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.
This week, water startups can apply to The Ocean Impact Pitchfest for a chance to win $150,000 in cash! Microsoft launches a mouse made from recycled ocean plastic. Erin Brockovich shares legislative solutions to clean up contaminated water. Kudos to our WELL Advisor Una Hrnjak-Hadziahmetovic, who leads Starbucks efforts supporting girls and women lacking access to clean water. Thank you Una for your amazing work!
Tech & Innovation
A new method for removing lead from drinking water
Engineers at MIT have developed a new approach to removing lead or other heavy-metal contaminants from water, in a process that they say is far more energy-efficient than any other currently used system, though there are others under development that come close.
Applications are now open for The Ocean Impact Pitchfest 2021
With over $150,000 in cash prizes and $150,000 of additional products and support available, this year’s Pitchfest is bigger and better than ever.
Mimicking Mother Nature: New Membrane To Make Fresh Water
Scientists at Sandia National Laboratories and their collaborators have developed a new membrane, whose structure was inspired by a protein from algae, for electrodialysis that could be used to provide fresh water for farming and energy production.
Corporate & Deals
BlueConduit and Google.org Announce Coalition to Help Communities Quantify and Locate Dangerous Lead
Google.org announced $3 million in grants to BlueConduit Charitable Fund, NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) and WE ACT for Environmental Justice to support the equitable replacement of lead service lines.
Meet Microsoft's New Mouse Made from Recycled Ocean Plastic
The shell of this eco-friendly mouse is made with 20% recycled ocean plastic, a breakthrough in materials technology that begins with the removal of plastic waste from oceans and waterways.
Membrion raises $3M for wastewater treatment tech and plans to double size of Seattle facility
Membrion’s ceramic desalinization membranes can be used to treat wastewater from toxic manufacturing processes, removing salt and heavy metals such as lead, mercury, arsenic and copper.
Global water meter market expected to see 10% annual growth
The global water meter market is expected to grow from $4.22 billion in 2020 to $4.65 billion in 2021 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.2%, according to a report from ResearchAndMarkets.com. The market is expected to reach $5.53 billion in 2025 at a CAGR of 4.4%.
Our Portfolio Companies
Congressman David Price meets 374Water
"We must continue to invest in technologies that can help us Build Back Better, and waste elimination technology is at the top of that list." - David Price
Water & the Environment
Lake Powell could stop producing energy in 2023 as water levels plunge
The Bureau of Land Management projects 3% chance that Lake Powell’s water levels fall below the minimum level necessary for the lake’s Glen Canyon Dam to generate hydroelectricity next year. In 2023, the chance of a power shutdown jumps to 34%.
Almost half a million US households lack indoor plumbing: ‘The conditions are inhumane’
The vast majority of unplumbed Americans are in fact found in urban areas, with one in three affected households living in just 15 cities.
Mont Blanc shrinks a metre since last official measurement in 2017
As alarm grows worldwide over melting glaciers, the official height of Mont Blanc has been on a downward slide for over a decade. The highest reading was 4,810.90 metres (15,783.79ft ) in 2007.
Paraguay on the brink as historic drought depletes river, its life-giving artery
The Paraná River, which winds through Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina, has dropped to its lowest levels in 77 years as a severe drought that began in late 2019 continues to punish the region.
PFAS and Chemicals
The Legislative Solution On The Table - The Brockovich Report
Erin Brockovich: "Infrastructure funding is needed now more than ever. Contamination clean-up, lead pipe removal, water treatment and sewage system updates are needed."
The Whistleblower Solution - The Brockovich Report
Erin Brockovich: "Dr. Ruth Etzel spoke out about agency delays for a lead poisoning prevention program for children, known as the Federal Lead Strategy, and was placed on leave without pay in September 2018."
Una is committed to delivering clean water to all people as our fundamental human right. Women and girls are disproportionately impacted by the climate crisis and water challenges. Una is working on solutions that bring corporate stakeholders together addressing issues intersecting human rights, gender, water, and climate justice.
Una recently joined the Global Sustainability team at Starbucks leading their planet positive aspirations, supporting water-smart and climate-resilient agriculture solutions.
Prior to Starbucks, Una was a Senior Manager on the Gap Inc. Global Sustainability team.
Una served as the Deputy Chief of Party of the Gap Inc. and USAID Women + Water Alliance.
Una volunteers with the Global Fund for Women and Women for Women International (founded in the aftermath of the war in her home country of Bosnia). Thank you Una for all that you do to improve the lives of others.