Archive for month: June, 2023

Here is the latest news on the missing submersible. CRH Ventures launches a new accelerator program. A cling wrap made of potatoes may solve the world’s plastic problem. Alex Rappaport, CEO and Founder of ZwitterCo tells us about water reuse. Switzerland’s blue gold (water) is under pressure. California extends its ban on use of drinking water for non-functional turf. How AI will transform the water sector in the EU. Sandia team is working on a filtration method for PFAS. DuPont, Chemours, and others to provide $1.1B in PFAS settlement. The water sector is the next big thing This week, we are highlighting Dr. Eric Hoek, one of HydroDAO’s key advisors. Learn about his impressive background and why he is passionate about water.

Your weekly Bonus –  A ‘mountains to sea’ approach could help our oceans.

This week’s quote:

“Water reveals the cycles of life, flowing from birth to death and rebirth.”

Titanic expedition search live updates

Missing OceanGate Titan submersible rescue, debris field discovered

Member Update from Chris Fortunato

CRH Ventures launches new accelerator programme for start-ups

CRH Ventures, the venture capital unit of building materials solutions company CRH, has announced the launch of a new accelerator programme for Construction Technology (ConTech) and ClimateTech start-ups.

What’s New with Water Innovations?

How a Cling Wrap Made With Potatoes Will Solve the World’s Plastic Problem

Great Wrap and its founders are seeking to solve the world’s plastic waste problem with a compostable cling wrap made from potato waste.

Kadeya closed loop beverage vending system wins GS1 startup competition 

Kadeya won the $10,000 first-place grand prize in the fifth annual GS1 US Startup Lab Pitch.

Alex Rappaport: Scaling A Membrane Start-Up To Unlock Water Reuse 

Alex Rappaport recently raised one of the largest Series A in history for a water tech startup.

FORWARD WATER TECHNOLOGIES LICENSES IP TO FUJIFILM 

It has licensed IP from FUJIFILM to safeguard its water treatment technology platform.

What’s New in the Industry?

The Water Sector: The Next Big Thing for Investors

Water is an area that is growing increasingly popular as a sustainability-focused or impactful investment area.

Water shortage: Switzerland’s blue gold is under pressure 

Now, frequent droughts and high demand are increasing tensions and calls for regulation.

California extends ban on watering non-functional turf with drinking water 

The ban on using drinking water for non-functional turf has been extended for a year.

How Artificial Intelligence will transform water treatment in the EU

Components of wastewater could supply 13% of the demand for fertilisers in the EU.

What’s New in the Science?

Sandia team works to develop a filtration system to remove PFAS from water 

“What’s unique about (PFAS chemicals) is that they have a carbon fluorine bond, and that carbon fluorine bond is very strong. So not many things readily break it down,” Andrew Knight, a Sandia chemist

SWOT Mission: Why This Satellite Is Mapping The World’s Water

Learn why it’s important and about the satellite making it possible.

NRWA, water systems to win in historic $1.1B settlement with PFAS manufacturers 

DuPont, Chemours and others to provide financial compensation for the cost of PFAS treatment.

Tiny gold particles can help harness energy from the sun to break down pollution 

“If you can use solar light, it’s cheaper and much more available than UV light,”

Our HydroDAO Advisor: Dr. Eric Hoek

Dr. Eric Hoek is a professor in UCLA’s Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering and a faculty scientist in Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Energy Storage and Distributed Resources Division. He is also the deputy topic area lead for Process Innovation & Intensification in the National Alliance for Water Innovation. 

Eric’s NanoMeTeR Lab at UCLA explores the union of nanomaterials and membrane technology for water, energy, human health and environmental applications – all keys to a more sustainable future.

Since the late 1990’s, Dr. Hoek focused his teaching, research, writing, consulting, philanthropic and entrepreneurial efforts on understanding, innovating and applying membrane technologies to drinking water and wastewater treatment, desalination and water reuse, salinity gradient power, hydrogen production, CO2 sequestration, kidney dialysis & protein purification, oil & gas produced water treatment, oil spill cleanup and environmental remediation. Since 2002, Dr. Hoek was awarded over $15M in external research funding as principal or co-principal investigator in addition to being part of teams that were awarded over $236M in external research funding for the UCLA Water Technology Research Center, UC Center for Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology, KAUST-Cornell Center for Energy & Sustainability and National Alliance for Water Innovation.

Thank you Eric for your leadership and passion for in advancing water science and for your support to our HydroDAO community.

What’s in the Future?

Our oceans are in deep trouble – a ‘mountains to sea’ approach could make a real difference

The rapidly declining health of New Zealand’s marine environment raises serious questions about how we care for and manage the oceans.

Veda Austin is back on our Oceanside Chat! We promise you, you don’t want to miss her incredible talk. The first affordable and adaptable AI-driven maritime tracking system is now live. Pani is awarded “Breakthrough Technology of the Year”. The Supreme Court issues a disappointing decision for the nation’s water, Erin Brockovich has some to say about it. Another water technology company becomes a unicorn, this time it’s aquatech startup eFishery. Evoqua is now officially a part of Xylem. A proof-of-concept computer that uses running water instead of a logical circuitry processor can now predict events better than digital computers. This week, we are highlighting Daniel Kleinman, one of HydroDAO’s key advisors. Learn about his impressive background and why he is passionate about water.

Your weekly Bonus – About 100 pounds of plastics rained on Paris in one day.

This week’s quote:

“Water is not a resource, it is Source” – Veda Austin

Our Latest Oceanside Chat with Veda Austin!

Watch Now our Latest Oceanside Chat with Water Queen Veda Austin!! 

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.

What’s New with Water Innovations?

BlackSky and Spire create AI-driven MCS 

The first of its kind, an affordable and adaptable tracking system is set to automatically task pictures, identify boats and continually monitor change.

Can beer convince Americans to drink recycled wastewater? 

Fox City’s menu calls it a “light, crisp, eco-friendly lager made from highly repurposed and recycled water.”

Pani Wins Distinction As Breakthrough Technology Company Of The Year 

The Global Water Summit brought together participants from over 40 countries.

Severn Trent to build world’s first carbon neutral wastewater treatment 

Work on the multi-million-pound project (almost £40 million) is set to start in September.

What’s New in the Industry?

Supreme Court Issues Huge Blow To Nation’s Water

This Disappointing Decision Does Not Bode Well For U.S. Wetlands & Other Smaller Waterways.

Xylem completes acquisition of Evoqua in $7.5B transaction

Xylem’s all-stack transaction of Evoqua Water Technologies is now complete.

Aquatech startup eFishery raises $108m Series D to reach unicorn status

eFishery could raise up to $200 million more in additional funding.

Xfloat bags $1M grant to advance floating solar technology 

Israel-based company Xfloat to advance its floating solar technology together with the US.

What’s New in the Science?

Prototype ‘Reservoir Computer’ Predicts Events Better Than Some Digital Computers 

We have built a small proof-of-concept computer that uses running water instead of a traditional logical circuitry processor, and forecasts future events via an approach called “reservoir computing”.

Glaciers Are Not Devoid of Life. Tons of Microbes Hide Within The Ice

“A small puddle of meltwater on a glacier can easily have 4,000 species living in it”

“Significant global ecological disruption”: Plastic is destroying Earth

A new report reached sobering conclusions about the plastic pollution crisis.

James Webb telescope unveils geyser erupting water into space 

This colossal plume is believed to contain the chemical ingredients necessary for life!

Our HydroDAO Advisor: Daniel Kleinman

Daniel Kleinman is Seaworthy Collective‘s Founder and CEO, and a marine roboticist. Daniel received a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Florida, and a Master of Professional Science in Exploration Science from the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science.

As an undergraduate, Daniel interned with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and became versed in design and systems thinking as a University Innovation Fellow. After graduating in 2015, Daniel started his career as a pilot and test engineer for Bluefin Robotics’ unmanned underwater vehicles in Boston. Daniel then served as a Navy contractor and mechanical engineer in maritime systems in San Diego. In 2020, Daniel launched the Seaworthy Collective community in Miami to break the silos he experienced in industry by supporting fellow impact changemakers addressing the ocean’s greatest problems. Through Seaworthy Foundation, Daniel and his team created programs to serve their community, which started with the Sea Change Maker Series and Venture Studio.

Daniel also serves as an advisor for Opportunity Miami and The Shrimp Society, a steering committee member for Ocean Visions’ Global Ecosystem for Ocean Solutions. Daniel is also a member of The Explorers Club, a Miami Global Shaper, and an On Deck Catalyst Founding Fellow. Daniel has been recognized as one of Miami’s Ambassadors for Sustainable Development Goal 14, a 30 Under 30 by the University of Miami, and a Future Climate Leader by the Aspen Institute.

Thank you Daniel for your leadership and passion for the oceans and for your support to our HydroDAO community.

What’s in the Future?

1st Plastics Pollution Weather Forecast Predicts 88 Pounds of Microplastic Over Paris

The predicted downpour will range between 40 and 48 kilograms (88 and 106 pounds) of free-floating plastic bits blanketing greater Paris every 24 hours, the scientists involved told AFP.