The Waterly
"The Waterly" is a weekly all-things-water newsletter we share with our community covering the latest innovations and investment deal flow in the water sector and recent news on climate change and water-related crises.
Drip irrigation is helping farmers save water. Louisiana received $2.6 billion from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to support coastal water management and hurricane risk reduction projects. California is getting ready for a third year of intense drought. A recent study shows nearly 75% of water-resistant products contain PFAS. Jayni Chase, Founder of the Center for Environmental Education is this week's highlighted member of the WELL.
Your weekly Bonus - Can art save us from extinction?
This week's water fact:
1% investment of global GDP will solve all the world's water challenges
Tech & Innovation
DOE Picks First Marine Energy Projects for PacWave Test Site in Oregon
Eight ocean energy projects representing the first round of open-water testing at the 20-MW PacWave South wave energy test site off the Oregon coast have garnered a combined $25 million in federal funding to support technology research, development, and demonstration at the trailblazing facility.
Drip irrigation technology being tested to help farmers conserve water
"With our first two runs at Colorado River Indian Tribes, we conserved between 40-50% of water that otherwise would've been used in flood irrigation"
Innovative, Sustainable and Forward-Thinking Approach Results in $300 Million in Savings for South Florida Water Utility
Through technology innovation and a sustainable and forward-thinking design approach, Black & Veatch has helped the Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department (WASD) achieve more than $300 million capital and operations and maintenance savings.
Corporate & Deals
Milwaukee receives $42M WIFIA loan for stormwater project
The investment will help fund the Waterway Flood Management and Restoration Project and will expand stormwater management capacity and reduce flood risk in historically underserved communities.
La. announces $2.6B in USACE funding
Supported by both the IIJA and supplemental relief bill, the funding will support coastal, water management, and hurricane risk reduction projects throughout the southern part of the state.
Interior Department approves $1B to clean up abandoned wells
There are over 3 million abandoned oil and gas wells in the U.S., according to the Environmental Protection Agency. And Interior officials say that wells have been exposing millions of people to air and water pollution for decades.
European €10m research project to design smarter urban water systems
Entitled ‘Smart Water Futures: Designing the Next Generation of Urban Drinking Water Systems’, it will be led by a Water-Futures team that combines leading experience in water science, systems and control theory, economics and decision science, and machine learning.
Water & the Environment
How proliferating data centers affect water supply in the United States
"About 30 percent of the world's data center servers are located in the United States," said Marston. "It takes a massive amount of water to produce the electricity needed, which means that data centers indirectly use a lot of water through their large electricity demand."
California water officials warn state could face third consecutive dry year as early snowpack dissipates
The state’s overall snowpack measures 92% of average for this time of year, an extraordinary drop from the 160% of average that was recorded a month ago, according to the state’s Department of Water Resources.
Extreme heat in oceans ‘passed point of no return’ in 2014
Scientists analysed sea surface temperatures over the last 150 years, which have risen because of global heating. They found that extreme temperatures occurring just 2% of the time a century ago have occurred at least 50% of the time across the global ocean since 2014.
Extreme weather has cost Europe about €500bn over 40 years
Between 90,000 and 142,000 deaths were attributed to weather and climate-related events over the period 1980 to 2020, the overwhelming majority of them from heatwaves.
PFAS and Chemicals
Nearly 75% of water-resistant products contain toxic PFAS, study finds
The study’s authors say the companies are needlessly putting customers’ health at risk.
EPA announces addition of four PFAS substances to Toxic Release Inventory
TRI data is reported to EPA annually by facilities in certain industry sectors, including federal facilities, that manufacture, process or otherwise use TRI-listed chemicals above certain quantities.
Jayni is the Founder of the Center for Environmental Education to provide teachers and students with the resources and materials necessary to build strong and effective Environmental Education in classrooms across the US for a more sustainable future.
Jayni serves on the Board of Directors of the Billion Oyster Project (BOP) and Board Chair of the Friends of the Earth, US.
She has served on the Board and advisory of the Environmental Media Association, the Alliance for Climate Education, NRDC LA, the Antioch New England Institute, Mothers & Others for a Livable Planet, Global Green USA, Californians Against Waste, the Coalition for Clean Air and the USGBC Center for Green Schools. Jayni is also a leading member of Pleiades, a network of women working on sustainability.
Thank you Jayni for dedicating your time and energy educating future generations to protect our environment. You are a true inspiration!
Art & the Environment
How art could save us from extinction
Oak Project is a pioneering arts program which aims to harness the power of cultural moments to create kinship with nature in response to the climate emergency and environmental crisis.
