What One Entrepreneur Heard at the World Economic Forum About Water

Is water finally receiving the attention it deserves in the race for greener infrastructure investments and innovations?

In comparison to clean energy investments, funding for water technology is significantly lacking. However, Aaron Tarkovsky, co-founder and CEO of Epic Cleantec, recently shared in an interview on IAPMO's The Authority podcast that he witnessed something unprecedented at this year's World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos. Water was actually at the forefront of this year's agenda.?

Why? Water stress and water scarcity are starting to impact the bottom line for WEF member enterprises.?

For instance, Aaron highlighted the water needs of large tech companies for their data centers. ”They cannot build data centers fast enough, but the average data center uses the same amount of water as a 50,000-person city for their cooling,” Aaron said.?

Noting anticipated urban growth, aging infrastructure, and changing weather patterns, Aaron continued “We're seeing kind of this perfect storm of water challenges, which is why this whole topic is gaining more prominence.

It's not just water that needs greater recognition; the plumbing industry as a whole needs a higher profile. “We are a flush-and-forget society,”? Aaron said, noting that much of our plumbing and water systems have worked so well no one had to think about them until stormwater events started backing up sewers and metropolitan areas like Phoenix have to shut the door on new construction that use groundwater because they don’t have enough.?

“The problem is that decades of out-of-sight, out-of-mind means there isn't enough focus on water and wastewater,” Aaron said. “It is much easier for political leaders to prioritize rebuilding parks, schools, and playgrounds than to tell their constituents: ‘I'm gonna dig up our water and wastewater infrastructure and mess up your morning commute.’”

With change starting to flow in the right direction, Aaron shared the success story of his own city, San Francisco, the first U.S. city to pass an onsite water reuse regulation requiring new developments of 100,000 gross square feet or more to install and operate an onsite water reuse system.

I invite you to check out the full podcast episode and transcript, where we talk about the necessary training and certifications for water reuse, as well as his company’s clever marketing campaign to get people past the “yuck factor” of drinking recycled water. I raise a glass to their creativity, as Aaron explained how it was inspired by his dad and business partner, who originally trained in aerospace science. “He always asks our team: What do you think the astronauts are drinking when they’re in space?”

Check out the episode.

Also: Tomorrow is #GivingTuesday. Would you to consider supporting the IAPMO public charity, the IWSH Foundation (International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation) ? They are seeking to raise USD $10,000 to help in their work of upgrading and repairing toilets, faucets, and showers in underserved communities. I appreciate any support you can give them in the very important work that they do. Donate here. And thank you!