Numbers are Worthless

"Isn't it funny of you to use that title, the week where your podcast episode has $2 Trillion in its title?"

When I say that "The US has a $2 Trillion Water Problem, " I'm stating facts in the hope that those will trigger a reaction - and I'm even minimizing them, as the American Society of Civil Engineers updated that figure to $2.59 trillion ...

What's the Problem?

... but these staggering statistics are not new.

Nearly 15 years ago, the American Water Works Association started coming up with infrastructure investment figures that exceeded $1 trillion - and it made mainstream press.

Every year since they look into water topics, CDP's been upgrading their figures for the water business opportunity ??

... and every book I read, or white paper that's released promises trillion will start flowing to address the challenge.

"We are at an inflection point!"

We may well be. I don't know.

But...

Five years ago, we already were at an inflection point. Here's what Forbes was writing about:

"Water is integral to industrial processes, the oil and gas and power sectors, as well as municipalities, which means most technologies have huge potential markets"

And the article to build upon the trillions needed and predict raving growth. But I hear you; it might be because of CoVid that it's been slower to happen, right?

Maybe. Again, I don't know.

But if I keep rewinding time to 2012, the same Forbes was predicting that:

[These challenges will] bring in more venture investment, and finally revolutionize an important cash-strapped industry in dire need of better infrastructure!

And did it happen?

Ok, I'll stop digging because that's not what matters.

An "Inflection Point" doesn't Trigger Itself

So, as much wishful thinking as we collectively produce, based on it being the right thing to do because... look at those numbers!

But.

People are actually triggering that inflection point.

?? People on the Finance End. Like Sciens Water , who's been deploying $1 Billion to roll up distressed water utilities and roll down water tech at the fundaments of the water pyramid, and people like Cycle H2O Water Fund that are entering the field from the fuzzy other end.

And who knows, maybe some will soon look into what's in between?

??? People at the Tech End. I collected too many stories to pack them here - as it was a packed Rethinking Water Conference and a rich (still ongoing) WEFTEC!

??? ... and People at the Policy End (see this week's podcast ??)

So maybe it's time for us to stop the wishful thinking around big numbers. And get our hands dirty (or wet) instead ??

?? This week on the Podcast:

?? Mae Stevens (Chair of Water Infrastructure Practice at Banner Public Affairs )

?? Melisa Logan (Mayor of Blytheville, Arkansas)

?? Aurélie Rodzynek (Program Coordinator at Columbia Water Center )

Plus, a guest appearance of Reese Tisdale in a " Bluefield Research on Tap" hommage to David McGimpsey ! (Great artists steal, right? ??)

??♂? What happens when the world’s largest economy neglects its water infrastructure for decades?

Well, check it out on your favorite podcatcher or YouTube !

?? Snacking Content

?? Burnt Island Ventures just announced how they're leading Aqua Membranes, Inc. Series B (for an undisclosed amount - trust me, I've tried getting that number ??)

(wanna play at "the Price is Right" with me in the comments? My bet is, we're in the "teens" millions ??)

... that investment is interesting at more than one level, but one step at a time: I have Steve Kloos and, of course, Craig Beckman on record to discuss what's behind all of this, stay tuned for next week! (Hey, consider subscribing if you don't want to miss it! And check this past episode out if you can't wait)

?? H2O Innovation closed its first M&A in its Ember Capital Investment era, with the acquisition of NextEra. Stay tuned for my conversation with Guillaume Clairet ! (soon!)

?? There's a new podcast in town, say hello to Isle Utilities ' Executive Exchange ! Their first episode addresses how the Mayor of Mykolaiv kept ensuring water delivery amidst the obvious surrounding war.

That's it for this week - if any of this is of interest to you, make sure to subscribe! I'll probably need the introvert in me to recover from back-to-back conferences, but I have collected so much great content that I can't wait to share it with you!