The Weekly Dive #9
Oil companies are recycling fracking wastewater in drought stricken West Texas. Sound waves can boost the production of hydrogen by 14 times. 3M has committed to phase out 'forever chemicals' by 2025. XPV Water Partners investigates the link between water and climate change. We now know how old our water is. A new method can destroy PFAS in 45 minutes. This week, we are highlighting David Balsar, one of HydroDAO's key advisors. Learn about his impressive background and why he is passionate about water solutions.
Your weekly Bonus - Retiring fossil fuel plants could save 687B gallons of water annually.
This week's quote:
"Dear stream! dear bank, where often I
Have sate and pleas’d my pensive eye,
Why, since each drop of thy quick store
Runs thither whence it flow’d before,
Should poor souls fear a shade or night,
Who came, sure, from a sea of light?
Or since those drops are all sent back
So sure to thee, that none doth lack,
Why should frail flesh doubt any more
That what God takes, he’ll not restore?"
- Henry Vaughan
What's New with Water?
Engineers use sound waves to boost green hydrogen production by 14 times
Sound waves make it much easier to extract hydrogen from water.
Researchers in China create device to directly split seawater to produce hydrogen
The team has successfully tested a sustainable membrane-based seawater electrolyzer.
West Texas Oil companies have begun recycling fracking wastewater
Oil and gas companies are increasingly reusing “produced water” as West Texas aquifers are being depleted.
Nation's largest water supplier declares drought emergency
This clears the way for potential mandatory water restrictions early next year that could impact 19 million Californians.
What's New in the Industry?
3M to phase out 'forever chemicals' PFAS by 2025
3M will exit polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) manufacturing by the end of 2025 and discontinue use across its product portfolio.
AWWA initiative promotes a smart water future
A collaborative initiative led by the AWWA is offering the water sector a faster route to meeting major environmental and infrastructural challenges.
Water sector angles for climate funds
Operators of the nation’s water and wastewater systems are eager to dip into a fledgling $27 billion program taking shape under the Democrats’ Inflation Reduction Act.
WHAT IS THE WATER SECTOR'S ROLE IN CLIMATE CHANGE?
A new report from XPV Water Partners investigates links between water and climate change.
What's New in the Science?
Scientists Have Figured Out Just How Old Our Water Is, And It's Old
Water is ubiquitous in protoplanetary disks, and water's origin may not be so mysterious after all.
A new water-based switch is thousands of times faster than current semiconductors
Water becomes conductive within one trillionth of a second.
New Method Can Break Down 95% of 'Forever Chemicals' in Just 45 Minutes
It uses UV light and hydrogen gas to break down PFAS found in drinking supplies.
How much of the ocean has been explored? Surprisingly little
Despite historical oceanic quests and modern technologies, only 5% of the oceans is known.
David is a seasoned lawyer and economist with a MBA from INSEAD (France) and a MA in Philosophy. He has deep experience working in business development roles for international corporations including FOX (Newscorp) and Endemol Shine in London.
Currently, David is the General Manager of Innovation and Ventures for Mekorot, Israel’s National Water Company. For the last 4 years, he has led the company's investment strategy, screening hundreds of startups from which Mekorot has invested in 10 innovative burgeoning companies.
David's diverse professional career has scanned from being a former professional athlete to being a top international model. He has a deep passion for doing good in our world, having served as an Intern in the UN DESA in NYC and volunteered in the World Food Program in Africa.
We are grateful for David's passionate leadership funding innovative global water technologies that will enrich all of our lives.
What's in the Future?
Retiring fossil fuel plants could free 687B gallons water annually
New research predicts that, if fossil fuel-fired power plants are not slated to be replaced, the retirement of these plants in the U.S. could make available roughly 687 billion gallons of water each year by 2065.
