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.
On March 22nd, the world celebrated World Water Day, focusing on groundwater. This week, we explore the value of groundwater and how we can manage it better. Please see what Erin Brockovich and our portfolio companies are doing to remediate our groundwater. We also look at the chemicals that are poisoning our groundwater. Microplastics found for the first time in human blood. Oded Distel, CEO of Tal-Ya Agriculture Solutions, is this week's highlighted WELL member.
Your weekly Bonus - Recycled plastic bottles may leach more chemicals into our drinks.
This week's water fact:
Groundwater makes up 99% of all liquid freshwater on earth
Water & the Environment
Why groundwater is one of our most precious resources
From the Murray-Darling system to Great Artesian Basin, "invisible" underground groundwater is often the only water supply available across the vast majority of Australia—and its annual contribution to GDP is estimated at more than $6.8 billion a year.
Better use of groundwater could transform Africa, research says
Groundwater resources in sub-Saharan Africa are enough to transform agriculture in the region and provide people with adequate safe water for their drinking and hygiene needs, if the resource can be better managed, researchers have said.
A Day Of Visibility For Water - The Brockovich Report
Erin's riddle: "What always runs, yet doesn't walk, often murmurs but doesn't talk. Has a bed, but doesn't sleep, has a mouth but never eats."
Hunger forces thousands to cross from Angola into Namibia – in pictures
The worst drought in 40 years has devastated crops and killed livestock across southern Angola, sending food prices soaring. The threat of famine is forcing people to migrate south to seek help across the border.
Great Barrier Reef authority confirms unprecedented sixth mass coral bleaching event
The Great Barrier Reef has been hit with a sixth mass coral bleaching event, the marine park’s authority has confirmed, with aerial surveys showing almost no reefs across a 1,200km stretch escaping the heat.
Our Portfolio Companies
Glanris - Happy World Water Day!
This World Water Day focuses on Groundwater - the United Nations’ theme is “Making the Invisible Visible.”
374Water - Eliminating Forever Chemicals and Increasing Clean Water Access in Orange County, Calif.
What if it were possible to eliminate 99.9% of PFAS — “forever chemicals” — from our water, food waste and landfills? That’s what 374Water, a cleantech social impact company is hoping to do, through the company’s patented AirSCWO™ technology.
PFAS & Chemicals
Revealed: the dangerous chemicals in your food wrappers
Independent testing of more than 100 packaging products from US restaurant and grocery chains identified PFAS chemicals in many of the wrappers, a Consumer Reports investigation has found.
Microplastics found in human blood for first time
Exclusive: The discovery shows the particles can travel around the body and may lodge in organs.
‘I don’t know how we’ll survive’: the farmers facing ruin in Maine’s ‘forever chemicals’ crisis
Maine faces a crisis from PFAS-contaminated produce, which is causing farms to close and farmers to face the loss of their livelihoods.
Tech & Innovation
Tech Deployment Track - Now accepting applications for 2022-2023 Cohort!
This eight-month accelerator program pairs climate tech startups with Alaska partners and customers to help determine whether your product or service is viable for deployment in Alaska. Apply now!
Corporate & Deals
Saudi Arabia announces 60 water projects worth US$9.33 billion
Saudi Arabia announced over 60 water projects, worth US$9.33B, that will secure the country’s position as the world’s largest water desalination market.
USDA invests $14M in rural Wayne County wastewater
The South Wayne County Water and Sewer Authority will receive a Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant of $14,879,000 to upgrade their wastewater treatment plant for its public sewer system.
Oded Distel is the CEO of Tal-Ya and a leading expert on Israel’s water and energy sectors. Tal-Ya manufactures a unique, patented polypropelyne Mitra system that covers the plant’s root system, directing water and fertilizer directly to the root, while protecting the earth around the root from weeds and extreme temperatures.
Previously, he founded and was the director of Israel NewTech, a pioneering national program led by the Ministry of Economy and Industry whose goal is to find smart solutions to global challenges. In the first 5 years, the program helped take Israel's water technology from $600 Million to $2 Billion. Oded is recognized as one of the 100 Most Influential People in the Israeli Hi-tech Arena.
Thank you Oded for playing a crucial leading role in developing global watertech solutions. We are grateful for you sharing your expertise and wisdom with WIA and the WELL.
Recycling & Water
Recycled plastic bottles leach more chemicals into drinks, review finds
More chemicals being released by reused plastic could indicate need for ‘super clean’ recycling process.
