Water Weekly 2.0 Vol 1

A weekly round-up of all the latest news in the water industry!  

Your go-to weekly newsletter on all things water. 

Since I haven’t posted in a while, lets dive into what’s predicted for the water industry in 2024: 

Top world water news 2024! 

What’s In, What’s Out for Water in 2024? – An Insight! 

As we start March in 2024, the water industry finds itself at crossroads of tradition and transformation. Mega challenges continue to face water companies; associated with the impacts of climate change, the cost-of-living crisis and the significant rise in energy costs. However, these challenge predictions mean room for improvement and innovation, and therefore potential exciting opportunities for the water sector!  

2024 Water and Wastewater Trends 

Navigating climate uncertainty  

The storm of climate uncertainty in 2024 means water utilities are scrambling to reinforce their infrastructure. Climate change is creeping up on us; and slowly but surely affecting our everyday lives. As a result, the global climate change crisis is having a profound impact on the water industry and the idea of water security!  

While many water management systems already have strategies to deal with levels of uncertainty, it is unknown whether businesses will have the sufficient facilities to cope with the magnitude of change proposed to water resources under climate change. Global climate news will continue to shock many countries and force them into more efficient, sustainable ways of managing their water and other resources. As a result of this, businesses and specialists within the water sector should prepare for increased levels of examination into their water use and continue to drive their more sustainable methods of water use.  

A Decentralized and Distributed Water Future  

2024 is also likely to see growing interest in decentralized and distributed water and wastewater solutions! Seven Seas Water Group participate in this aspect of treatment! 

Decentralized water treatment – the solution for universal safe drinking water? 

Climate change and the increasing global population are challenging the world’s efforts to ensure that every person has access to safely managed drinking water by 2030. It is necessary to find technical solutions that reduce the operational costs of water distribution. 

So, what does this mean for the current state of the global water sector? 

Centralized sewers are an incredible expense for companies within the water industry! – Today it is estimated around 70-75% of total costs within water networks are caused by the infrastructure of pipes and pumps rather than the actual water treatment itself!  

Nevertheless, despite the immense costs, the World Health Organization recently documented that in just 20 years between 2000 and 2020, 2 billion people have gained access to safely drink water, which suggests the number will continue to increase within the current decade. 

Exciting February Water Industry News  

£96 billion Investment Programme between 2025-2030 

Water companies in Europe are looking to attract a record number of apprentices by the end of the decade to help deliver one of the biggest investment programmes in Europe! 

• Businesses in England and Wales are looking to attract 5,000 apprentices to consider a career in the water sector. School leavers and job seekers of all ages will help deliver investment projects to help generate and guarantee a stable supply of clean water as we tackle global climate issues. The water sector also has plans to modernise the nations sewers which will see ambitious apprentices help build and structure thousands of large underground storage tanks and use innovative nature-based schemes to control rainfall and treat wastewater.  

SWCC unveils its first investment contracts for brine mining.  

Early 2024 – The Saline Water Conversion Corporation signed several agreements and memorandums of understanding in the field of mining, with local and international companies and academic institutions, including signing investment contracts for brine mining with a group of Chinese companies.  

SWCC’s agreements with investment companies will enable companies to invest in brine water by extracting minerals and reproducing desalinated water from brine water at a cost. 

More than half of drinking water sources in Denmark are contaminated?! 

A report by Denmark’s ‘Danish Regions’ has concluded that over 50% of drinking water boreholes in Denmark contains residues of pesticides or other pollutants. ‘1 in every 10’ boreholes exceed threshold levels of contamination to be deemed safe to consume. 

Overall, in light of the significant rise of living costs, the funds raised from increased water and energy bills guarantee to fund improvements in our water and sewage systems over 2024/25. 

More investments include: 

• Severn Trent is delivering large-scale projects including a £25 million plan to install a new sewer system in Stroud, along with the £76 million flood alleviation scheme in Mansfield. 
• United Utilities will start work on replacing large parts of the 110km Haweswater Aqueduct which has successfully served 2.5 million people in the areas of Cumbria, Lancashire and Greater Manchester for more than 50 years. 
• South East Water will complete construction of brand new £39 million water treatment works in March 2025 which will offer new water resources in the heart of Kent.In support, David Henderson, Water UK Chief Executive, said: 

“Next year will see record levels of investment from water companies to manage the security of our water supply in the future and reduce the amount of sewage in rivers and seas. Support for customers is doubling with more than 2 million families now being helped with their bills.” 

Global Water Awards: 

4 water tech start up companies have been shortlisted for 'Breakthrough Technology company of the year, so I thought I would tell you a little more! Congratulations to Aclarity , Purecontrol , Aqua Membranes and Indra Water

ACLARITY 

Aclarity is Massachusetts – based company providing an electrochemical oxidation system for polyfluoroalkyl substance destruction.  

Aclarity has led the charge for PFAS destruction technologies in 2023, securing a huge breakthrough commercial contract for its electrochemical solution, treating landfill leachate in New England, USA. 

Additionally, Aclarity have made progress in utilizing their technology for destroying PFAS in water streams, all flued by a successful 15.9 million dollar funding sum. 

Why is their work important and relevant?  

• Their technology’s ability to work on flows with both high and low concentrations of PFAS, destroying a wide variety of these molecules. Competitors continue to focus on highly concentrated liquids! 
• Aclarity was one of the first to partner its destruction offering with PFAS removal technology, providing an end-to-end solution for the market
• Key partnerships with Waste Management programmes such as Casella and Xylem have enables Aclarity to leap forward in progress within the emerging destruction market.  

AQUA MEMBRANES 

Aqua Membranes is a US based producer of 3D printed spacers for reverse osmosis membranes. 

Aqua Membranes in 2023 demonstrated how their technology could have a positive influence on the RO market, installing the technology at ten different sites and obtaining a glut of favourable real-world data. The company increased its manufacturing capacity 10x, alongside introducing its brackish water RO elements and simultaneously securing investment from investors like Kurita and Micron Technologies. 

Aqua Membranes’ elements demonstrated an 18% energy saving compared to the conventional mesh spacers, as well as a 4x reduction in the fouling/scaling rate. .  

The company’s success in installations has ultimately carved a pathway for more critical pilots in 2024 – involving one handling seawater with the SWCC. 

Indra Water 

Indra Water Specialises in electro-oxidation and electrocoagulation technologies, operating in industrial wastewater treatment markets. 

Recognition for Indra Water – The company has brough cost-effective wastewater treatment to clients, securing eight commercial deployments and 30 trials, involving projects with well known industrial companies such as Unilever and Tata Steel.  

Purecontrol 

Purecontrol is a A French Automation specialist providing an AI-focused solution for water and energy management.  

In 2023 Purecontrol secured deployments at 500 wastewater treatment plants in an agreement with Veolia. Additionally, Veolia’s new partner encourages European expansion by investing in Purecontrol as part of a 7 million funding round. 

To conclude, Purecontrol has catapulted its success by targeting energy efficiency applications, and capitalising on European utilities’ response to the energy crisis.  

So we will be back next week with more water news!

If you would like to reach to learn more about Work in water, send me an email at alex.mason@jacksonhogg.com