Most investors missed it, so I thought I'd decode it!

Here are the 10 things you need to see.

So you got it, CRH acquires Axius. Here's the deal in 30 seconds:

• Buyer: CRH plc - a $77B market cap building materials company most water investors don't track

• Target: Axius Water - a wastewater treatment platform built by KKR and XPV Water Partners through a multi-year roll-up

• Price: $700M (reported)

• Sellers: KKR (Global Impact Fund) and XPV Water Partners

• Strategic logic: bolts wastewater treatment onto CRH's existing water infrastructure portfolio (Hydro International, Oldcastle Infrastructure)

What's actually new here - and why it matters for water investors:

00:00 - On your Bingo Card?

02:30 #1: The Cast

07:35 #2: The Substance

11:40 #3: The Number

16:23 #4: The Timing

20:54 #5: The Macro Reality

24:40 #6: The Credibility

28:26 #7: Inside the Platform

32:28 #8: The Synergy Story

35:17 #9: The Risks

39:58 #10: The Sector Signal

📰 Sources & further reading:

• CRH Q1 2026 earnings call transcript: https://www.crh.com/investors/results-presentations/

• KKR Global Impact Fund: https://www.kkr.com/approach/sustainability/sustainable-investing/trends

• XPV Water Partners portfolio: https://xpvwaterpartners.com/companies

• Axius Water: https://www.axiuswater.com/

• My newsletter on Water Infrastructure: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/us-water-bill-4x-what-everyone-thinks-antoine-walter-3rqnc/

🎙️ If we don't know each other, Hi, I'm Antoine Walter! I help newcomer investors decode the water tech sector. Each week, I break down a water deal (like here, when CRH acquires Axius), technology, or company through an investor-forward lens. No acronyms, no jargon (hopefully) just the signals that matter.

🔔 Subscribe for weekly water investment briefs: youtube.com/channel/UCsMC1BYAun2JtMT177jTGOw/

🎧 Podcast version: https://feed.ausha.co/br23DCZ1GnG3

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1

⚠️ Disclaimer: This video is for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing here constitutes investment advice. Always do your own research.

#CRH #AxiusWater #KKR #XPVWaterPartners #WaterInvesting #WaterMA #WaterStocks #WaterInfrastructure #WastewaterTreatment #WaterTech #PrivateEquity #ImpactInvesting #ESG #WaterSector

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In this episode, I sit down with Alex Passini to pressure-test the dominant narrative around AI's water footprint - and what we found completely flips the story the media is telling.

Here's what most "AI water crisis" headlines miss:

→ A single ChatGPT prompt uses roughly 16 milliliters of water. One cup of coffee uses ~140 liters when you count the beans. That's a 29,600× gap.

→ Of the water a hyperscale data center consumes, ~75% isn't used by AI at all — it's used upstream for the energy that powers it. Blame the grid, not the GPU.

→ One banana = ~6,250 ChatGPT prompts. One almond = ~12 prompts. The water-per-prompt math is rounding-error territory next to your lunch.

→ Florida already reuses 800 million gallons/day of treated wastewater. Data centers aren't the threat - they're an accelerant for the water reuse capex the sector has been waiting twenty years for.

If you're an investor trying to figure out whether AI's water story is a real thesis or a media artifact, this episode gives you the framework (and the numbers) to decide.

🧠 What you'll learn:

- Why "data center water consumption" and "AI water consumption" are not the same thing

- The actual per-prompt footprint of generative AI (modeled, not estimated)

- How water reuse technology turns the alarmist narrative into an investment opportunity

- Where the real bottleneck sits - and which sub-sectors stand to benefit

🎙️ Guest: Alex Passini (https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexpassini/)

Alex is Vice President of Business Development at CSA Group

CSA Group is hiring: https://csagroup.com/careers/

(I promised Alex in the podcast to put this in the show notes!)

📰 The newsletter behind the show: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/don-t-waste-water-6884833968848474112/

🎧 Podcast feed: https://feed.ausha.co/br23DCZ1GnG3

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

🔔 Subscribe if you want the unfiltered, numerate take on water sector investing - no jargon, no acronym soup, just the asymmetric bets worth pricing.

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But nobody bothered to ask the people actually watching the videos, posting the comments, and shaping the narrative. You'd need to be mad to do that, right?

So I read 2,540 of them. 😅

Across 9 of the most-watched YouTube videos on AI water consumption, and overall on AI and Water.

Here's what I found:

1️⃣ The public is right about geography. Boardman, Oregon, shows up at 80 comments per minute for a reason.

2️⃣ The public is right about the executives. The -0.20 sentiment around Sam Altman's "one-fifteenth of a teaspoon" line is actually a signal.

3️⃣ The public is wrong about closed-loop cooling. The most-liked comment on the entire dataset? Hank Green publicly correcting himself. 13,000 likes for "I was wrong."

4️⃣ And the public is missing the bigger story almost entirely — the one that's about to constrain AI before water ever does.

This is the third and final chapter of a trilogy on AI, water, and the trillion-dollar infrastructure thesis hiding behind the headlines - basically on AI and Water:

📍 Part 1 - Data Center Consumption DOESN'T Matter... But Discharge Does! → [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1o-cdb8xzZ0

📍 Part 2 - The 2027 Deadline That's About to Reprice Water Companies → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PKHUo6q5gw

📍 Part 3 - You're watching it 😅

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 — Nobody asked. So I did.

01:44 — The dataset: 2,540 comments, 9 videos, 1 spreadsheet

03:58 — What the public got wrong (closed-loop cooling and the misleading-true problem)

07:07 — The most-liked comment on AI water — and why it matters

10:53 — What everyone is missing

🔬 Methodology 2,540 individual comments analyzed 9 source videos (the most-viewed English-language content on AI water consumption as of) Sentiment scoring + theme clustering done manually, then cross-checked

🏷️ Topics covered AI water consumption · AI water usage · data center cooling · AI environmental impact · closed-loop cooling · AI energy consumption · water sector investing · sustainability · generative AI infrastructure · AI data center water · Sam Altman water · Boardman Oregon data centers

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Data center water treatment is a $1.1 billion market growing nearly 15% per year, with 60% of spending recurring - generating an "infinite money glitch" for the righty designed water tech companies. So, strategic buyers, private equity sponsors, and VC-backed platforms are racing to consolidate water tech expertise. Meanwhile, hyperscalers spending $50 billion a year on infrastructure have made zero water acquisitions... for how long?

🌶️ KEY SPICES 🌶️

💵 A $660M recurring-revenue pocket nobody priced as SaaS - 60% of data center water spend is OPEX, not capex (Sustainability at its best)

🏗️ AEA Investors' CRB Water playbook: a $13.2M Missouri distributor turned national data center water platform in 24 months through five add-on acquisitions

📈 Evoqua's 17x EBITDA exit to Xylem in 2023 as the template - and AEA ran that play too

🌐 Microsoft's water use efficiency (WUE, liters per kWh of compute) sits at 0.2, roughly 5x better than Google's 0.96 and 6.5x better than Apple's 1.3

🏢 Amazon's Kiva Systems DNA applied to water: write the blueprint internally, then acquire the builder when the capability becomes competitively load-bearing

⏱️ A 2027 zero-water pledge deadline creating a hard two-year window for Microsoft 🎯 The short list of acquisition targets: Gradiant, CRB Water, Infinite Cooling, Uravu Labs

🥜 IN A NUTSHELL 🥜

Why is data center water treatment the fastest-growing industrial water vertical? At $1.1B in 2024 and above 13% annual growth (roughly double any other industrial water segment) demand tracks the $50B/year hyperscaler capex directly.

Who's actually buying so far? Ecolab (~$7B combined on CoolIT Systems and Ovivo's electronics division), Xylem (Vacom Systems at $42M), Kemira (Water Engineering Inc. at $150M, 2.5x revenue), EQT Infrastructure (Seven Seas Water at roughly $1B), and AEA Investors (Chemtron RiverBend plus five add-ons, now CRB Water).

What makes the hyperscalers different? They spend $50B/year on data centers and run extensive water partnerships and VC positions, but have not acquired a single water company. Yet?

Why does this matter for investors? When the first hyperscaler moves, water companies with data center exposure reprice from the 7.5x EBITDA sector median to 15-20x+ strategic-platform multiples.

Who are the likely targets? Gradiant ($330M raised, 23 products, nine acquisitions, Counter-Flow RO at 99% recovery), CRB Water (PE exit setup), Aquatech or Saltworks Technologies (in the "right brain" approach), Infinite Cooling, Uravu Labs or AirJoule Technologies in the "left brain" one.

#️⃣ Mentioned Links #️⃣

- The PE Water Platforms Nobody's Talking About Yet - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1o78cgd5Hs

- AEA Investors - aeainvestors.com

- CRB Water - https://www.crbwater.com/

- My conversation with Prakash Govindan (Gradiant) - https://youtu.be/Hpk_gPjm_1s?si=d_I3gYuYLYudBmQK

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AI Water seems to concern everybody, while data center water treatment is the fastest-growing industrial water vertical in the world - $1.35 billion in 2025, growing at 13.3% per year. But the media is chasing the wrong story. The real problem isn’t consumption volume — it’s the concentrated industrial wastewater that cooling towers produce. This episode maps the opportunity most investors are missing. A

🌶️ KEY SPICES 🌶️

💧 American lawns consume 49 times more water than every AI data center in the US combined - so why is the media only alarmed about servers?

🏭 Cooling towers evaporate pure water and discharge “blowdown” - industrial wastewater concentrated at 3-5x intake levels that almost nobody covers

💰 Ecolab acquired CoolIT Systems for $4.75 billion at 25x revenue, assembling a $10.5 billion integrated stack from resin to chip to managed service

📉 Zero hyperscalers (Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta) have acquired a single water treatment company despite spending $50B/year on data center construction

📊 The EU has capped data center water usage at 0.4 L/kWh in water-stressed areas — the installed base runs at 2.3-3.8, creating a 6-10x compliance gap

🥜 IN A NUTSHELL 🥜

Why do American lawns matter in a video about AI water? Turfgrass consumes roughly 12 billion cubic meters per year, 49 times more than all US data centers combined — context that reframes the media’s breathless AI-water coverage.

What is “blowdown” and why should investors care? Evaporative cooling towers discharge concentrated wastewater at 3-5x intake levels containing salts, silica, and treatment chemicals — this industrial waste stream scales linearly with every hyperscale facility under construction, creating a $1.35 billion treatment market growing at 13.3% per year.

Why did Ecolab pay $4.75 billion for CoolIT at 25x revenue? Liquid cooling eliminates evaporation but creates a new treatment market for closed-loop fluid chemistry, and Ecolab has spent $10.5 billion since 2021 assembling the only complete stack from ion exchange resin to GPU cold plate to managed service contract for AI Water

Why haven’t hyperscalers acquired a water company? Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta have vertically integrated into chips, power, and fiber — but zero water acquisitions appear in the global M&A record, even as institutional capital poured $13.5 billion into water deals in 2025 alone.

#️⃣ Mentioned Links #️⃣

📌 Arthur D. Little: “AI’s Hidden Dependencies” report: https://www.adlittle.com/sites/default/files/2026-01/BLUE_SHIFT_AI_hidden_dependencies.pdf

📌 GWI's data center rubric: https://www.globalwaterintel.com/industries/data-centres

📌 Ecolab CoolIT acquisition announcement: https://tinyurl.com/fa34yeht

📌 The Ecolab/Ovivo deal, decoded: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1o78cgd5Hs

📌 My deep dive on H2O Innovation (and what we learn about platform building): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOvJK8BnOJo

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Stade Rennais, the French football club owned by the Pinault family behind Kering (Gucci, Balenciaga, Bottega Veneta...), buried a €1.5 million closed-loop water system under its renovated La Piverdière training complex in February 2025. This investment, during French football's worst financial crisis, reveals a widening gap between what water costs and what water is truly worth - using water reuse as its vehicle.

🌶️ KEY SPICES 🌶️

⚽ How French football's TV rights collapsed from €1.1B to €142M — a 90% decline that's forcing clubs to cancel flights and lay off staff

💧 Why a closed-loop water system with a 20-year payback was approved during an existential financial crisis (and what water reuse enables)

🏗️ The three hidden "currencies" — drought insurance, brand equity, and regulatory preemption — that never show up on a utility invoice

📉 Why a €14M goalkeeper depreciates 43% in a year while the pipes beneath him appreciate for decades

💰 How BCG projects $7 trillion in returns from $1 trillion in water infrastructure investment, yet less than 1% of climate tech VC flows to water

📊 The 10-100x gap between what water costs (€4.70/m³) and what water is actually worth

🥜 IN A NUTSHELL 🥜

Why did Rennes invest in water during a financial crisis? The Pinault family signed off on a €1.5-2M closed-loop water system not for the €100K/year savings, but for drought insurance, brand alignment with Kering's sustainability thesis, and regulatory positioning ahead of France's Plan Eau.

How bad is French football's financial situation? TV rights revenues collapsed from €1.1 billion to roughly €142 million per year after the Mediapro deal fell apart, and the financial watchdog projects combined Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 losses of €1.2 billion for 2025 alone.

What's the connection between Gucci and water infrastructure? Kering's tanneries must cut absolute water consumption 35% by 2035, making the football club's water loop a visible demonstration that the Pinault ecosystem practices what the luxury division preaches.

Why is water so underpriced? France charges €4.70 per cubic meter regardless of the customer's actual value at stake, creating a 10-100x gap between price and worth — a structural underpricing that BCG's 7:1 return ratio confirms across global water infrastructure.

Is water a good investment opportunity? Despite a projected 7:1 return ratio, less than 1% of climate tech venture capital goes to water while energy captures 25% with only a 6:1 ratio — a structural imbalance that early-stage reuse deals are starting to correct.

#️⃣ Mentioned Links #️⃣

🔗 Podcast Episode: Water's Place in the Global Economy with Nicolas Lei Ravello https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5Ayc94bNf0

🔗 Podcast Episode: Amazon and Water https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jN6sHC45DRo

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Europe's wastewater treatment plants are sitting on a massive untapped energy reserve. With the right upgrades, roughly 1,900 facilities across Europe could produce 13.4 billion cubic meters of biomethane per year — matching Russia's remaining pipeline gas deliveries in 2024. Let me break down the economics, the technology, and the investment landscape driving this shift.

🌶️ KEY SPICES 🌶️

⛽ One oil price spike dropped profitable plant thresholds by 15-47% and made ~600 additional facilities viable for biomethane grid injection overnight

📊 Only 30% of cost-competitive plants have installed grid injection equipment — Denmark leads at 88%, Poland trails at 6.7% ⚖️ The EU's recast Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive mandates energy neutrality by 2045, creating a regulatory demand floor independent of gas prices

🏭 Cambi's thermal hydrolysis revenue trajectory points to their first €100M year, with EBITDA jumping from near-zero to €20M in two years

💰 NextGen biogas companies are funded by energy infrastructure capital (ENGIE, Pennybacker, Hitachi), not water-focused VCs

🥜 IN A NUTSHELL 🥜

Why did 600 European wastewater plants suddenly become profitable gas producers? The Iran-triggered gas crisis pushed TTF prices from €32 to €60 per MWh, dropping minimum viable plant sizes by 15-47% and making biomethane grid injection economically attractive across most of Europe.

How much gas could European wastewater produce? Europe's ~1,900 unequipped wastewater plants could produce 13.4 billion cubic meters of biomethane per year, equivalent to Russia's 2024 pipeline gas to Europe, worth €1.9 billion annually.

What is the regulatory driver behind this shift? The EU's November 2024 recast of the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive mandates energy neutrality for all European wastewater utilities by 2045, making biogas production a compliance requirement regardless of gas prices.

Who is winning in the biogas technology space? Cambi leads thermal hydrolysis with revenue potentially reaching €100M, while Veolia and SKion Water pursue platform approaches. Anaergia's bankruptcy serves as a cautionary tale that timing matters as much as thesis.

Where is the investment capital coming from? Energy infrastructure funds and corporate venture arms (ENGIE New Ventures, Pennybacker Capital, Hitachi) dominate NextGen biogas funding, while traditional water VCs remain largely absent from the space.

***

Europe faces a significant energy challenge, highlighted by a potential natural gas shortage following recent events. This situation underscores the broader global energy crisis and its impact on energy markets. We also touch upon the unusual idea of Europe's sewage as a potential gas source, a concept that could impact oil and gas discussions moving forward. The discussion includes analysis from the International Energy Agency regarding supply disruptions and an update on the iran war.

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Pierre Côté is arguably the most successful water technology inventor alive. With over 100 patents across four decades, he created ZeeWeed (the membrane that launched the $3.63 billion MBR market) and co-invented ZeeLung (anchoring the ~$500 million MABR market). Now in his seventies, he's co-founded AlgaFilm Technologies to tackle nutrient removal with algae biofilm.

🌶️ KEY SPICES 🌶️

🧬 Two unicorn technologies from one inventor — ZeeWeed created the MBR category ($3.63B market), ZeeLung anchors MABR (~$500M and growing)

💰 $689 million exit — GE Water acquired Zenon in 2006 at 3.29x revenue, despite Zenon being loss-making

🌿 AlgaFilm's Algae Forest — patented inverted-cone photobioreactors with 12:1 surface-area-to-footprint ratio, claiming 80% energy reduction

📊 Forced regulatory demand — San Francisco Bay faces $10.8B in nutrient removal costs; Netherlands spending €2.8B in two years; 8,000+ US lagoons need upgrades

🏭 Competitive validation — Gross-Wen Technologies at TRL 9 with 30+ installations and $15M annual revenue proves the algae biofilm category

❄️ The winter test — Kingsville, Ontario demonstration (started March 10, 2026) will face a full Canadian winter, the single biggest unknown

🥜 IN A NUTSHELL 🥜

Who is Pierre Côté? A civil engineer from École Polytechnique de Montréal with a PhD from McMaster, who joined Zenon Environmental in 1989 and invented ZeeWeed — the immersed hollow-fiber membrane technology that created the commercially viable MBR market.

What is AlgaFilm Technologies? A BC-based startup co-founded in November 2023 by Côté and Ahren Britton (former Ostara CTO) that grows algae as a fixed biofilm on engineered carriers to remove nitrogen and phosphorus from wastewater, replacing chemical dosing.

Why does this matter now? Regulatory pressure is forcing massive non-discretionary spending on nutrient removal — $10.8 billion in San Francisco Bay alone — while the resource recovery market has inflected from $1.5 billion to $2.88 billion since 2020.

What are the risks? AlgaFilm sits at approximately TRL 8, has just kicked off its first plant, and must prove winter uptime through Canadian conditions during its 12-month Kingsville demonstration.

Who validates the category? Gross-Wen Technologies (Iowa, 2014) operates 30+ algae biofilm installations at TRL 9, with $15M annual revenue and operational profitability, proving the commercial viability of the approach.

#️⃣ Mentioned Links #️⃣

- AlgaFilm Technologies: https://algafilm.com/

- Burnt Island Ventures blog entry: https://www.burntislandventures.com/blog/fsu1j27imhhsfnbyxi2k2udd30m57e

- DWW — The Algae Revolution with Martin Gross (GWT): https://dww.show/the-algae-revolution-how-gross-wen-technologies-is-cleaning-our-water-through-natures-filter/

- My conversation with Andrew Benedek: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s5e12-how-to-be-alone-early-crazy-but-actually-right-the-history-of-zenon

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ilion Water Technologies is a 2025 spinout from the Physics Laboratory of the École Normale Supérieure in Paris.

Their VIRO (Voltage-Induced Reverse Osmosis) technology claims to replace the high-pressure pump train in seawater desalination with an alternating electric field applied to engineered composite membranes, operating at atmospheric pressure.

🌶️ KEY SPICES 🌶️

⚡ VIRO generates ~15 equivalent bars of pressure per applied volt, targeting the 60-bar threshold used in industrial seawater RO

💰 ilion closed a €3.8M ($4.46M) pre-seed co-led by Demea Sustainable Investment and Critical Path Ventures, plus €1.3M non-dilutive from Bpifrance, CNRS Innovation, PSL, and the ERC

🔬 The underlying research is peer-reviewed in Nature Materials with a scientific lineage tracing back to a 2013 Physical Review Letters paper

👨‍🔬 Scientific advisor Lydéric Bocquet (CNRS Innovation Medal 2024) previously took nanofluidics from lab to industrial pilot with Sweetch Energy (€40M raised, Rhône river deployment in 2024)

📊 The global RO + nanofiltration market reaches $6.14B TOTEX by 2030 at 6.1% CAGR, with RO commanding ~90% of dissolved solids removal

🪦 The graveyard of RO alternatives is pretty full with the recent addition of Aquaporin (21 years → collapse), to the existing Oasys Water ($31M fire sale), or memsys ($3M)

🥜 IN A NUTSHELL 🥜

How does VIRO actually work? Instead of mechanically forcing saltwater through a membrane at 60 bars, VIRO uses an alternating electric field on a composite membrane with nanoscale charge properties, creating an "osmotic diode" that rectifies water flow while blocking salt.

What is ilion's current maturity level? TRL 4 (lab-validated), with no published specific energy consumption in kWh/m³, no salt rejection at scale, no membrane lifetime data, and zero physical deployments. Why has every RO alternative failed before? Forward osmosis, membrane distillation, and biomimetic membranes all failed to cross the gap between lab performance and industrial reliability, while RO kept improving toward its thermodynamic floor of ~1.0 kWh/m³.

What makes ilion different from previous attempts? Bocquet's track record with Sweetch Energy, the Nature Materials peer review, a deep-science investor stack, and positioning as an RO enhancer (retrofit-compatible) rather than an RO replacement.

What should investors watch over the next 2 years Three milestones: real-water performance at the Île-de-France pilot, XPRIZE Water Scarcity semifinal testing in Q4 2026, and membrane fabrication scalability beyond handcrafted lab specimens.

#️⃣ Mentioned Links #️⃣

🔗 ilion Water Technologies — https://ilion-watertech.com/

🔗 Sweetch Energy — https://www.sweetch.energy/

🔗 NALA Membranes on the podcast — https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s13e9-nala-membranes

🔗 the Active Membranes episode — https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s13e6-this-200-hack-makes-desalination-50-cheaper

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Tired of stitching together Crunchbase, overpriced reports, and "a guy who knows a guy"? I built the fix. 50 Founder Seats. Join the waitlist: leviathandata.io

🙌 Supporters 🙌

A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab

ORB is a water tech company revolutionizing water testing through real-time microbial detection. Using inline deep UV spectroscopy sensors, ORB delivers continuous monitoring that's 1,700 times faster than traditional plate count methods (thus replacing the century-old three-day lab test) with instant insights that protect public health.

Lorenzo Falzarano is a serial entrepreneur and the founder and Chief Scientist of ORB, bringing over two decades of experience building impact-driven technology companies, including a successful solar venture that sold through Apple stores worldwide, and has partnered with NASA on space station water monitoring systems.

🌶️ KEY SPICES 🌶️

🔬 Rapid Microbiology at Light Speed — Water testing results in one second versus three days, using photon-counting detectors that measure microbial fluorescence at the molecular level without reagents or consumables.

🎯 Cold Case Solver — 70% of water quality failures go unexplained; ORB's intelligence platform uses pattern matching and fingerprint signatures to identify root causes that traditional water testing misses.

⚡ Non-Invasive Innovation — Unlike enzymatic or flow cytometry methods, ORB's water tech requires no chemicals, no sample preparation, and no maintenance—just plug-and-play deployment in drinking water networks.

💧 Real-Time Risk Prevention — Catches failing ozone dosing, chlorine systems, and contamination events before they become regulatory violations—helping UK utilities avoid millions in bacteriological fines.

🥜 IN A NUTSHELL 🥜

Why is traditional water testing fundamentally broken? The plate count method takes three days, captures less than 1% of microbes, and forces utilities to run on "maximum everything" because they're operating blind.

How does ORB's rapid microbiology approach work? Deep UV light causes microbial cells to fluoresce; photon-counting detectors measure this at the molecular level, delivering instant counts without destroying the sample.

What separates ORB from other water tech solutions? ORB used deep neural networks to identify minimum wavelengths needed, then hyper-optimized hardware for drinking water—achieving 400x more sensitivity than lab spectrometers.

Can this water testing method distinguish live from dead bacteria? Yes—dying and dead cells produce different spectral signatures, addressing concerns about counting chlorine-killed cells.

What's the business model? ORB sells insights through CapEx, OpEx, or hybrid models—deployed across UK and European utilities with NASA validation and third-party certifications.

#️⃣ Mentioned Links #️⃣

ORB Monitor: orbmonitor.com

Lorenzo's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorenzo-falzarano/

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🙌 Supporters 🙌

A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab

H2O Innovation is a Quebec-based water solutions company founded in 2000. Through strategic M&A, it evolved from a membrane filtration startup into a diversified platform with four pillars: systems, specialty chemicals, operations & maintenance, and water infrastructure development—with the mission to Simplify Water.

Guillaume Clairet is COO at H2O Innovation and GP at the Cycle H2O fund, with 20 years steering the company's M&A-driven transformation from startup through 18+ acquisitions to a private equity-backed platform targeting $1 billion by 2030.

🌶️ KEY SPICES 🌶️

🔧 Four integrated pillars—systems, chemicals, O&M, and water infrastructure development—enable full lifecycle customer relationships from CapEx through recurring revenue

📈 Proven M&A machine with 90%+ acquisition success rate versus the industry standard where two-thirds of deals fail

🌍 Global distribution network serving OEMs across Turkey, Peru, Chile, and Australia with specialty chemicals and components

💧 Water reuse leadership through the Water Infrastructure Development division offering turnkey solutions with no upfront capital under long-term contracts

🤝 Patient private equity partnership with Ember Capital allowing accelerated growth while preserving management continuity and institutional investor alignment

🥜 IN A NUTSHELL 🥜

How did H2O Innovation transform from a startup to a platform company? Starting as a membrane filtration technology company in 2000, H2O Innovation strategically shifted focus from pure CapEx sales to recurring revenue streams by acquiring specialty chemicals companies PWT and Genesis, then rolling up five O&M contractors across North America.

What makes their acquisition strategy different? Rather than relying on investment banking processes, H2O Innovation sources most deals directly through trade shows, customer networks, and industry relationships—prioritizing cultural fit, synergy validation, and fair valuations over competing in auctions.

What changed after Ember Capital's take-private transaction? The 2023 privatization brought renewed appetite for bigger swings and faster decision-making while preserving continuity through existing institutional investors CDPQ and IQ rolling over their stakes alongside management remaining invested.

What is the Water Infrastructure Development pillar? Acquired through NextEra Distributed Water, this fourth pillar offers industrial and institutional clients turnkey water reuse solutions where H2O Innovation finances, builds, owns, and operates decentralized treatment systems under 30-35 year contracts.

Where is H2O Innovation heading by 2030? The company targets over $1 billion in revenue through continued tuck-in M&A, exponential growth in water processing agreements, and geographic expansion.

#️⃣ Mentioned Links #️⃣

H2O Innovation: https://www.h2oinnovation.com

Ember Capital Management https://ember-infra.com/

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🤫 Tired of stitching together Crunchbase, overpriced reports, and "a guy who knows a guy"? I built the fix. 50 Founder Seats. Join the waitlist: leviathandata.io

🙌 Supporters 🙌

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Cycle H2O is a Canadian water-focused venture capital fund investing $500K-$2M checks in early-stage water technology companies. The fund targets 12 portfolio companies across industrial, municipal, and agricultural water sectors with $30 million ready to deploy.

Simon Olivier is a senior partner at Cycle Capital and head of the Cycle H2O Water Fund, bringing 30 years of corporate experience, including building GE's renewable energy business from the ground up, and now applying energy sector investment lessons to water tech & the water VC field.

🌶️ KEY SPICES 🌶️

🔬 Three-headed de-risking structure: Cycle Capital brings VC management expertise, H2O Innovation provides market intelligence across 75 countries, and the fund team delivers strategic guidance as a "copilot investor"

⚡ Energy-to-water playbook: 30 years of renewable energy experience reveals water tech is following the same arc—but with higher stakes since water has no substitute

💼 Business continuity focus: Invests in B2B solutions where industrial users pay for water efficiency because it directly impacts their bottom line, not just compliance

🎯 Exit-first valuation: Maps potential exits before cutting checks to avoid down rounds—seeking the "Goldilocks valuation" where both founder and investor stretch

🌍 Impact without compromise: Treats environmental and financial returns as inseparable, positioning water as a strategic business asset rather than a feel-good cause

🥜 IN A NUTSHELL 🥜

Why focus on early-stage water tech? The greatest impact and value creation happens early, but the risk is high—hence the unique fund structure with strategic partners who provide due diligence support and accelerate time-to-market for portfolio companies.

How do you compress the industry's notorious 12-16 year adoption cycle? By investing in companies addressing urgent market fundamentals like the Legionella detection company Bio Alert, and leveraging H2O Innovation's global network to fast-track pilots and distribution partnerships.

What makes a quick "no" for investment? Missing barriers to entry like IP, undifferentiated "me-too" products, no clear roadmap to monetization, or incomplete founding teams—though exceptional strength in one area can offset weakness in another.

Why avoid policy-dependent business models? Regulations change overnight; instead, the water VC targets industrial users where water efficiency drives business survival, making adoption a financial imperative rather than a compliance checkbox.

What returns can water tech deliver? The fund targets 10x returns as achievable across the portfolio, expects two to three zeros from twelve investments.

#️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

https://cyclecapital.com/en/cycleh2o/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/simon-olivier-p-eng-mba-3560b04/

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⬇️ IN THIS VIDEO ⬇️

This special episode showcases 17 commercially available products made from recycled wastewater, desalination brine, and industrial water byproducts. From ski resort snow to table salt, beer to bourbon, cosmetics to clothing, these items prove that circular water economy isn't just theory—it's hitting store shelves as legitimate luxury goods and everyday essentials.

🌶️ KEY SPICES 🌶️

🎿 Big Sky Resort now makes artificial snow from recycled village wastewater using Montana's largest zero liquid discharge system

🧂 Desalination brine transforms into gourmet table salts and superfood ingredients instead of marine discharge

🍺 Reused wastewater beer, rainwater whisky, and coffee-waste vodka prove beverage innovation is real

👖 Jeans from Everlane and Triarchy achieve 95-98% water recycling through closed-loop finishing

🧴 L'Oreal's Burgos "waterloop factory" reuses 100% of process water for Kerastase production

🧪 Hungarian startup Cycle ferments sewage sludge into bio-acid cleaners shipped worldwide

🥜 IN A NUTSHELL 🥜

Can you really eat products from desalination waste? Aqualia's Alma de Mar table salts and UAE-grown Salicornia demonstrate that brine valorization creates food-safe, even gourmet products through controlled crystallization and aquaponic farming.

How are beverage companies using wastewater? H2O Innovation, Epic Cleantec, and Singapore's NEWBrew produce beers from purified wastewater, while Good Vodka upcycles 15 million tons of annual coffee cherry waste and Old Humble proofs whisky with collected Texas rainwater.

What makes water-smart clothing different? Everlane's Saitex partnership recycles 98% of process water, Triarchy replaces chemical bleaching with ozone, and Girlfriend Collective turns plastic bottles into sportswear while capturing microplastics.

Which home products close the water loop? Porcelanosa ceramics operates zero liquid discharge, EnviroCopy paper circulates water 30 times per production cycle, and Vuna's Aurin turns urine into nitrogen fertilizer now scaling across Europe.

⏰ TIME STAMPS ⏰

00:00 17 Wastewater Products

00:17 Big Sky Montana

04:31 Alma de Mar

06:12 Salicornia

07:49 Tasting

09:34 They almost made it...

10:31 H2O Innovation Pale Ale

12:43 Good Vodka

14:24 Old Humble Special Reserve

16:16 Naif Face Scrub

18:27 Kerastase by l'Oreal

20:09 Everlane Jeans

22:29 Triarchy Jeans

23:38 Girlfriend Collective Tank Top

25:07 Himba Fish Cuff

25:32 Innorecycling Water Can

25:59 Aurin by Vuna

27:31 Porcelanosa Tiles

28:56 Sustana Enviro Copy

30:15 Cycle Biocleaners

32:02 Test Results

33:03 An Epic Surprise...

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⬇️ IN THIS EPISODE ⬇️

Ovivo is a global water treatment technology provider entering a transformative new chapter after spinning off its electronics division to Ecolab for $1.8 billion. Under Ski on Water's ownership, Ovivo is now positioning itself for aggressive growth through industrial expansion, silicon carbide membrane innovation, and PFAS destruction capabilities across North America and Europe.

This episode features Reinhard Hubner, CEO of SKion Water with years of water industry M&A experience; Elena Bailey, Director at Ovivo North America with decades of experience in water technology who joined through an acquisition in 2006; Mike Snodgrass, membrane technology specialist with 25+ years experience; and Sebastian Andreassen, co-founder and leader of Ovivo's Cembrane silicon carbide membrane manufacturing.

🌶️ KEY SPICES 🌶️

🔬 Silicon carbide membranes deliver breakthrough flux rates at low pressure with hydrophilic, chemically inert properties that outperform polymeric alternatives

💧 Double-digit percentage R&D investment funds innovation without a centralized research department—product managers drive patented solutions

🏭 European industrial expertise from a decade of experience in operations transfers directly to North American expansion through people-first integration

⚗️ PFAS destruction technology from E2Metrix leverages existing municipal customer relationships for rapid market entry

🤝 Long-term ownership culture keeps acquired company founders engaged for 7-9+ years post-acquisition

🥜 IN A NUTSHELL 🥜

What is the 10-year vision for Ovivo? SKion Water plans to rebuild Ovivo to its pre-transaction size through industrial platform acquisitions in North America, silicon carbide membrane scaling, and PFAS treatment commercialization.

Why focus on industrial water treatment? Municipal operations run independently with proven teams, while industrial requires European expertise transfer and platform acquisitions to replicate the 350 million euro success achieved through EnviroChemie.

How does Cembrane's silicon carbide differentiate? Unlike polymeric membranes, silicon carbide is hydrophilic, extremely porous, and chemically inert—enabling applications in drinking water, sand filter replacement, and backwash recovery that competitors cannot match.

What are the capacity expansion plans? Cembrane's manufacturing will increase 50% in 2026 and double by 2027, with Texas production providing tariff protection and BABA compliance for North American municipal projects.

Where does PFAS fit the strategy? E2Metrix destruction technology pairs with existing SSE membrane installations at water plants, creating bundled solutions that leverage Ovivo's installed base relationships with municipal customers.

#️⃣ Mentioned Links #️⃣

Ovivo's website: https://www.ovivowater.com/en/

My WEFTEC coverage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAb9bDjpOsE

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⬇️ IN THIS VIDEO ⬇️

Aqua Membranes manufactures reverse osmosis membrane elements with 3D-printed spacers that reduce energy consumption and pressure drops in industrial water treatment across mining, semiconductor, and beverage sectors. Founded 15 years ago by Rodney Herrington in his garage, the water membranes company now operates from Albuquerque and a new 200,000-square-foot Knoxville facility led by CEO Craig Beckman and CTO CJ Kurth.

🌶️ KEY SPICES 🌶️

🖨️ Proprietary 3D printing technology creates Fibonacci spiral-patterned spacers that optimize fluid flow and reduce fouling compared to traditional mesh spacers found in water membranes

⚡ Energy efficiency gains through reduced pressure drops enable customers to lower operating costs and extend cleaning cycles in reverse osmosis systems

🏭 Vertical integration strategy from material science through full element manufacturing de-risks technology adoption for major water membranes manufacturers

🎯 Strategic customer validation from Fortune 500 companies including Coca-Cola, Micron Technology, and exclusive distribution partnership with Osmo Flow in Australia

📈 Scalable manufacturing platform with capacity for 25,000 elements annually in current configuration and 9x expansion potential in the Knoxville facility

🥜 IN A NUTSHELL 🥜

Why can't Aqua Membranes just license their spacer technology to major water tech manufacturers? The membrane industry requires extensive real-world validation before adopting new materials, forcing innovators to manufacture complete elements at a commercial scale before established players will consider licensing.

What makes 3D-printed spacers superior to traditional mesh? The Fibonacci spiral pattern eliminates straight-line flow channels that cause fouling, while UV-cured polyacrylate provides precise control over channel geometry for customized applications.

How did Aqua Membranes choose Knoxville for manufacturing expansion? After evaluating 20 U.S. and Mexican locations, they selected Knoxville for its business environment, educational resources, and capacity to support 95 jobs with multi-shift expansion potential.

What role does Albuquerque play now that Knoxville is operational? Albuquerque transitions to R&D, focusing on co-creation with customers, testing new patterns and applications, including gas separation, while maintaining identical equipment to troubleshoot production issues.

When will the new printing technology become available? The second-generation process moves to Knoxville in March 2025, with commercial launch targeted for late 2026, offering faster speeds, improved tolerance, and lower costs.

#️⃣ Mentioned Links #️⃣

• Aqua Membranes

• Osmoflo

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⬇️ IN THIS EPISODE ⬇️

AirHES is a proposed atmospheric water harvesting technology that uses aerial collection systems (kites or balloons) with specialized mesh to capture cloud droplets. The collected water flows down through hoses, generating both pressurized freshwater and hydropower from the natural pressure head, claiming to potentially deliver the cheapest water and electricity on Earth.

This episode features my rigorous "10th man doctrine" analysis—applying contrarian due diligence to unconventional water technologies.

🌶️ KEY SPICES 🌶️

☁️ Cloud-level water capture using proven fog collection mesh technology with documented efficiencies from existing literature

💧 Dual revenue streams from both freshwater production (modeled at $0.10-0.21/m³) and hydropower generation from vertical pressure head

🎯 Potential niche applications for remote, cloudy, inland communities needing 10-200 m³/day where traditional desalination faces infrastructure challenges

🔬 Rigorous physics-based analysis revealing realistic costs of $0.30-0.60/m³ after accounting for downtime, maintenance, and operational constraints

⚖️ Technology requires overcoming complex engineering trade-offs between pipe weight, friction losses, buoyancy, wind loading, and airspace regulatory hurdles

🥜 IN A NUTSHELL 🥜

Does the technology actually work? The mesh physics and fog collection principles are sound and well-documented, but cloud-level capture efficiency, uptime, and real-world performance remain unproven until multi-month instrumented pilots are conducted.

What are the biggest technical challenges? Running kilometers of pressure hoses vertically requires solving complex trade-offs between pipe weight, friction losses, buoyancy, wind loading, and material costs—issues that significantly impact economic viability.

Where could AirHES actually succeed? The technology shows promise for remote, persistently cloudy inland communities far from coastlines, mining camps at elevation, and island interiors where traditional reverse osmosis faces permitting barriers or extreme infrastructure costs.

Is the electricity generation worthwhile? Power output represents only ~8% of revenue in AirHES's own models, with typical systems generating just 2-3 kW—barely enough to power a hair dryer—making it more of a distraction than a selling point.

Why pursue weird ideas like this? Taking unconventional technologies seriously, even when flawed, expands the "adjacent possible" in water innovation, generates valuable insights, and prevents the sector from getting trapped optimizing only conventional solutions like reverse osmosis.

#️⃣ Mentioned Links #️⃣

• AirHES Technology

• Packy McCormick's "Not Boring" newsletter

• Send me your ideas: antoine@dww.show

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⬇️ IN THIS VIDEO ⬇️

Seven Seas Water Group is a vertically integrated water infrastructure platform that designs, builds, finances, operates, and maintains water and wastewater treatment facilities under long-term service agreements. The company recently completed a successful company exit from Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners to EQT Infrastructure, operating over 210 water-as-a-service contracts across the Caribbean and United States with particular expertise in brackish water desalination and decentralized treatment systems.

Henry Charrabe is the CEO of Seven Seas Water Group, who led the company through a successful four-year transformation and company exit, previously serving in executive roles at Fluence Corporation, and is recognized for pioneering the application of water-as-a-service business models in US municipal and industrial markets.

🌶️ KEY SPICES 🌶️

💰 Vertically integrated platform - Seven Seas handles design, engineering, financing, construction, and operations in-house, eliminating margin stacking for lower costs and faster execution than multi-partner water tech competitors

⚡ Proven track record at scale - 210+ active water purchase agreements with 15-30 year terms demonstrate repeatable success new entrants cannot easily replicate

🔄 Patient capital meets expertise - The company exit proves infrastructure investors holding 4+ years combined with deep water knowledge generate exceptional returns in underinvested US infrastructure

📊 Public vs private dynamics - Public water equities offer lower risk and liquidity; private funds deliver superior returns for patient capital—both forming a necessary growth ecosystem

🥜 IN A NUTSHELL 🥜

Why is water-as-a-service winning? Performance-based contracts align incentives—investors only get paid when delivering contracted water quality and quantity.

What makes the US market attractive? Massive infrastructure underinvestment, creditworthy municipal off-takers, and decentralized systems create exceptional deployment opportunities.

How do private and public returns differ? Private water investments achieve 10x returns with patient capital, while public equities deliver 14-15% annually with lower risk and immediate liquidity.

Why fewer IPOs today? Cyclical markets favor private-to-private exits when strategic buyers offer better valuations than public market multiples.

What's the biggest opportunity? Reducing waste beats new supply—California loses 32% to inefficiencies, making conservation more economically attractive than desalination.

#️⃣ Mentioned Links #️⃣

Seven Seas' website

Loughlin Water Partners

Orange Ridge Capital

Robin Castelli's book

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My best water tech analysis straight to your inbox

SOURCE (formerly Zero Mass Water) produced drinking water from air using solar-powered Hydropanels.

Founded in 2015 by Cody Friesen, it raised $270 million, becoming one of water tech's most-funded companies - before turning into a Company Failure

🥜 IN A NUTSHELL 🥜

What was Source Global's core technology? Solar-powered Hydropanels that extract drinking water from atmospheric humidity, requiring no electrical or water infrastructure.

Why did the company fail despite massive funding? Ran out of cash after failing to raise funds, faced major quality issues from Malaysian manufacturing, and had unsustainable costs versus traditional water delivery, leading to company failure

What were the main product problems? High failure rates within 2-3 years, frequent fan and battery breakages, and warranty quietly reduced from 10 to 5 years.

Did Source attempt a business pivot? Acquired Proud Source Water and launched Sky Water, building Hydropanel farms to produce canned atmospheric water at scale.

What remains of Source Global today? The founder and executives left in early 2025. Hydropanels and Sky Water are out of stock, but the acquired Proud Source Water business continues operating despite the mother company failure

#️⃣ Mentioned Links #️⃣

SOURCE's SEC filings (over the years):

Source on Glassdoor

Source's troubles in Allensworth

My own interview with Source, four years ago

Source's website (still active)

Cody Friesen's LinkedIn profile

Proud Source Water's website

Thunderf00t's original video

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How Do 32+ Electrochemical Water Oxidation Technologies Compete for PFAS Destruction Market Share?

Electrochemical Water Oxidation is an emerging treatment technology that uses electrical current to break down persistent contaminants like PFAS in industrial wastewater. With 32 identified companies developing proprietary systems—17 specifically targeting PFAS destruction—this crowded market represents both intense competition and strong validation of a rapidly growing industrial need.

Antoine Walter is a water technology analyst and podcast host who has interviewed nine electrochemical oxidation companies, conducted comprehensive market research across 32 players in the space, and provides strategic insights for entrepreneurs, investors, and water industry executives navigating this competitive landscape.

🌶️ KEY SPICES 🌶️

⚡ Power Density Range: Technologies span three orders of magnitude (100-10,000+ A/m²), with higher densities potentially enabling more compact treatment systems

💎 Electrode Materials: Boron-Doped Diamond (33%) and Titanium suboxide (28%) lead among PFAS-focused companies, with Mixed Metal Oxide dominant overall

🎯 Market Maturity: 53% of PFAS-targeting companies operate at TRL 8 with only two at full commercial deployment (TRL 9)

🧪 Defluorination Proof: Four companies have achieved third-party verified >90% defluorination, with half reporting complete PFAS destruction capabilities

🏭 Minimal Chemistry: 58% operate with minimal chemical addition, and 83% self-clean through electrical reversal or direct capacity

🥜 IN A NUTSHELL 🥜

What's the actual market size? Only an estimated 250 of 10 million global industrial facilities have addressed PFAS in wastewater, with perhaps 24 choosing electrochemical oxidation—creating fierce competition for limited installations.

How do electrode materials differ? Boron-Doped Diamond offers superior performance but higher costs, while Mixed Metal Oxide and Titanium suboxide provide alternatives, with some companies opting for sacrificial anodes to reduce expenses.

What determines system performance? Power density, pH tolerance (46% work at neutral pH), electrode lifetime, and reactor design collectively influence treatment efficiency and operational costs more than any single factor.

Are these technologies deployment-ready? Most companies (TRL 7-9) have moved beyond lab-scale, though only Axine and AECOM have reached full commercial deployment with multiple installations.

What's the investment opportunity? The collective $120M raised across startups represents capital-efficient validation, with regulatory pressure intensifying and the addressable market potentially growing 10x within three years.

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⬇️ IN THIS EPISODE ⬇️

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are persistent synthetic chemicals (forever chemicals) used in countless everyday products that contaminate drinking water, wastewater, and the environment.

Dr. Ali Ling is a professor at the University of St. Thomas, specializing in PFAS management and wastewater treatment, with a decade of consulting experience helping industrial and municipal facilities address emerging contaminants, and expertise in big-picture systems thinking.

🌶️ KEY SPICES 🌶️

💰 Cost-Effective Approach - Source reduction is 1,000 times cheaper than environmental cleanup, with upstream industrial controls costing hundreds versus millions of dollars per kilogram of PFAS removed

🔬 Technology Expertise - Comprehensive knowledge of GAC, ion exchange, destruction technologies, and emerging treatment solutions across drinking water, wastewater, and industrial applications

📊 Data-Driven Strategy - Evidence-based analysis showing that removing PFAS at current production rates would exceed global GDP, making source control the only viable path forward

🎯 Risk Prioritization - Understanding that drinking water represents less than 20% of human PFAS exposure, with diet and indoor dust contributing significantly more to health risks

🌍 Future-Focused Thinking - Emphasis on persistence as a critical factor, recognizing that today's PFAS releases create irreversible accumulation threatening future generations (forever chemicals)

🥜 IN A NUTSHELL 🥜

Why is cleaning up PFAS from the environment economically impossible? Removing PFAS from the environment at the rate we produce it costs millions of dollars per kilogram and would exceed global GDP, while upstream source control costs only hundreds to thousands of dollars per kilogram.

What's the biggest misconception about PFAS treatment? Most people focus on drinking water cleanup as a past problem, but we're still actively producing massive amounts of PFAS today, and drinking water represents less than 20% of human exposure to these persistent chemicals.

Should utilities treat PFAS in wastewater effluent? Treating municipal wastewater effluent is extremely expensive and environmentally impactful, whereas addressing industrial discharges and landfill leachate at their concentrated source points is far more cost-effective and logical.

How do we prevent regrettable substitution when phasing out PFAS? The European Union is implementing better frameworks that assess both persistence and toxicity before approving chemicals, while companies like IKEA and H&M have successfully phased out PFAS entirely from their supply chains.

#️⃣ Mentioned Links #️⃣

Ali Ling's LinkedIn profile

Ali's paper on the costs to remove PFAS from the environment

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#️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

BDP EnviroTech's website: https://bdpenvirotech.com/

Lummus Technology's website: https://www.lummustechnology.com/

Weaver Labs' website: https://www.weaver-labs.com/

Algafilm's website: https://algafilm.com/

CREW Carbon's website: https://crewcarbon.com/

GWI's new Water Investment Navigator: https://www.winwaterprojects.io/

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 Introduction

01:22 XPRIZE Water Scarcity

02:56 3 Shortlisted for XPRIZE

07:05 #5 Water Tech Pick - BDP EnviroTech

16:03 #4 Water Tech Pick - Lummus Technology

23:59 My Rules & Thank You SimpleLab

25:01 WEF Board Member Interview

28:21 #3 Water Tech Pick - Weaver Labs

35:56 #2 Water Tech Pick - Algafilm Technologies

45:13 3 Tips to Power Up your Tradeshow Marketing

48:27 #1 Water Tech Pick - CREW Carbon

59:45 The Water AI Nexus

1:01:36 GWI's take at AI (with WEF)

1:08:28 Best WEFTEC Ever

About this Podcast:

Welcome to the (don't) Waste Water podcast, the leading podcast for water industry professionals, investors, and entrepreneurs seeking deep insights into water tech innovation, investment trends, and strategic moves in the sector. Host Antoine Walter blends his technical expertise with sharp business acumen to deliver weekly episodes featuring candid conversations with C-suite executives, detailed analysis of major water industry developments, and practical insights for water tech startups and seasoned players alike.

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And a great shout out for Sciens Water's great Rethinking Water where this interview was recorded: https://scienswater.com/

#️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

Global Commission on the Economics of Water Final Report: https://watercommission.org/#report

My conversation with Sean Davis on PPPPs models

My UN Water Conference 2023 coverage:

Day 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOs5J6VymwE

Day 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bQhz_yHN5U

Day 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZZaON3Pr0c

Final Coverage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gksQHzCYVA

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

📝 IN THIS WEEK'S EPISODE

💸 Why choosing between dying "young & rich" vs "older & less rich" defines our water future - and the shocking GDP numbers that prove it

🌍 How 4,000 liters per person per day completely reframes everything we thought we knew about water justice (hint: it's not about drinking water)

🎯 The five radical missions that could save 25% of irrigation water by 2050 while actually increasing farmer incomes

💔 What really happened at the UN Water Conference that left me staying up all night with crushing disappointment - and why there's still hope

🔥 Why "stupidity pays off in the short term" is destroying our planet - and the 10-year tipping point we're racing towards

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#️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

Ovivo Electronics carve-out to Ecolab: https://www.ovivowater.com/en/news/ovivo-to-sell-electronics-division-to-ecolab/

SKion Water's website: https://www.skionwater.com/en/

My conversation with Reinhard Hübner: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s5e1-the-7-secrets-of-the-water-company-of-the-year-you-shall-absolutely-steal

LG Chem's carve out of its RO division: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFPOrr-ycFM

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 If Ovivo was a Tree

01:20 Ovivo's History

06:50 Water Investment Consequences

11:46 Water Valuations

16:54 The Rise of PE-Backed Platforms

📝 IN THIS WEEK'S EPISODE

🌳 How SKion Water built a $142M acquisition into a $1.8B exit while keeping half the company - the apple tree story that proves water investment delivers 10x returns

💰 The cascade of billion-dollar water deals in 2024 that's proving once and for all that water investments outperform traditional sectors with documented 2x to 10x multiples

🎯 Why pure-play water companies massively outperform conglomerates and how the semiconductor water boom is creating unprecedented valuations

🏗️ The emergence of 20+ PE platforms actively reshaping the water sector through strategic roll-ups and the specific revenue ranges they're targeting

📊 The Water Food Chain framework that reveals exactly where the next wave of acquisitions will happen and what valuation multiples entrepreneurs and investors can expect at each level

About this Podcast: Welcome to the (don't) Waste Water podcast! In each episode, Antoine Walter from DWW Media shares water, wastewater & water entrepreneurship stories. This show will teach you the water industry like you've never seen it. If you're asking how the water sector will overcome the water crises ahead, this video is for you.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

🤫 Tired of stitching together Crunchbase, overpriced reports, and "a guy who knows a guy"? I built the fix. 50 Founder Seats. Join the waitlist: leviathandata.io

#️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

Aquatech's press release: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aquatech-acquires-kochs-direct-lithium-extraction-business-integrating-li-pro-dle-into-the-pearl-technology-platform-302558347.html

My conversation with Devesh Sharma: https://youtu.be/inlyb_aMtzw?si=z1uTHU6GlRvmuKPl

My full exploration of the Lithium World: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeZJpBySIQo&t=1s

🎙️ PODCAST 🎙️

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

👋 SOCIAL MEDIA 👋

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dwwpodcast/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AntoineWalter7

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DontWasteWaterPodcast

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 Aquatech acquires Koch Technology Solutions' DLE

00:47 The Story

04:01 The Business

07:00 The Market

11:45 Epilogue

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

🤫 Tired of stitching together Crunchbase, overpriced reports, and "a guy who knows a guy"? I built the fix. 50 Founder Seats. Join the waitlist: leviathandata.io

🙌 Supporters 🙌

A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab

⬇️ IN THIS EPISODE ⬇️

Nala Membranes creates chlorine-tolerant water membrane technology for reverse osmosis. Founded by polymer chemists Sue Mechann and Dr. Judy Riffle, these sulfonated polysulfone water membranes withstand chlorine exposure while eliminating biofouling—reducing operating costs by 24% compared to traditional polyamide water membranes.

Sue Mechann is CEO and PhD polymer chemist at Nala Membranes, pioneering the first new reverse osmosis water membrane material in 40+ years through collaborations with Virginia Tech and University of Texas at Austin.

🌶️ KEY SPICES 🌶️

🛡️ Chlorine Resilience: Water membranes tolerate 1-10,000 ppm chlorine for continuous biofouling prevention and aggressive cleaning impossible with conventional membranes

🧪 Novel Chemistry: Sulfonated polysulfone creates smooth-surface water membranes that resist fouling while maintaining superior chemical stability

💧 Industrial Focus: Targets high-organic wastewater in agriculture, textiles, semiconductors, and mining, where traditional water membranes fail

⚡ Cost Savings: Eliminates 24% operating costs through biofouling prevention, reduces pretreatment needs, and extends water membrane lifespan

🥜 IN A NUTSHELL 🥜

Why do reverse osmosis water membranes fail with chlorine? Polyamide water membranes degrade rapidly with chlorine, forcing operators to choose between biofouling problems or membrane damage.

What makes Nala's water membrane chemistry different? Sulfonated polysulfone material with proprietary manufacturing creates chlorine-stable water membranes with smoother surfaces than polyamide alternatives.

Where are water membranes deployed first? Industrial wastewater including agricultural waste, textile processing, semiconductor manufacturing, and mining before expanding to municipal and seawater desalination.

How does chlorine tolerance reduce costs? Biofouling accounts for 24% of reverse osmosis operating costs through energy, chemicals, cleaning labor, and water membrane replacement—all addressable with chlorine tolerance.

What enables commercial scaling? Nala synthesizes polymers in-house and applies coating to standard substrates using established industrial techniques adapted for water membrane production, avoiding polyamide's complex waste streams - making it a promising water tech

#️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

Nala Membranes: https://www.nalamembranes.com/

Sue Mecham's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sue-mecham-a34252/

The theory of Water Innovation: https://youtu.be/A36PsBc1cnc?si=YFkiE4vdj3pJRS59

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

More #WaterTech insights? Get my free water investor database: https://investors.dww.show

🙌 Supporters 🙌

A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab

And a great shout-out to MentorAPM: https://mentorapm.com/

How did #TeamWater raise $41.5 million to enable access to safe drinking water for 2 million people for 20 years?

That's the strength of (most) of the World's most influential creators!

But, as a water professional, what do I take home?

Here are:

5️⃣ My 5 praises for the incredible achievements of ‪@MrBeast‬, @MarkRober and all the other members of #TeamWater

3️⃣ The 3 things I would have done differently (hey, I need to nitpick or I wouldn't be French anymore, right?)

4️⃣ The 4 overlooked extraordinary wins of that Month of Water Rallies

If you want to dive deeper into the topic, check:

🙌 My conversation with 1001Fontaines

💪 My incredible hour with Gary White

If you want to further understand the fascinating World of water, make sure to subscribe, and let's discuss all of the above in the comments!

In this episode:

00:00 TeamWater's achievements

02:27 About Me (so you know where I'm speaking from)

03:21 The Good

09:28 The Bad

15:11 The Overlooked

20:41 Epilogue

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

More #WaterTech insights? Get my free water investor database: https://investors.dww.show

🙌 Supporters 🙌

A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab

And a great shout-out to MentorAPM: https://mentorapm.com/

#️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

Overlooked Newsletter by Alexandre Devez: https://alexandre.substack.com/

Paul O'Callaghan's "The Dynamics of Water Innovation" book https://www.bluetechresearch.com/events-media/book/

My deep dive into PureTerra Ventures: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQhcJjYf9wA

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW

🙋 QUESTION: Should water tech embrace the "100 moonshots at $10M each" strategy that Prakash Govindan suggests, or stick with the David Ferrer playbook?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 How are 86% below 10%?

02:06 The Ferrer/Kyrgios Analogy

04:25 Finding 1 - The Side Bet Reality

06:44 Finding 2 - The Doughnut Hole Desert

08:47 Finding 3 - The 3 Tribes of Water Tourists

13:26 Finding 4 - The Portfolio Insurance Maths

17:04 Finding 5 - The Check Size Revelation

19:07 Finding 6 - The Adjacency Map

22:35 The "Prakash Challenge"

24:53 The Updated Playbook

27:20 Free Water Investor Database

About this Podcast: Welcome to the (don't) Waste Water podcast, the leading podcast for water industry professionals, investors, and entrepreneurs seeking deep insights into water tech innovation, investment trends, and strategic moves in the sector. Host Antoine Walter blends his technical expertise with sharp business acumen to deliver weekly episodes featuring candid conversations with C-suite executives, detailed analysis of major water industry developments, and practical insights for water tech startups and seasoned players alike.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

More #WaterTech insights? Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=6884833968848474112

🙌 Supporters 🙌

A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab

⬇️ IN THIS EPISODE ⬇️

Active Membrane transforms desalination membranes into electrically conductive "smart" membranes that actively repel scaling and fouling using proprietary coating technology that reduces resistivity by five orders of magnitude, eliminating traditional chemical pretreatment.

Arian Edalat is a desalination engineer with 22 years operating membrane plants who exemplifies water entrepreneurship by transitioning from operator to founder, launching Active Membrane in 2022 after licensing UCLA technology.

🌶️ KEY SPICES 🌶️

⚡ Electrically Conductive Coating: Proprietary technology enables active control of scaling through low-voltage AC current, reducing membrane resistivity from 10^7 to 100-200 ohms/square

💰 Dramatic Cost Reduction: Brackish water pilots achieved 32-60% lifecycle cost savings, reducing cleaning events from nine to three while increasing recovery from 75% to 92%

🔧 Scalable Manufacturing: Custom "Spitfire" coating machines enable low-capex franchise model, allowing regional partners to establish production facilities without massive infrastructure investment

🥜 IN A NUTSHELL 🥜

What makes membranes "active"? Active Membrane applies electrically conductive coating to standard RO membranes, then sends low-voltage current through them to repel charged contaminants and prevent scale nucleation.

How does it change desalination economics? Yuma pilots eliminated pretreatment chemicals entirely while increasing recovery to 92%, with only three cleaning events versus nine for conventional membranes, delivering 32-60% lifecycle cost savings.

What's the water tech production strategy? Rather than building centralized facilities, Active Membrane developed low-capex coating machines enabling franchise-style regional production, democratizing desalination access for underserved communities under 10,000 people.

#️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

Active Membranes' website: https://www.activemembrane.com/

Send Arian some email love: arian@activemembranes.com

My conversation with Peter Yolles (one of Active Membranes' investors): https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s12e14-how-echo-river-capital-sees-10x-water-returns-as-too-conservative

My interview with Prakash Govindan: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s11e1-an-unpopular-challenging-yet-true-take-on-venture-capital-in-water

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

More #WaterTech insights? Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=6884833968848474112

🙌 Supporters 🙌

A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab

And a great shout-out to Blue Foot Membranes: https://link.dww.show/bluefoot

#️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

Uravu's website: https://www.uravulabs.com

Connect with Swapnil on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/swapnil-shrivastav-374867aa/

Google X's (failed) attempt at Water Tech: https://youtu.be/GxwOSIz_cck

My conversation with Peter Yolles (one of Uravu's investors): https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s12e14-how-echo-river-capital-sees-10x-water-returns-as-too-conservative

My exploration of Source: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s7e2-expensive-heavy-but-desperately-needed-is-source-the-future-of-drinking-water

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 Introduction

01:52 Challenges in Atmospheric Water Generation

05:08 Data Centers and Atmospheric Water Generation

09:07 Introducing: Swapnil Shrivastav

15:16 Founding Story and Early Challenges

17:55 Technological Shifts and Market Focus

25:05 Desiccant Technology and Future Vision

29:20 System Design and Cost Efficiency

33:08 Business Models and Market Strategies

37:39 Challenges and Future Vision

51:32 Rapid Fire Questions

About this Podcast:

Welcome to the (don't) Waste Water podcast, the leading podcast for water industry professionals, investors, and entrepreneurs seeking deep insights into water tech innovation, investment trends, and strategic moves in the sector. Host Antoine Walter blends his technical expertise with sharp business acumen to deliver weekly episodes featuring candid conversations with C-suite executives, detailed analysis of major water industry developments, and practical insights for water tech startups and seasoned players alike.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

More #WaterTech insights? Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=6884833968848474112

🙌 Supporters 🙌

A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab

And a great shout-out to Blue Foot Membranes: https://link.dww.show/bluefoot

#️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

Evove's onsite lithium demonstration with Northern Lithium: https://www.evove.tech/dle-onsite-demo/

Evove's Lithium website: https://www.dle.technology/

Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reklawa/

Joe Lowry's (excellent!) Lithium podcast: https://www.globallithium.net/podcast

My conversation with Chris Wyres: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s9e7-how-to-eradicate-dead-zones-cut-energy-needs-by-80-and-double-lithium-selectivity

My conversation with Jay Keener (Altillion): https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s12e9-how-altillion-s-liquid-liquid-technology-redefines-resource-recovery

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 Introduction: Independence and Lithium Technology

04:15 In-Depth Discussion with Andrew Walker

08:25 Understanding DLE and Its Complexities

13:10 The Future of Lithium Extraction

29:25 Introducing Separonics: The Next Generation Technology

36:47 Lithium Extraction and Water Reuse in the Permian Basin

41:02 Ceramic vs. Polymeric Membranes

44:34 3D Printing in Membrane Manufacturing

48:14 Partnerships and Market Strategies

53:54 North American Projects and Challenges

59:37 South American Lithium Projects

01:02:02 Future Goals and Rapid Fire Questions

About this Podcast:

Welcome to the (don't) Waste Water podcast, the leading podcast for water industry professionals, investors, and entrepreneurs seeking deep insights into water tech innovation, investment trends, and strategic moves in the sector. Host Antoine Walter blends his technical expertise with sharp business acumen to deliver weekly episodes featuring candid conversations with C-suite executives, detailed analysis of major water industry developments, and practical insights for water tech startups and seasoned players alike.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

More #water insights? Subscribe to my newsletter, for free! https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=6884833968848474112

🙌 Supporters 🙌

A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab

And a great shout-out to Blue Foot Membranes: https://link.dww.show/bluefoot

#️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

MentorAPM's website: https://mentorapm.com/

Connect with Tacoma on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tacoma-zach-p-eng-0913514/

My interview with Amanda Siqueira from VAPAR: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s11e15-how-vapar-s-ai-makes-underground-pipe-inspections-seamless

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 Introduction

01:41 AI in Water Tech: Marketing vs Reality

08:29 Asset Management vs Asset Performance Management

14:53 Tailoring Asset Management to Water

24:16 The Journey of MentorAPM

37:31 The Role of AI in Asset Management

41:12 Understanding AI Claims and Customer Trust

43:36 Predictive Maintenance and Customer Data

46:20 MentorLens: A Game Changer for Utilities

49:45 Go-to-Market Strategy and Consultant Relationships

52:01 Empowering Customers with Simple Software

01:00:55 Growth, Profitability, and Market Consolidation

01:08:02 Vision for the Future and AI Integration

01:16:07 Rapid Fire Questions

#WaterTech #WaterAI #Growth

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Google spent 4 YEARS secretly developing a device that pulls safe drinking water from thin air using only sunlight. They proved it worked. They proved it could help over 1 BILLION people without clean water. Then they just... quit and open-sourced everything in 2021. 😅

Meanwhile, billionaires like Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg poured millions into competing startups trying to solve the same problem, with no better results.

What made Google's own engineers walk away from technology that could change the world?

As #TeamWater is about to make its comeback, there's a lot to learn here!

🙌 Supporters 🙌

A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab

And a great shout-out to Blue Foot Membranes: https://link.dww.show/bluefoot

#️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

The Google H2E Collection: https://x.company/collection/h2e/

Google's open-sourced geo layers: https://github.com/AWH-GlobalPotential-X/AWH-Geo?tab=readme-ov-file

Google's open-sourced CAD drawings: https://github.com/google/h2e_technical_documentation/tree/main

The Google X Team's Nature Article: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03900-w.pdf

The thermodynamics of Atmospheric Water Generation: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10293683/#:~:text=Inserting%20the%20constants%20from%20Appendix,heat%20pumps%20and%20heat%20engines

Science's recent article on the topic: https://www.science.org/content/article/devices-pull-water-out-thin-air-poised-take

My interview with Colin Goddard: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s7e2-expensive-heavy-but-desperately-needed-is-source-the-future-of-drinking-water

👋 SOCIAL MEDIA 👋

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=6884833968848474112

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 Google's forgotten device

01:01 Clean Water: A Moonshot Challenge?

02:21 Google H2E

04:35 Missing the Target (by 10x)

05:45 Open-Sourcing

07:05 More competition?

08:30 The Main Problem

10:31 Giving Up?

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

For more water tech insights, subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/6884833968848474112/

🙌 Supporters 🙌

A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab

And a great shout-out to Blue Foot Membranes: https://link.dww.show/bluefoot

#️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

H2Plus Website: https://h2plus.com/

Degradation of PFAS with Hydrated Electrons: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.2c01469

H2Plus Patents: https://patents.google.com/?q=(%22H2plus%22)&oq=%22H2plus%22 Ican

My Due Diligence on H2Plus's Technology:

My conversation with Gerald Pollack: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTnqiNMolpg

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

02:31 Understanding Restructured Water Molecules

03:31 The Technology Behind H2 Plus

09:23 Comparing Technologies: Electrochemical Oxidation and Ozone

15:45 Applications and Success Stories

20:00 Focus on PFAS Destruction

23:09 Michigan Pilot Project

28:33 Successful Trials and Studies

30:56 Explaining the Technology

34:10 Challenges and Drawbacks

37:02 Commercial Scale and Market Adoption

44:34 Future Vision and Goals

46:54 Rapid Fire Questions

51:32 Conclusion and Call to Action

#WaterTech #PFAS

About this Video: Welcome to the (don't) Waste Water podcast! In each episode, Antoine Walter from DWW Media shares water, wastewater & water entrepreneurship stories. This show will teach you the water industry like you've never seen it. If you're asking how the water sector will overcome the water crises ahead, this video is for you.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

For more water tech insights, subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/6884833968848474112/

🙌 Supporters 🙌

A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab

And a great shout-out to Blue Foot Membranes: https://link.dww.show/bluefoot

#️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

H2Plus Website: https://h2plus.com/

Degradation of PFAS with Hydrated Electrons: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.2c01469

H2Plus Patents: https://patents.google.com/?q=(%22H2plus%22)&oq=%22H2plus%22 Ican

Cooper's PFAS cost estimates: https://nyfederation.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/pdf2024/11%20CooperI.pdf

GWI's PFAS market map is available on their data platform: https://www.gwiwaterdata.com/

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 The $9 Billion PFAS Game

02:07 Hydrated Electrons?

04:14 Defluorinating PFAS

05:10 Generating Hydrated Electrons

06:04 Pros and Cons of Hydrated Electrons

07:42 H2Plus' Twist on Hydrated Electrons

10:03 Does H2Plus's approach work?

10:27 At What Cost?

12:59 What's H2Plus's TRL?

14:30 My Personal Take

15:18 To Learn More

16:23 Sponsor: SimpleLab

#PFAS #WaterTreatment #WaterTech

🎙️ PODCAST 🎙️

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

👋 SOCIAL MEDIA 👋

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dwwpodcast/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AntoineWalter7

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DontWasteWaterPodcast

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Wanna dive deeper into water investment? Get my FREE exhaustive list of water tech investors (that cut 2+ checks) here: https://investors.dww.show/

🙌 Supporters 🙌

A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab

And a great shout-out to Blue Foot Membranes: https://link.dww.show/bluefoot

#️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

PureTerra Ventures' website: https://www.pureterra.com/

Connect with Gijs: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gijsdebruin/

Drop Alex a message: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexander-crowell-52196a45/

Get in touch with Dylan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dylan-perales/

Reach out to Liza: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizafaber/

Get to know Transcend: https://transcendinfra.com/

XPV Water Partners: https://xpvwaterpartners.com/

My conversation with Tom Ferguson (Burnt Island Ventures): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4g-8j8ulWNA

My interview with Peter Yolles (Echo River Capital): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sayph9at-kY

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 In This Week's Episode

00:32 Fast Forward to 2033

04:11 The Origin Story

07:54 A Crazy Idea?

10:27 First Investment, First Failure

13:10 Sponsor: SimpleLab

13:47 Learning from Failure

19:22 PureTerra's Signature DD

23:41 The Entrepreneur/Investor Bond

26:25 Sponsor: BlueFoot Membranes

27:19 Water: A Difficult Market?

30:30 An inflection point?

32:41 Water: a Specialist Play

35:35 Building Track Record

37:02 The Coolest Kid

40:48 The Vision

43:58 The Mission

46:20 Conclusion

#WaterInvestment #VentureCapital

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/6884833968848474112/

🙌 Supporters 🙌

A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab

And a great shout-out to Blue Foot Membranes: https://link.dww.show/bluefoot

#️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

Black Jaguar Foundation: https://blackjaguarfoundation.org/

Tree Love: https://treelove.org/

IMTA (Mexican Institute for Water Technology): https://www.gob.mx/imta

Teaser for  ⁨@scienswater⁩ 's 2025 conference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rx4Dq7gMXSk

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 Introduction

03:25 1 - Poor Pay $100, Rich Pay $40

14:06 2 - Skip One Flood, Save Millions

26:29 3 - $1 Trees vs €10 Trees

37:48 Take Home Message

📝 IN THIS WEEK'S EPISODE

🌳 How planting indigenous Amazon trees creates water corridors and helps farmers comply with Brazil's 20% reforestation law while fighting invasive grass species

💧 Why Guatemala's private water company extracts from 1,200 feet deep because the first 600 feet are too polluted, and how they provide 30% of the municipality's water supply

🏛️ How Mexico's sinking cathedral reveals groundwater overextraction challenges, while 70-80% of water goes to flood irrigation agriculture

💰 Why the poorest communities pay $100/month for water while middle-class pays $40, and how lack of trust in tap water quality drives bottled water spending

📊 How smart irrigation technology and real-time soil moisture monitoring can save millions of cubic meters by reducing just one flood irrigation event per crop cycle

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

More #water insights? Subscribe to my newsletter on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=6884833968848474112

🙌 Supporters 🙌

A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab

And a great shout-out to Blue Foot Membranes: https://link.dww.show/bluefoot

#️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

My TED Talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/antoine_walter_what_s_the_value_of_your_poop

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

📝 IN THIS WEEK'S EPISODE

💰 How the Permian Basin produces 3.5 million cubic meters of water daily but only reuses 25% - and why the math actually favors reuse at $8.22 vs $9.55 per barrel

🏜️ Why oil fields in America's driest regions dispose of enough water to fill 1,400 swimming pools daily instead of reusing it in desert conditions

⚖️ The complex economics behind water reuse decisions involving treatment costs, transport expenses, mineral recovery opportunities, and earthquake liability insurance

🔬 How produced water contains valuable minerals like lithium (30 ppm) and magnesium (1000 ppm) that could generate 40 cents per barrel in additional revenue

🏭 Why data centers and industrial cooling operations in the Permian create new markets for treated produced water

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

🙌 Supporters 🙌

A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab

And a great shout-out to Blue Foot Membranes: https://link.dww.show/bluefoot

#️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

Diamidex's crowdfunding campaign: https://www.invesdor.com/rounds/0cd04be7-da71-4b8f-be26-6a778d2648dd?utm_campaign=c.diamidex_nr1.ex&utm_source=website&utm_medium=referral#/

The 2022 Nobel Prize they leverage in their technology: https://www.nobelprize.org/uploads/2022/10/press-chemistryprize2022-2.pdf

Diamidex's website: https://diamidex.com/

Connect with Sam on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-dukan/

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 In this week's Episode

01:31 Should you invest in Diamidex?

03:34 Technological Breakthroughs in Microbial Detection

11:11 Development Journey and Challenges

20:21 Product Launch and Market Feedback

28:21 Future Prospects and Innovations

32:38 Addressing the Elephant in the Room: Regulation

35:57 Global Adoption and Market Strategies

47:24 Business Model and Revenue Streams

53:56 Future Vision and Growth Strategies

59:33 Rapid Fire Questions and Closing Remarks

📝 IN THIS WEEK'S EPISODE

🔬 How a 10-year journey from CNRS research director to water tech entrepreneur led to a breakthrough that counts microorganisms 4-7x faster than century-old Petri dish methods

🚀 Why this technology delivers results in 6 hours for E. coli instead of 24 hours and 2 days for Legionella instead of 10 days, while maintaining exact regulatory compliance

💡 The secret sauce combining optics, click chemistry (Nobel Prize 2022), and machine learning that makes invisible microbes visible and countable at the micro-colony stage

🏭 How major pharmaceutical and beverage companies are knocking on Diamidex's door, with one global partnership launching end of 2024 and acquisition talks already underway

💰 The razor-blade business model targeting 75-80% recurring revenue from consumables, with equipment potentially given free to high-volume customers, generating €500K annually

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

🙌 Supporters 🙌

A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab

And a great shout-out to Blue Foot Membranes: https://link.dww.show/bluefoot

#️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

The Investor Database: https://investors.dww.show/

My exploration of (failing) Small Cap Water Stocks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Flen_vwx0kQ

My conversations with Nicola Lei Ravello: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s2e13-can-we-turn-finance-astoundingly-into-the-water-sector-s-new-best-ally
https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s5e18-how-to-admit-value-and-actually-overcome-the-economic-risk-of-water

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 Making Money from Water Stocks?

04:39 The Key Data 07:45 Sponsor: SimpleLab

08:28 Finding 1

10:36 Finding 2

12:02 Finding 3

13:30 Finding 4

15:13 Finding 5

17:02 Finding 6

18:50 Finding 7

19:57 Bonus Finding

22:11 Sponsor: Blue Foot Membranes

23:07 Strategy 1

24:59 Strategy 2

27:07 Strategy 3

29:14 Bonus Strategy

31:57 Conclusion

In this week's episode:
After analyzing 139 publicly traded water companies and uncovering systematic market mispricing, this water engineer reveals seven data-driven insights showing how water stocks trade at a 12% discount to the S&P 500 despite their defensive characteristics, with Asian companies undervalued by 50% and digital transformation creating 65% valuation premiums. The research exposes three investment strategies ranging from conservative "boring money" portfolios to aggressive geographic arbitrage plays that could potentially deliver 8-25% annual returns by exploiting Wall Street's lack of water industry expertise.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

🙌 Supporters 🙌

A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab

And a great shout-out to Blue Foot Membranes: https://link.dww.show/bluefoot

#️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

Mirka's email: MWilderer@aqueousvets.com

AqueoUS Vets' website: https://aqueousvets.com/home

PFAS Sensing with FREDsense: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s12e18

Bain Capital acquires AqueoUS Vets: https://www.baincapital.com/news/water-treatment-innovator-aqueous-vets-secures-growth-investment-bain-capital-double-impact

My conversation with Transcend (ages ago! 😅): https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/17-save-time-boost-value-and-wow-customers-in-a-snap-with-these-5-simple-ai-steps

AqueoUS Vets acquires Dixie Tanks: https://www.pehub.com/bain-capital-backed-aqueous-vets-buys-manufacturer-dixie-tank-company/

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 Introduction

01:45 Private Equity and Water Investments

04:54 AqueoUS Vets: Vision and Strategy

06:08 Innovations in PFAS Removal

08:40 Concept to Commission Approach

11:22 Nationwide Expansion and Vertical Integration

15:04 Media Agnostic Solutions

21:18 Future Technologies and Market Trends

26:11 The Importance of Focus in Business Strategy

28:03 Competing with Industry Giants

31:19 Navigating US Tariffs and Local Manufacturing

33:29 The Future of PFAS Regulation and Market Growth

36:44 Bain's Role and Impact Investment

42:39 Scaling and Operational Efficiency

47:51 Rapid Fire Questions

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

🙌 Supporters 🙌

A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab

And a great shout-out to Blue Foot Membranes: https://link.dww.show/bluefoot

#️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

Lithiated Water - Health Hack or Snake Oil? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNm9fDAAUzk

PFAS in your Tap Water? Don't Panic! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPLgE2ZuSqk

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 5 Million Perrier Bottles Destroyed

00:53 The End of Perrier?

09:28 Why Europeans Venerate Mineral Water

11:01 How Perrier Kickstarted a $300B Industry

12:53 The Ever Increasing Groundwater Contamination

17:14 Epilogue (will Nestlé Sell?)

About this Podcast:

Welcome to the (don't) Waste Water podcast, the leading podcast for water industry professionals, investors, and entrepreneurs seeking deep insights into water tech innovation, investment trends, and strategic moves in the sector. Host Antoine Walter blends his technical expertise with sharp business acumen to deliver weekly episodes featuring candid conversations with C-suite executives, detailed analysis of major water industry developments, and practical insights for water tech startups and seasoned players alike.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

🙌 Supporters 🙌

A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab

And a great shout-out to Blue Foot Membranes: https://link.dww.show/bluefoot

#️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

Pennybacker acquires Cambrian: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTWw9A3S7hU

Sciens Water's Take at the US Water Crisis: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrmORG1scuqIo9oW3O5rLcSe--SulfqHz

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 LG Chem's Water Solutions Sales

00:28 The Story

05:55 The 3 Reasons to Sell

09:17 Private Equity's Appetite for Water

13:57 What Now?

15:49 My 4 Bolt-On Acquisitions Ideas

19:06 Why This Matters (a lot!)

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

🙌 Supporters 🙌

A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab

And a great shout-out to Blue Foot Membranes: https://link.dww.show/bluefoot

#️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

GWI Waterdata: https://www.gwiwaterdata.com/

UltraFacility: https://www.ultrafacility.io/

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 The Most Influential Water Conference

02:11 1 - Water Meets Money

27:51 2 - 5 Water Analyst Picks

38:29 3 - My Take-Home from GWS 25

46:17 4 - 7 Picks from Select Experts

53:04 What's next?

#WaterMeetsMoney #WaterTech

About this Podcast: Welcome to the (don't) Waste Water podcast! In each episode, Antoine Walter from DWW Media shares water, wastewater & water entrepreneurship stories. This show will teach you the water industry like you've never seen it. If you're asking how the water sector will overcome the water crises ahead, this video is for you.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

🙌 Supporters 🙌

A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab

And a great shout-out to Blue Foot Membranes: https://link.dww.show/bluefoot

#️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

FREDsense's website: https://fredsense.com/

Reach out to Emily on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilyhicks12/

Check out Julie Bliss Mullen's interview on the podcast: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s11e2-how-aclarity-bootstrapped-its-journey-from-b2c-to-pfas-destruction

Flashback to Meena Sankaran's appearance on the mic': https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s3e7-is-software-to-measure-water-quality-actually-a-matter-of-hardware

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 In this week's episode

01:27 The EPA vs AWWA PFAS lawsuit

04:20 The Economic Impact of PFAS Regulations

06:37 FREDsense and Emily Hicks' journey

10:51 Technical Insights

15:13 Real-World Applications and Case Studies

32:58 PFAS Market Demand and Education

36:51 Global Market Focus and Expansion

39:18 Hardware Development and Bootstrapping

45:48 Business Models and Revenue Streams

47:27 Future Vision and Technological Roadmap

54:51 Rapid Fire Questions

📝 IN THIS WEEK'S EPISODE

🚀 How FREDsense delivers PFAS testing in 5 days vs. industry standard 5 weeks through biosensor technology

💰 The bootstrapped journey from $25K water bottle crowdfunding campaign to pioneering field PFAS detection kits

🔬 Why the company pivoted from arsenic and COVID detection to focusing purely on PFAS chemistry and unmet market needs

🛠️ What makes on-site PFAS testing possible: polymer-based biosensors that bind and measure down to part-per-trillion levels

🤝 Strategic partnerships with treatment leaders like Clarity, Axl, and Avivo for service lab rapid turnaround offerings

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

#️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

Johns Hopkins study on PFAS in Bottled Water: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34118648/

Study on PFAS in Beer: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40272161/

The Toronto Paper on LCMS to detect PFAS at ppt levels: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/ac0100648

Decline in vaccine efficiency linked with blood PFAS levels: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22274686/

Increased cholesterol linked with PFAS in blood: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3116641/

Pregnancy disorders linked with PFAS: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35696844/

The AWWA vs EPA lawsuit: https://www.awwa.org/resource/pfas/

Tapscore's PFAS screening test: https://mytapscore.com/products/epa-8327-pfas-screen-water-test

10 PFAS questions answered: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dlH0RSCtH0

🎙️ PODCAST 🎙️

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

👋 SOCIAL MEDIA 👋

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 The PFAS letter

01:23 Detecting PFAS

04:12 There's PFAS. Then what?

06:01 PFAS contamination odds

07:30 PFAS Health Impacts

08:47 3 Wrong Reactions

09:25 PFAS in Bottled Water

13:54 PFAS in Beer

14:42 Solution 1

17:57 Solution 2

19:31 The BEST Solution

22:10 Next Steps

📝 IN THIS VIDEO

💌 Why you're receiving PFAS notification letters and what they actually mean for your health and water quality

🧪 The surprising truth about PFAS in bottled water and beer, with eye-opening research revealing widespread contamination

💰 Why individual filtration costs 200 times more than community solutions, with a detailed cost breakdown of all your options

🚿 Three practical solutions to protect your family from PFAS, with one clear winner that most people overlook

🔬 How water analytics has evolved from detecting "poo in your drinking water" to measuring trace contaminants at parts per trillion

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

🙌 Supporters 🙌

A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab

And a great shout-out to Blue Foot Membranes: https://link.dww.show/bluefoot

#️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Episode #️⃣
Connect with Peter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-christou-4b758043/

Swirltex' website: https://swirltex.com/

Peter's first appearance on the podcast: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s11e5-how-swirltex-nearly-crushed-its-founder-before-taking-off

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 In this Week's Episode

01:49 Innovation in Membrane Technology

04:32 Strategic Pivot and Market Focus

08:39 Sales and Testing Process

16:31 Client Relationships and Support

21:31 Market Expansion and Partnerships

25:45 Scaling and Growth Strategy

30:49 Future Plans and Market Expansion

40:15 Execution and Infrastructure

48:18 2030 Vision

📝 IN THIS WEEK'S EPISODE

🔄 How Swirltex's revolutionary membrane technology creates a 50/50 air-water mixture under pressure, achieving unprecedented filtration performance without traditional pre-treatment

💰 Why the company's strategic pivot to standardized membrane skids builds 24% recurring revenue while targeting Food & Beverage as their primary vertical (90% of sales)

🌊 How their unique testing process allows clients to see exact removal rates before proposals, solving consistency problems that plague traditional filtration technologies like DAF

🚀 Inside the company's growth strategy, balancing $5M in confirmed projects while raising capital to scale from direct sales to channel partners and OEM relationships

🔬 The technological breakthrough that makes their membranes excel at handling oil, grease, and colloidal materials that would quickly foul conventional membrane systems

About this Podcast:

Welcome to the (don't) Waste Water podcast, the leading podcast for water industry professionals, investors, and entrepreneurs seeking deep insights into water tech innovation, investment trends, and strategic moves in the sector. Host Antoine Walter blends his technical expertise with sharp business acumen to deliver weekly episodes featuring candid conversations with C-suite executives, detailed analysis of major water industry developments, and practical insights for water tech startups and seasoned players alike.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

🙌 Supporters 🙌

A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab

And a great shout-out to Blue Foot Membranes: https://link.dww.show/bluefoot

#️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Episode #️⃣
The Dynamics of Water Innovation Book: https://www.bluetechresearch.com/the-dynamics-of-water-innovation/

Global Water Intelligence's WaterData: https://www.gwiwaterdata.com/

My Review of Paul O'Callaghan's book: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A36PsBc1cnc

My deep dive in Water Tech's growth stage investment scene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqQwOC-ys4c

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 Why start-up founders matter to investors

01:02 The Universal Sequence

02:33 3 Red Flags that Predict Failure

03:45 Methodology

05:40 Sponsor
06:26 1. Founders' Profile

08:23 2. Fundraising Events
10:06 3. Market Events

12:13 4. Team Development

15:02 5. Board Structure

16:47 6. Future Evolution

18:24 Sponsor

📝 IN THIS WEEK'S EPISODE

🔍 The critical 5-step sequence that predicts 83% of founder departures (and how board appointments trigger the countdown)

💼 Why hiring velocity is the second strongest predictor of founder exits, and what happens when a company reaches 80 employees

🚩 The three red flags that doom startups after founder departures, including why losing two founders in 24 months leads to 72% failure rate

💰 How fundraising impacts founder tenure and why hardware companies see 8% higher founder turnover than software startups

🌐 The surprising geographical differences in founder longevity across regions and what market milestones actually keep founders engaged

About this Podcast:

Welcome to the (don't) Waste Water podcast, the leading podcast for water industry professionals, investors, and entrepreneurs seeking deep insights into water tech innovation, investment trends, and strategic moves in the sector. Host Antoine Walter blends his technical expertise with sharp business acumen to deliver weekly episodes featuring candid conversations with C-suite executives, detailed analysis of major water industry developments, and practical insights for water tech startups and seasoned players alike.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

🙌 Supporters 🙌

A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab

And a great shout-out to Blue Foot Membranes: https://link.dww.show/bluefoot

#️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Episode #️⃣
Connect with Stephan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephan-van-hoof-bb77316/

BlueFoot Membranes was spun out from VITO: https://vito.be/en

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 In this Week's Episode

01:38 The Membrane Market

04:38 Unique Features and Benefits

11:03 Stephan's Journey and Blue Foot's Growth

16:01 Commercial Strategy and Partnerships

22:44 Global Expansion Strategies

27:39 OEM Strategy and Customer Relations

32:46 Future Growth and Funding Plans

37:27 Rapid Fire Questions

📝 IN THIS WEEK'S EPISODE

🧠 How Blue Foot combines the best features of flat sheet, tubular, and ceramic membranes into one unbreakable solution

💧 The journey from VITO spin-off to scaling a disruptive membrane technology with OEM partnerships across Europe, Southeast Asia, and Australia

⚡ The real-world benefits of 50% lower energy consumption and compact footprint that's changing how industries approach water reuse

💼 Why Blue Foot's strategic fundraising of €15 million supports their ambitious 2028 target of €40 million revenue with 100% annual growth

🏭 How breakthrough membrane technology is enabling water reuse in challenging industrial applications like breweries and slaughterhouses

About this Podcast:

Welcome to the (don't) Waste Water podcast, the leading podcast for water industry professionals, investors, and entrepreneurs seeking deep insights into water tech innovation, investment trends, and strategic moves in the sector. Host Antoine Walter blends his technical expertise with sharp business acumen to deliver weekly episodes featuring candid conversations with C-suite executives, detailed analysis of major water industry developments, and practical insights for water tech startups and seasoned players alike.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

How? Listen to this!

More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

🙌 Supporters 🙌

A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab

And a great shout-out to Blue Foot Membranes: https://link.dww.show/bluefoot

#️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

Echo River Capital: https://www.echorivercap.com/

Reach out to Peter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yolles/

Epic Cleantec on the mic': https://link.dww.show/epic

Aclarity on the mic': https://link.dww.show/pfas-aclarity

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

📝 IN THIS WEEK'S EPISODE

💸 How Echo River Capital aims for 100X returns in water tech and why Peter believes it's possible within a 10-year investment window

🔬 The "Three Ds" investment thesis - digitize, decarbonize, and decentralize - that guides Peter's strategy in the water technology sector

🏢 Why the 20th century centralized water systems are collapsing and how new decentralized solutions represent billion-dollar opportunities

🌎 How water tech companies can monetize carbon reductions through voluntary carbon markets, opening new revenue streams beyond traditional water utility customers

🚀 Why Peter focuses on university spin-outs with validated technology but pre-commercial status, and how this approach shortens the path to successful exits

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

02:23 The Quest for 100x Returns in Water Tech

07:17 Peter's Journey from Entrepreneur to Investor

09:13 Echo River's Unique Approach to Early-Stage Investments

21:32 The Three Ds of Water Tech

26:48 Decarbonization and Its Business Potential

30:48 The Future of Water Tech Investments

35:17 Is 100x Achievable?

40:18 Investor Literacy in Water

47:47 Future of Water Investments

01:02:18 Rapid Fire Questions

About this Podcast:

Welcome to the (don't) Waste Water podcast, the leading podcast for water industry professionals, investors, and entrepreneurs seeking deep insights into water tech innovation, investment trends, and strategic moves in the sector. Host Antoine Walter blends his technical expertise with sharp business acumen to deliver weekly episodes featuring candid conversations with C-suite executives, detailed analysis of major water industry developments, and practical insights for water tech startups and seasoned players alike.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

🙌 Supporters 🙌

A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://gosimplelab.com/

And a great shout-out to Blue Foot Membranes: https://bluefootmembranes.com/

#️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

1001 Fontaines' website: https://www.1001fontaines.com/

Amandine's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandine-muret-1a14b369/

Send Amandine a mail: am.muret@1001fontaines.com

My conversation with Gary White: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s11e13-the-world-s-best-water-entrepreneur-actually-runs-a-charity

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

📝 IN THIS WEEK'S EPISODE

🧪 How 1001 Fontaines pioneered a business-minded approach to water access 20 years ago when most NGOs strongly opposed the idea of selling water to vulnerable populations

🏗️ The innovative decentralized water kiosk model that empowers local entrepreneurs while ensuring water quality, service continuity, and affordability

💰 Why focusing on drinking water quality (1.5L per person daily) rather than complete domestic water needs creates a more sustainable and effective solution in rural areas

🌏 How the organization has evolved from Cambodia to Madagascar and Bangladesh, adapting its model from rural kiosks to urban hub-and-spoke systems while maintaining its core mission

🔄 The challenges of working in regulatory "gray areas" and why bottled water as a utility deserves recognition in global water access frameworks

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 Introduction

02:03 Changing Our Approach of Water Development

03:57 The Role of Bottled Water in Rural Areas

04:58 World Water Day Reflections

06:17 The Complexity of Safe Water Access

08:54 1001 Fountains' Unique Model

11:21 Entrepreneurial Approach to Water Development

25:36 Sustainability and Long-Term Impact

39:13 Navigating Legal and Policy Challenges

44:45 Marketing Strategies and Entrepreneur Support

55:28 Funding and Financial Strategies

59:50 Future Directions

01:09:29 Rapid Fire Questions

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

🙌 Supporters 🙌

A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://gosimplelab.com/

And a great shout-out to Blue Foot Membranes: https://bluefootmembranes.com/

#️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

Connect with Will Hewes on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-hewes-61947232/

Check out Amazon's take to Water Stewardship: https://sustainability.aboutamazon.com/natural-resources/water

My conversation with Botanical Water: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/how-tomatoes-become-drinking-water-and-microsoft-wants-in

My conversation with FIDO Tech: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s5e4-how-to-save-time-money-and-water-thanks-to-92-accurate-leak-detection

My discussion with Lauren Kenyon Enright on measuring Water Stewardship: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s11e9-how-to-end-bullshit-and-measure-your-water-stewardship-commitments-right

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

📝 IN THIS WEEK'S EPISODE

💧 How AWS manages water in data centers while pursuing ambitious water-positive goals by 2030

🔍 The tech and strategies making AWS 10x more water-efficient than industry average with just 0.18L per kilowatt-hour

♻️ Why recycled wastewater and smart replenishment projects are the foundation of AWS's sustainability approach

📊 The metrics and methodology behind AWS's water-positive pledge and how they've already reached 41% of their target

🌱 Real-world examples of innovative water projects in Chile, Brazil, and Ohio that are transforming local watersheds and agriculture

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 Introduction

02:27 Editorial

05:19 Water Efficiency in Data Centers

13:56 Replenishment Goals and Strategies

22:07 Community-Driven Water Replenishment Projects

25:14 Balancing Innovation and Risk

30:39 Scaling Agricultural Water Efficiency

35:36 Future of Water Replenishment and Sustainability

39:29 Rapid Fire Questions

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

Check out SimpleLab: https://gosimplelab.com/

Check out Blue Foot Membranes: https://bluefootmembranes.com/

#️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

Hope Hydration: https://www.hopehydration.com/

QUA's nomination for the Global Water Awards: https://globalwaterawards.com/

Holland Sensor: https://hollandsensor.com/

SUIKI by TDK: https://suiki.earth/

REDstack: https://www.redstack.nl/

Oxyle: https://oxyle.com/

Aquagga: https://www.aquagga.com/

Puraffinity: https://www.puraffinity.com/technology

Purgatoria: https://purgatoria.nl/en/

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 Key Facts about Aquatech 2025

00:51 Pick 5: Hope Hydration

15:31 Pick 4: QUA

24:07 Pick 3: Holland Sensor

33:12 Pick 2: SUIKI (by TDK)

44:49 Pick 1: REDstack

1:04:15 Aquatech's Digital Derby

1:07:11 Contestant 1: Oxyle

1:11:32 Contestant 2: Aquagga

1:16:50 Contestant 3: Puraffinity

1:21:27 Audience Questions

1:24:55 And the winner is...

1:25:39 Closing Thoughts

About this Podcast:

Welcome to the (don't) Waste Water podcast, the leading podcast for water industry professionals, investors, and entrepreneurs seeking deep insights into water tech innovation, investment trends, and strategic moves in the sector. Host Antoine Walter blends his technical expertise with sharp business acumen to deliver weekly episodes featuring candid conversations with C-suite executives, detailed analysis of major water industry developments, and practical insights for water tech startups and seasoned players alike.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

What consequences will it have for Lithium Projects around the World? Who's secretly celebrating this export ban, and why? What are quick fixes and long-term solutions? How does this play more broadly in China's long game in the EV revolution? Let's find out!

Check out SimpleLab: https://gosimplelab.com/

Check out Blue Foot Membranes: https://bluefootmembranes.com/

#️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

My exploration of Eramet (and beyond) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3bMCdZj760

My interview with Standard Lithium's CEO - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rz3w6IAy_38

My exploration of the Salton Sea - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fN9pmk83_xo

My short on Simbol Material - https://www.youtube.com/shorts/q_2SCrDkC-A

My Lithium Project - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeZJpBySIQo

🎙️ PODCAST 🎙️

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

👋 SOCIAL MEDIA 👋

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 The Chinese ban on DLE Technology Export

01:10 What is China "Retiring"?

06:35 Which Lithium Projects are Impacted?

17:22 Who are the Winners?

24:02 Why did China ban the export of DLE Tech?

#DLE #Lithium #DirectLithiumExtraction

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

Big thanks to my sponsor, SimpleLab: https://gosimplelab.com/

#️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

Turing's Series A: https://theturingcompany.com/turing-secures-14-million-to-scale-ai-powered-water-management-solutions/

Hiep Le's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hiep-le-187a7a14/

Prakash Govindan's appearance on the podcast: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s11e1-an-unpopular-challenging-yet-true-take-on-venture-capital-in-water

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 In this weel's Episode

02:57 Turing's Journey

05:18 Understanding Real-Time Operational Excellence

07:22 The Story Behind Turing's Formation

12:36 Turing's $14 Million Series A Round

19:24 Turing's Diverse Clientele and Solutions

21:47 Innovations in Singapore's Water Management

24:24 Ideal Customer Profiles & Business Model

29:06 Geographical Expansion

31:20 Adoption Hurdles and Customer Retention

33:49 Revenue, Profitability, and Future Goals

37:51 Rapid Fire Questions

About this Podcast:

Welcome to the (don't) Waste Water podcast, the leading podcast for water industry professionals, investors, and entrepreneurs seeking deep insights into water tech innovation, investment trends, and strategic moves in the sector. Host Antoine Walter blends his technical expertise with sharp business acumen to deliver weekly episodes featuring candid conversations with C-suite executives, detailed analysis of major water industry developments, and practical insights for water tech startups and seasoned players alike.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

A big thanks to my sponsor, SimpleLab! https://gosimplelab.com/

In short: CrustaTec is transforming shrimp shell waste into sustainable water treatment solutions. Using chitosan, a polymer extracted from shrimp shells, they've developed both a filter for textile dye removal and a natural flocculant for wastewater treatment that offers an eco-friendly alternative to traditional chemical treatments.

#️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Episode #️⃣

Crustatec's website: http://crustatec.com/

Maria's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amorinmariaisabel/

The World Bank's Water Youth Innovation Challenge: https://blogs.worldbank.org/en/jobs/calling-youth-aquapreneurs-water-your-innovations-climate-crisis

The EAWAG's website: https://www.eawag.ch/en/

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

About this Podcast:

Welcome to the (don't) Waste Water podcast, the leading podcast for water industry professionals, investors, and entrepreneurs seeking deep insights into water tech innovation, investment trends, and strategic moves in the sector. Host Antoine Walter blends his technical expertise with sharp business acumen to deliver weekly episodes featuring candid conversations with C-suite executives, detailed analysis of major water industry developments, and practical insights for water tech startups and seasoned players alike.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

A big thanks to my sponsor, SimpleLab! https://gosimplelab.com/

I know the future - so let me share it!

Indeed, yes, I did it again: I drowned myself in 153'482 LinkedIn ads for the keywords "Water" and "Wastewater" from Q2 to Q3 2024 (using a “slightly homemade” scraping approach - please forgive me, LinkedIn!).

I did so, looking for the signals companies believe will make them money in 2025 - that's how I know the future.

Why ads, you ask? Well, for a simple reason: businesses rarely burn ad budgets on dead-ends.

So, if they’re paying to talk about it, they must see an ROI!

Here’s the executive summary of what I learned: that's hopefully enough to give you plenty of conversation starters and investment hints!

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 Why and How I Investigated LinkedIn Ads

07:27 Where is the Real Money Flowing?

10:44 What's behind the buzzword Innovation?

13:53 Which water crisis are companies betting on?

17:03 Sponsor: SimpleLab

17:56 Who's Hiring? And for Which Roles?

21:08 Utilities vs Tech Providers

23:16 What's Overlooked or Oversaturated?

26:18 How are Events shaping the Conversation?

29:00 Which buzzwords lead the Narrative?

31:55 Overall Patterns & FInal Thoughts

#WaterTech #WaterIndustry

About this Podcast: Welcome to the (don't) Waste Water podcast! In each episode, Antoine Walter from DWW Media shares water, wastewater & water entrepreneurship stories. This show will teach you the water industry like you've never seen it. If you're asking how the water sector will overcome the water crises ahead, this video is for you.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

🎙️ PODCAST 🎙️

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

📝 Let's review:

💰 The surprising details behind GI Aqua Tech's billion-dollar valuation and what it means for water tech

🔄 How GI Aqua Tech's 25-30x multiple compares against industry standards and tech sector benchmarks

🌟 The Saudi connection: unpacking the Modon contract and its role in justifying the unicorn status

🤔 The clever marketing strategy behind self-proclaimed unicorn status and its potential implications for future funding rounds

and... if I missed anything, let's discuss it in the comments!

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

Thanks to my sponsor, SimpleLab! Check them out ➡️ https://gosimplelab.com/

#️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

Altillion's website: https://www.altillion.com/

Connect with Jay Keener on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jay-keener/

My conversation with Chris Wyres from Evove: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s9e7-how-to-eradicate-dead-zones-cut-energy-needs-by-80-and-double-lithium-selectivity

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 Introduction and Background

02:04 Startup Life in Watertech

04:35 Deep Dive into Liquid-Liquid Extraction

10:46 Jay Keener's Entrepreneurial Journey

15:05 The Story of Xedia Process Solutions

22:14 The Birth of Altillion

29:04 Altillion's Focus on Lithium Extraction

34:11 Collaboration with DLE Companies

41:40 Pilot Projects and Future Plans

54:11 Rapid Fire Questions

🔄 Traditional solvent extraction requires 5-7 stages with minutes of residence time per stage - Altillion achieves better results in just 2 stages with seconds of residence time

🧪 Recovery efficiency remains consistent regardless of starting concentration - they can extract lithium down to 3-4 ppm whether starting from 20 ppm or 2000 ppm

💰 The focus in lithium extraction is shifting from OpEx to CapEx reduction due to high interest rates and financing challenges

🤝 In nascent industries like lithium extraction, collaboration between "competitors" often creates more value than pure competition

🏭 What looks like a complex water treatment flowsheet is actually a simple mining/oil & gas project by industry standards

🔄 While most companies scale up their pilot plants, Altillion actually built a smaller second pilot unit because their first one was too large for potential partners' testing needs.

🧪 Despite being based in Texas with deep oil & gas expertise, they shifted focus away from oilfield brines toward mining brines - not because the technology didn't work, but because it worked too well, extracting even trace amounts of lithium effectively.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

🧑‍🔬 SPONSORS 💰

A big thanks to today's sponsors:

SimpleLab - https://gosimplelab.com/

Sciens Water - https://scienswater.com/

#️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

👋 SOCIAL MEDIA 👋

More #water insights?

Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 In This Week's Episode

01:27 Challenges and Opportunities in Water Investment

04:52 The Trillion Dollar Water Infrastructure Opportunity

05:56 Private Equity and Water Investment

07:10 The Water Investment Pyramid

09:06 Specialist Investors' Insights

10:44 The Importance of Repeat Investments

13:20 Transition Finance and Water

24:43 The Role of Impact Funds

32:13 Investment Opportunities and Challenges

35:22 Water Sector Investment Trends

38:56 The Future of Water Technology

43:18 Building a Water Investment Ecosystem

54:57 Concluding Thoughts on Water Investment

#WaterInvestment #VentureCapital #CleanTech

It goes without saying but... none of this is investment advice!

About this Podcast:

Welcome to the (don't) Waste Water podcast, the leading podcast for water industry professionals, investors, and entrepreneurs seeking deep insights into water tech innovation, investment trends, and strategic moves in the sector. Host Antoine Walter blends his technical expertise with sharp business acumen to deliver weekly episodes featuring candid conversations with C-suite executives, detailed analysis of major water industry developments, and practical insights for water tech startups and seasoned players alike.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

#️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

Environmental Working Group PFAS Map: https://www.ewg.org/interactive-maps/pfas_contamination/

Northeastern University PFAS Sites Map: https://pfasproject.com/pfas-contamination-site-tracker/

My interview with Julie Bliss Mullen (Aclarity): https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s11e2-how-aclarity-bootstrapped-its-journey-from-b2c-to-pfas-destruction

My conversation with Fajer Mushtaq (Oxyle): https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s11e6-how-oxyle-destroys-pfas-with-the-energy-you-d-actually-waste

My podcast with Kobe Nagar (374Water): https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s4e15-is-supercritical-water-oxidation-a-solution-for-pfas-energy-more

My conversation with Henrik Hagemann (Puraffinity): https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s7e15-should-we-really-destroy-pfas-no-your-fridge-knows-a-better-way

🎙️ PODCAST 🎙️

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 You Have PFAS in Your Blood

01:28 What are PFAS?

03:34 Where do we find PFAS?

05:07 How do PFAS end up in Water?

07:27 What are the Health Impacts of PFAS?

08:48 Why is Removing PFAS from Water so Challenging?

11:18 What are the Current PFAS Regulations?

13:56 How much will PFAS Removal Cost?

16:03 What are the Technologies to Remove PFAS?

21:24 How to Destroy PFAS?

25:17 What's Happening Now?

📝 IN THIS EPISODE 📝

🧪 The shocking truth about PFAS in your blood and why even experts can't avoid them

💧 From rainwater to tap water: How these "forever chemicals" infiltrate every water source on Earth

💰 The mind-blowing costs of PFAS removal and why current budgets might not be enough

🔬 Battle-tested technologies that can effectively remove PFAS from water, and their pros and cons

🌍 How different regions are tackling the PFAS challenge, from strict European limits to American lawsuits

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

#️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

My conversation with Alexander's VC investor: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s10e16-the-secret-formula-for-profit-in-water-tech-ventures-tom-ferguson-s-unfair-advantage

My breakdown of 2024's Water Tech Investment Landscape: https://youtu.be/EqQwOC-ys4c

FLocean's website: https://www.flocean.green/

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 In This Week's Episode

01:34 An interesting Investment Coincidence?

04:01 FLocean's Innovative Approach to Desalination

06:43 Technical Insights into Subsea Desalination

11:08 Challenges and Market Opportunities

23:29 First Commercial References

30:36 Business Model and Economic Considerations

38:08 Funding and Prospects

45:28 Rapid Fire Questions

About this Podcast:

Welcome to the (don't) Waste Water podcast, the leading podcast for water industry professionals, investors, and entrepreneurs seeking deep insights into water tech innovation, investment trends, and strategic moves in the sector. Host Antoine Walter blends his technical expertise with sharp business acumen to deliver weekly episodes featuring candid conversations with C-suite executives, detailed analysis of major water industry developments, and practical insights for water tech startups and seasoned players alike.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

➡️ Download the (Free, no strings attached) infographic: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/vngynn1tc9vce8pzjsnds/7-Must-Know-Water-Tech-Trends-For-Investors-Infographic.pdf?rlkey=313r4mwyx3hsl751tmymdjuqk&st=m7zvchez&dl=0

👍 If it's of value to you, make sure to like and subscribe!

#️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

2023's Part One: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCfcigu_oPQ

Lithium's Water Impact: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3bMCdZj760

My 2023 interview with Tom Ferguson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4g-8j8ulWNA

Salinity Solutions - SQM's portfolio company: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EoW9QggUk-Q

🎙️ PODCAST 🎙️

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

👋 SOCIAL MEDIA 👋

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 Introduction

01:05 1 - The Billion Dollar Wave

02:41 2 - The 4 Hidden Champions

07:23 3 - The New Money Rush

13:01 4 - America's Grip Loosens

14:31 5 - The Real Pricetags

16:02 6 - Where Are The Exits?

22:48 7 - The Survival Timeline

In this detailed analysis, I look up the transformative trends in Water Tech investment for 2024, highlighting a significant influx in investing but also a high dropout rate of investors. I track investment patterns over the past seven years, noting a dramatic rise in the amount invested and the number of deals made. I investigate 6 categories and 24 subcategories, identifying top investment areas and key players. I also explore the geographic distribution of investments, the proprietary nature of certain investors, and future projections for Water Tech exits and growth - together with Tom Ferguson (Burnt Island Ventures) and Clayton MacDougald (Emerald Technology Ventures).

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

In this special episode, 20+ visionary water leaders share their most powerful insights on how to capture the next wave of innovation and growth in water tech!

🎯 Unlock the success patterns behind water tech's biggest wins in 2024

💡 Get insider knowledge on where smart money is flowing in water for 2025

💰 Learn why water is becoming the next frontier for climate tech investors

From breakthrough water technologies to game-changing investment strategies, this episode distills years of wisdom from the industry's brightest minds.

Featuring exclusive insights from successful founders, innovative water entrepreneurs, and visionary leaders who are transforming the water sector.

🎯 Subscribe now to join my community of forward-thinking water leaders.

That's the best way never to miss these weekly discussions on water innovation, tech breakthroughs, and investment opportunities that are shaping our water-positive future!

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.