Innovation in Water: startups rising to the challenge

With the climate changing, the places where rain falls, and the quantities of rain seen are changing from the ways humans have historically expected. Although there’s an irony to living on a planet that’s 70% water - yet lacking enough to drink - the reality is that the places people live are increasingly facing crises of fresh water scarcity. Scarce water creates a disastrous ripple effect of bad health, mortality, and forced migrations. Avoiding those consequences is worth a great deal of investment.

The opportunity in Water Scarcity

Of course, when there’s a growing problem, Silicon Valley is a region that sharpens pencils, and tries to design technological solutions that can either solve problems, or at least mitigate them. So, it comes as no surprise that the Valley’s innovators are working on transformative solutions to reshape our relationship with water. The following innovations not only address the critical need for fresh water, but also a commitment to environmentally conscious technologies.

Solar-Powered Desalination

Pioneers are revolutionizing desalination by harnessing solar energy into a combined solution. This not only enhances sustainability but also allows for scalable growth. Containerized and modular solutions provide adaptability, offering efficient, flexible systems to meet diverse water needs.

Atmospheric Water Generation

Inspired by the air we breathe, one startup has a solution that extracts water from the air, decentralizing water availability. Another modular, containerized solution, this innovative technology combines sustainability with efficiency, providing a promising solution for regions facing unpredictable water access. Not only does it provide water to dry regions, but it provides clean water to regions with toxicity issues.

Water Filling Kiosks for Sustainability

In an effort to combat single-use plastic, one startup offers water filling kiosks that go beyond mere refills of your personal water container. These kiosks offer flavor boosts, compostable containers, and an eco-friendly alternative, aligning with the growth in popularity of environmentally conscious solutions in water distribution and consumption.

Conclusion

The above ideas are just some of the startups ideas we’ve seen trekking through Silicon Valley recently. Optimally, we’d address the root climate changes that have distorted rainfall expectations, and that should be a long-term goal of any solution. But if we can’t heal the disease, we need to treat the symptoms ASAP. We need to keep people hydrated, healthy, and to offer real solutions for a world where water scarcity is met with resilience and ingenuity.