Why Water?
Why Water?
Once considered the substance that distinguished planet Earth from the rest of the Universe, water has now been discovered from the coldest depths of interstellar space to the outermost layers of stars. Water is perhaps the most anomalous and one of the most ubiquitous molecules in the cosmos. While science ponders the questions of how, where, and in what form water exists in our universe, the question of why it is so fundamental has been left to the philosophers and naturalists. Ancient cultures worldwide proposed that water serves as the mediator between cosmic energies and earthly forms, all of which are just unique manifestations of water.
Science has recognized water’s diverse roles on scales ranging from molecular to cosmic. At the molecular level, water is essential to the structure and function of biomolecules (i.e., proteins, DNA) and to the exchange of information among them. Water in the form of oceans, clouds, and atmospheric vapor is the major controller of short-term weather and long-term climate; hence, it is through water that we experience the global climate’s recent changes. Water mediates the redistribution of solar energy over Earth’s surface, which ultimately powers both planetary and life processes. Considering water’s integral role in sustaining the planet and its inhabitants, the theme of “why water” is reflected in the six categories of prospective investments considered by HydroDAO.
Water/Wastewater Treatment & Distribution
Much of the world’s aging infrastructure for drinking water and wastewater requires upgrades and innovations (e.g., nanotechnology, irradiation, bioaugmentation) to improve the energy and treatment efficiencies for conventional centralized systems. Additionally, decentralized systems for accessing, storing, treating and disposing of water will be considered for funding, particularly those incorporating biomimicry or hydromimicry principles that emphasize the interdependence among watershed components and natural cycles of water. Decentralization requires a shift in how water/wastewater treatment is perceived, but it could avert some environmental and climate-related issues related to conventional systems. Advances in the delivery of water and in resolving problems with conveyance infrastructure (e.g., biofilms, leaks, intrusion) will be considered, as will alternative treatment options (e.g., constructed wetlands, oxidation ponds).
With a goal of providing more energy-efficient and less pollutant-producing methods for treating water and wastewater, preference will be given to technologies that utilize natural products and organisms or so-called green chemistry in treating water or wastewater so that toxic residues or disinfection byproducts are minimized. Water recycling that includes treatment of wastewater or impacted surface or ground waters to usable quality will be considered for specific applications, as will methods to treat or capture graywater, stormwater and other untreated waters that could reduce demands for scarce water resources, conventional energy, and additional infrastructure. Finally, techniques that optimize the performance or sustainability of the existing infrastructure are of interest to HydroDAO.
Agriculture & Food
Increasing global demands for food are occurring as water shortages, land and energy restrictions, climate change and environmental pollution are escalating in many parts of the world. As is true for all anthropogenic systems, the global food system is totally dependent on the planet’s natural resources and, particularly, water. The largest use of water is the production of food, but not all crops or animals require the same amount of water for production, whether calculated according to the mass or calories of food provided. Methods for selecting, adapting and growing/harvesting crops in ways that are more water efficient will be considered for funding, as will innovations influencing how foods are selected by both producers and consumers. As water availability has become a limitation to food production, attention has focused largely on supply side factors, such as additional water sources. Less attention has been given to the demand side factors that could reduce water requirements, such as choosing different foods or wasting less food.
The water efficiency of producing food is influenced by crop type, irrigation methods, soil enhancements (fertilizers), and chemical applications (pesticides/herbicides). Innovations within any of these influential categories that reduce water usage and pollution, optimize soil properties, or conserve energy and natural ecosystems will be considered for funding, as will integrated practices (e.g., agroecology) that substitute conventional monocultures with diverse crops grown among native vegetation. Alternative irrigation sources may include reclaimed water, harvested rainwater and saline water for some crops. Innovations in aquaculture, hydroponics, aeroponics and other engineered methods of producing food will be considered, provided they address HydroDAO’s objectives of water quality and conservation.
Smart Water
Smart water refers generally to technologies developed by the water industry to solve problems for utilities through the use of automation and data analytics. These problems may include water usage, energy efficiency, leak detection, water distribution/storage limitations, and localized or system-wide degradation in water quality. Similarly, AI-facilitated digital water technologies assist utilities (e.g., potable water, wastewater, stormwater) to access real-time data via sensors, processors, algorithms and automatic controls that facilitate responses under ever-changing conditions. These responses not only affect the operation of the man-made water systems, but also the condition of and demands on the natural water sources and environmental receiving waters to which these utility systems are connected.
A water footprint is defined as the volume of water that is consumed (i.e., no longer available for immediate reuse) to generate a product or service. When goods are traded and sold or services are provided, this embedded water is referred to as virtual because it accounts for the volume required for processes (natural and anthropogenic) necessary to develop, produce, manufacture, transport and consume products. Water footprints are calculated for industrial or agricultural products, energy sources, companies, individuals or regions, providing a metric for comparing the volume of water consumed (including that required to dilute any pollutants) by different activities and for indicating where conservation efforts may be most effectively focused. Virtual water algorithms have assisted businesses with water-efficient strategies, consumers with water-conscious purchasing options, and trade organizations with an equitable exchange of products among water-rich and water-poor regions—all of which align with HydroDAO’s goals.
PFAS and Contaminant Remediation Technologies
Emerging contaminants are synthetic chemicals that have been recently identified (but perhaps present in water far longer) for which environmental or public health risks are not established or are undergoing reevaluation as a result of the limited information about their interactions and toxicological impacts. These contaminants are typically not removed or destroyed by routine water/wastewater treatment techniques and include pharmaceuticals, pesticides, personal care products, nanomaterials and various halogenated compounds, such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly known as PFAS or “forever chemicals“ that have been used in industry and consumer products worldwide since the 1940s to make nonstick cookware, water and stain-resistant fabrics, cosmetics, and firefighting foams. Upon introduction to the environment, the contaminants are sufficiently mobile and nondegradable to be transported within surface or ground waters. A wide range of technologies specific to individual contaminants are currently being investigated that could remove, degrade or otherwise contain them.
HydroDAO considers the successful treatment of these contaminants to be critical, not only for human health, but also for the availability of usable water resources, the condition of aquatic ecosystems, and the optimal functioning of watersheds. Sophisticated technologies ranging from carbon tubules and photocatalysts to aquatic plants/microbes and supercritical (high pressure and temperature) water have demonstrated success in treating these contaminants. Of particular interest are those technologies that utilize natural organisms, alternative energy sources and even water itself to remediate contaminants in waste streams or the environment.
Alternative Water Sources
As conventional sources of potable water (e.g., lakes, rivers, aquifers) are depleted or polluted to the point they are no longer viable, the search for alternative sources intensifies. Perhaps the most frequently cited of these sources is the ocean, which is feasible for near-coastal areas but has frequently been cost prohibitive due to the energy requirement of forcing water through the reverse osmosis (RO) membranes. Improved membrane materials and designs (e.g., nanotubules) and the use of solar, wind, geothermal and other renewable energies has improved the efficiency and carbon footprint of desalination, while also making smaller-scale units practical. Desalination is likewise applicable to brackish water, which is not potable but is far less salty than seawater and, thus, cost-effective for treatment of currently unusable inland water sources. Desalination technologies such as forward osmosis (FO), pervaporation, and enhanced distillation processes would be also considered for funding when consistent with HydroDAO’s objectives.
Besides desalinating ocean or brackish water, atmospheric water in the form of humidity, fog or clouds represents another alternative source. Most systems that collect water vapor rely on an absorbent material or gel that traps and condenses it into a liquid, which is filtered or amended with minerals to produce potable water. The technology was initially limited to humid climates, but recent innovations permit large- and small-scale units to operate in arid regions. A closely related technology is fog capture, which uses large vertical nets (sometimes with a small electric current applied) that capture tiny fog droplets, allowing them to coalesce and collect in storage or conveyance systems. Finally, there are many rainwater harvesting techniques that utilize modified roofs or other existing structures to collect and store water mainly for non-potable uses. These air, fog and rain technologies are of interest because they are energy efficient, scalable, easily installed/operated, and applicable to diverse climates or local water cycles.
The Oceans & Climate
In addition to being a potential source of potable water, the oceans are often designated as a source for generating power. For instance, Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) utilizes the temperature difference between surface and deep waters of tropical oceans to vaporize and then condense liquids such as ammonia, creating sufficient vapor pressure to drive turbines and generate electricity. Alternatively, salinity power is driven by the osmotic gradient between seawater and fresh water stored on either side of a synthetic membrane. As fresh water moves across the membrane to dilute the salts, seawater is pressurized and piped through a turbine to generate electricity. Then there is the more obvious wave power that can be used for generating electricity, desalinating seawater, or simply pumping water. Wave power requires both floating and nearshore installations that are currently limited in scalability and durability, although new designs are emerging that could be considered for funding.
Similar to continental freshwaters, the oceans are vulnerable to myriad pollutants. Perhaps most infamous of these are the macro-plastics that occupy millions of square kilometers of the sea’s surface and the microplastics that sink to its depths. Technologies that reduce the introduction of plastics to the ocean or remediate those already there will be considered. Finally, the oceans possess most of the global capacity for long-term, natural carbon sequestration and already remove much of the atmospheric CO2 generated by human emissions. It is important that further stresses on the ocean are minimized to ensure its natural ability to buffer climate change is not diminished. This requires the protection and restoration of coastal ecosystems, such as the kelp forests that remove CO2 from surface waters, and the recovery of marine life.
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)
Although water is an absolute necessity for life, it can also be a carrier of wastes that result in sickness or death for those people who either do not recognize the threat or lack the tools and knowledge to avert it. WASH represents a set of practices for minimizing the chances of ingesting contaminated water or food. Consequently, simple and effective household scale innovations that address water hygiene (e.g., filters, tablets, flocculants, sorbents) would be appropriate for funding, especially in areas where centralized infrastructure for water treatment and distribution is not available. Because the threat to drinking water quality is often posed by human wastes, the use of composting, electric and dry toilets that do not require precious water resources to carry wastes are of interest, as they also align with many indigenous and sustainability-related views that water is not appropriate for transporting wastes.
Simply washing of one’s hands with soap and clean water or applying an acceptable waterless substitute that does not contain irritants or toxic components are of interest, as are plant extracts or natural products that can remove microbes, pesticides or industrial chemicals from the skin without the copious use of water. In order to support behavioral changes that are essential for good hygiene, educational or technical innovations designed to facilitate people’s adopting routine cleaning practices, testing the quality of their water sources, responding to community disease outbreaks, or planning for emergency situations would also be considered for funding. Because behavioral changes are dependent on perceptual shifts, projects that successfully offer people a greater practical understanding of their intimate relationship with water in all aspects of life will also be considered.