold eventually to Perot Systems, where he became a European Director.

Later he worked for KPN, the largest Dutch telecommunications company, where, as Director of IT, he was responsible for IT Research and Development for new technology. He went on to found and Chair UNET, one of the first fiber optics companies in Europe.

He is widely published in the field of technical innovation and the influence of technology on society and is an adviser to organizations and governments on issues relating to innovation, cleantech, and renewable energy. Dolf’s career took a fascinating turn when he pursued the study of Chinese Medicine/Acupuncture and began seriously exploring the biological impacts of electromagnetic frequencies.

For the past two decades, his focus has been on researching electromagnetic fields and their influence on biophotonics, water, light, and system physiology. Dolf has documented important insights about the supercomputing power and energy of water and developed new innovations that will be game-changing for advancement in the water industry.

Philippe Cousteau

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LinkedIn

Company: SeaWeed Naturals

Location: Los Angeles, California

Inspired by the legacy of his grandfather Jacques Cousteau, Philippe is a multi Emmy-Nominated TV host and producer as well as an acclaimed author, speaker, and social entrepreneur.

As a social entrepreneur, Philippe is the co-founder of SeaWeed Naturals, a wellness brand that is combining the powerful benefits of restoratively farmed marine ingredients like seaweed and algae and regeneratively farmed land ingredients to create a whole new category of Land x Sea Wellness. As an impact brand, SeaWeed Naturals is committed to building a restorative economy and restoring the health and wellness of our customers AND the planet.

For six seasons, from 2014 to 2020, Philippe was the host and executive producer of the multi-Emmy nominated weekly syndicated series Awesome Planet.

Recently Philippe and his wife Ashlan were the stars of The Travel Channel’s hit series Caribbean Pirate Treasure; winner of a Cynopsis Media Award for Best Adventure Reality Series. In 2016 Philippe teamed up with his wife Ashlan to co-host Nuclear Sharks, the #1 show for Discovery’s Shark Week. In 2015, they co-hosted a three-part series with Takepart.com, exploring tiger and rhino conservation in Nepal called Treasures of the Terai.

As a special correspondent for CNN, he has hosted several award-winning shows, including his series Going Green which ran for four years and the 8-part special Expedition Sumatra. Philippe has also hosted and produced television programs for Animal Planet and the 8-part series Oceans for the BBC and Discovery Channel.

His conservation efforts are focused on solving global social and environmental problems. In 2005 he founded EarthEcho International; a leading environmental education organization that is building a global youth movement to restore and protect our ocean planet. To date, EarthEcho has activated over 2 million youth in 146 countries through its programs.

As an author, Philippe’s children’s book, Follow the Moon Home has been chosen for the prestigious Texas Bluebonnet Award Master List. In addition, he has co-written, Going Blue and Make a Splash, both of which have won multiple awards, including Learning Magazine’s 2011 Teachers’ Choice Award for the Family, a Gold Nautilus Award, and a 2010 ForeWord Reviews Book of the Year Gold Award. His new book series, The Endangereds, with Harper Collins, launched in September of 2020 and his latest book, Oceans for Dummies, which he co-authored with his wife Ashlan was released in February 2021.

Philippe holds an honorary doctorate in marine biology from the University of Plymouth in England. He is a sought-after speaker having hosted and keynoted various events for the United Nations, Harvard University, the University of Florida, the Society of Environmental Journalists, The Economist Magazine global summit, and countless corporate events and global conferences. He has testified before Congress several times and serves on the Boards of Antarctica 2020, Green 2.0, and the Environmental Media Association as well as the National Council of the World Wildlife Fund.

Philippe and his wife, fellow adventurer and TV host Ashlan Cousteau, reside in Los Angeles, California with their two daughters, two chickens, and rescue dog Kenai.