Water is underfunded yet crucial to keeping the economy afloat: that's what we knew... but it turns out worse. We're failing faster than expected, and we don't even manage to spend the money we have. Yet there's hope: let's dig in.

More #water insights?

Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

#️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

The World Bank's Funding a Water Secure Future report: https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/water/publication/funding-a-water-secure-future?trk=feed-detail_main-feed-card_feed-article-content

CDP's Water report: https://www.cdp.net/en/articles/media/new-data-reveals-us23-trillion-investment-opportunity-from-valuing-water

The Latest US EPA assessment: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/new-epa-survey-highlights-wastewater-infrastructure-needs-protect-waterbodies

The GWI/XPV White Paper on the 12.6 Trillion dollar opportunity: https://my.globalwaterintel-insights.com/l/2DC/watersecurityinvestment

My exploration of the 2.3 Trillion dollar opportunity identified by CDP in 2023: https://youtu.be/VFEtYFC0dUo

My full blog entry: https://dww.show/the-economic-fiasco-behind-the-global-water-crisis/

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Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

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🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 Why is the World Struggling to Solve the Water Crisis?

01:00 Is $153.2 Billion enough?

03:17 The Hidden Inefficiencies in Water Utilities

05:30 Water Crisis: a Global Economic Threat?

07:49 From Crisis to $12.6 Trillion Opportunity

#SDG6 #WaterFinance #WaterInvestment

About this Episode: Welcome to the (don't) Waste Water podcast! In each episode, Antoine Walter from DWW Media shares water, wastewater & water entrepreneurship stories. This show will teach you the water industry like you've never seen it. If you're asking how the water sector will overcome the water crises ahead, this water tech podcast is for you.

Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

What can you apply from everything Fajer just shared? What can you steal and take home? Well, quite a lot if you ask me, starting with these seven insights I wrote down and number one:

1. Customer-Driven Development:

2. Pilot Strategically, and Prove Quickly

3. Build and Leverage Credibility:

4. Position your technology as Future-Proofing for your Customers

5. Prove your overall Sustainability in concrete terms

6. Build as much as possible on existing infrastructure

7. Data-Driven Customer Assurance:

And there you have it, my 7 insights from Fajer Mushtaq in under 7 minutes, if you disagree with my selection, tell me, and if you'd like to dive deeper, well listen to the full interview!

Remember, that episode came to you free of charge, but I would believe not free of value. It takes me quite some time to put all of those together every week, so all I'm asking is for you to help me distribute them! So take this episode, share it with a friend, a colleague, your boss, or your team, and I'll be back with another one next week!

Full Episode: https://dww.show/how-oxyle-destroys-pfas-with-the-energy-youd-actually-waste/

Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

We know PFAS removal displaces the problem while PFAS destruction breaks the bank. Or so we thought: Oxyle thinks otherwise, and to understand why, listen to this!

More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

#️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

Oxyle's Website: https://oxyle.ch/

Come say Hi to Fajer on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fajer-mushtaq-0908/

Fajer's first appearance 4 years ago: https://dww.show/how-to-solve-a-global-challenge-in-an-easy-affordable-innovative-and-efficient-way/

My conversation on PFAS destruction with Julie Bliss Mullen from Aclarity: https://dww.show/how-aclarity-bootstrapped-its-journey-from-b2c-to-pfas-destruction/

My conversation on PFAS recycling with Henrik Hagemann from Purafinnity: https://dww.show/should-we-really-destroy-pfas-no-your-fridge-knows-a-better-way/

The only water tech unicorn (so far): https://dww.show/how-gradiant-became-the-first-and-only-water-tech-unicorn/

My blog entry on today's episode: https://dww.show/how-oxyle-destroys-pfas-with-the-energy-youd-actually-waste/

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: http://youtube.com@dwwpodcast

Main Channel: http://youtube.com@AntoineWalterDWW

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

👋 SOCIAL MEDIA 👋

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dwwpodcast/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AntoineWalter7

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 In This Week's Episode

01:57 The Evolution of Oxyle: From Basement to Breakthrough

03:47 The Pivot: from Micropollutants to PFAS

13:23 The Science Behind Oxyle's PFAS Destruction Technology

27:40 The Future of PFAS Removal

38:45 Challenging the Status Quo: Oxyle's Mission and Vision

43:35 Navigating Water Treatment and Real-Time Monitoring

44:58 Is it possible to benchmark PFAS removal technologies?

48:08 The EPA's Conservative Approach to PFAS Treatment Recommendations

51:39 The European Market Opportunity for PFAS Treatment Technologies

55:18 Strategic Growth and Fundraising: Building a Sustainable Water Tech Company

59:06 Oxyle's Business Model

01:10:55 Rapid Fire Questions

01:15:56 7 Insights to Take Home

#PFAS #PFASDestruction #PFASRemoval

About this Episode: Welcome to the (don't) Waste Water podcast! In each episode, Antoine Walter from DWW Media shares water, wastewater & water entrepreneurship stories. This show will teach you the water industry like you've never seen it. If you're asking how the water sector will overcome the water crises ahead, this water tech podcast is for you.

Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Oxyle is a company intensely focused on the treatment and monitoring of micropollutants, specifically PFAS. Over the last two and a half years, they have honed their technology to address the increasing market need for effective PFAS removal solutions. Oxyle’s approach leverages existing water treatment technologies but with a sharpened focus on PFAS, positioning themselves as a benchmark in the industry.

In this full podcast episode, Antoine Walter discusses with Fajer Mushtaq from Oxyle about the company's strategic refocus on PFAS pollutants. Over recent years, Oxyle has tailored its technology to specifically tackle the complexities of PFAS treatment, driven by market needs and the volume of customer inquiries. This adaptation has not altered their core technology but has sharpened its application, making Oxyle a leader in this niche market. The discussion delves into the technical aspects of their treatment processes, emphasizing the use of mechanical energy to enhance chemical reactions efficiently. Additionally, Fajer highlights the company's commitment to meeting rising regulatory standards while ensuring their treatments remain cost-effective and scalable, a significant concern for many of their clients. Oxyle's approach not only addresses environmental concerns but also aligns with the economic realities of the industries they serve, positioning them as a pivotal player in the water treatment industry.

Unique Insights:

• Oxyle has recognized the shift in market demands towards PFAS treatment, adapting their technology to meet these new challenges without fundamental changes to their system.

• The company emphasizes the importance of not just meeting regulatory standards but ensuring the treatment process is cost-effective and scalable, which has become a significant concern for their clients.

• They highlight an innovative use of mechanical energy sources in their treatment processes, enhancing the efficiency of their catalytic reactions.

Key Ideas:

• PFAS Focus: Oxyle has shifted its focus to PFAS due to high demand and regulatory pressure, aiming to establish industry benchmarks in this area.

• Technology Adaptation: Their technology uses mechanical energy from water flow, making it energy-efficient and effective at breaking down pollutants.

• Market Response: The shift was a direct response to customer needs, with Oxyle prioritizing PFAS treatment due to the volume of inquiries related to these compounds.

• Regulatory Compliance and Cost: Oxyle balances compliance with regulatory standards with the economic concerns of their clients, ensuring their solutions are accessible.

Counter-Intuitive Facts:

• Use of Mechanical Energy: Oxyle uses the mechanical energy from water flow as a primary energy source for their catalytic process, which is a novel approach in the treatment of PFAS.

• Regulatory Ahead of Technology: While regulations are becoming stricter, Oxyle’s technology was already designed to meet future standards, which is uncommon as many companies often scramble to meet new regulations.

• Cost-Effectiveness Over Direct Profit: Oxyle’s business model focuses on long-term cost-effectiveness and scalability rather than immediate profit margins from their hardware, choosing to earn through operational excellence and service.

Full Episode: https://dww.show/how-oxyle-destroys-pfas-with-the-energy-youd-actually-waste/

Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

New Segment! The 7 insights to take home and act upon from my podcast guest this week: Johnny Pujol.

For the ones that don't have a paper and a pen with them during the interview, that's my way to share you my notes.

What can we learn from Peter Christou's rollercoaster of a ride as the President and Founder of Swirltex? Well, quite a lot if you ask me, starting with these seven insights I wrote down and number one:

1. Navigating Market Entry

2. Collaboration and Partnerships

3. Embrace Serendipity in R&D

4. Perseverance Through Hardship

5. Take Bold Risks with Applications

6. Leadership and Team Dynamics

7. Impact Over Profit

I'd say that each of these insights from Swirltex's journey offers valuable lessons on navigating the complexities of entrepreneurship in the water sector. They highlight the blend of passion, innovation, and strategic thinking necessary to not only survive but thrive in this, as you know it, demanding field.

Anyways, there you have it, my 7 insights from Peter Christou in under 7 minutes, if you disagree with my selection, tell me, and if you'd like to dive deeper, well listen to the full interview!

Remember, that episode came to you free of charge, but I would believe not free of value. It takes me quite some time to put all of those together every week, so all I'm asking is for you to help me distribute them! So take this episode, share it with a friend, a colleague, your boss, or your team, and I'll be back with another one next week!

Full Episode: https://dww.show/how-swirltex-nearly-crushed-its-founder-before-taking-off/

Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Peter Christou had a water membrane epiphany in his garage in Edmonton. But a terrible timing and some financial difficulties of one of his investors basically turned him... homeless, and in the need to steal food to survive. As Swirltex has since soared and proved its worth, let's explore the full story!

More #water insights?

Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

#️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣

🔗 Swirltex's Website: https://swirltex.com/

🔗 Come say Hi to Peter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-christou-4b758043/

🔗 My article on this week's conversation: https://dww.show/how-swirltex-nearly-crushed-its-founder-before-taking-off/

🔗 My conversation with one of Peter's Investor, John Robinson: https://dww.show/how-to-mitigate-4-shades-of-water-risk-through-impact-investing/

🔗 Mazarine Ventures' website: https://www.mazarineventures.com/

🔗 Alberta Innovates' website: https://albertainnovates.ca/news/swirltex-puts-a-spin-on-innovation/

🔗 The Creative Destruction Labs: https://creativedestructionlab.com/

🔗 E3 Lithium: https://e3lithium.ca/

🔗 LithiumBank: https://www.lithiumbank.ca/

🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️

Podcast Channel: https://youtube.com/@dwwpodcast

Main Channel: https://youtube.com/@AntoineWalterDWW

Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water

Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

👋 SOCIAL MEDIA 👋

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dwwpodcast/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AntoineWalter7

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

#WaterMembranes #WaterTech #WasteWater #Lithium

About this Episode: Welcome to the (don't) Waste Water podcast! In each episode, Antoine Walter from DWW Media shares water, wastewater & water entrepreneurship stories. This show will teach you the water industry like you've never seen it. If you're asking how the water sector will overcome the water crises ahead, this podcast is for you.

Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Swirltex, the company represented by Peter Christou, develops unique membrane technologies that optimize filtration processes. The company distinguishes itself by manipulating the buoyancy of liquids to enhance filtration efficiency, which is particularly effective in industries where traditional membranes fail. This technology not only reduces energy consumption by up to 70% but also improves flux rates, offering a sustainable solution particularly useful in sectors like oil and gas, mining, and municipal water treatment.

In the podcast, Peter Christou elaborates on Swirltex's innovative approach to membrane technology, which is designed to improve filtration efficiency by manipulating the buoyancy of liquids and integrating air flow. This method reduces the energy consumption of membrane systems by up to 70% and enhances flux rates, making it a game-changer in industries where conventional membranes fail, such as oil and gas and mining. The discussion also touches on the broader implications of this technology for environmental sustainability and how it can reshape industry standards for water treatment and reuse.

Unique Insights:

1. Swirltex's approach to increasing filtration efficiency by manipulating liquid buoyancy and using air flows represents a significant innovation in membrane technology.

2. The company's focus on industrial applications where conventional membranes are less effective showcases a strategic move to tap unexplored markets.

3. Their technology not only addresses the efficiency but also significantly cuts down on energy use, marking a step forward in eco-friendly industrial processes.

Key Ideas:

• Innovative Membrane Use: Swirltex's technology uses a combination of air and water flow to prevent fouling and improve the efficiency of membrane filtration.

• Energy Efficiency: The technology significantly reduces the energy required for operating membranes, which is crucial for sustainability in resource-intensive industries.

• Market Adaptation: Swirltex has successfully adapted its technology for challenging applications like oil and grease-heavy industries, where traditional membranes struggle.

• Environmental Impact: By improving the efficiency and reducing the energy consumption of membrane systems, Swirltex contributes to environmental sustainability.

• Cultural and Operational Shift: The technology developed by Swirltex necessitates a shift in how industries think about and implement filtration systems, moving towards more sustainable and efficient practices.

Counter-Intuitive Facts:

1. Energy Reduction in Filtration: Swirltex's technology uses air to manipulate buoyancy, which counter-intuitively reduces energy consumption by 70% compared to traditional methods .

2. Application in Difficult Industries: Unlike typical membrane applications, Swirltex successfully operates in sectors with high fouling risks like oil and grease industries, traditionally challenging for membrane tech .

3. Adaptability to Market Needs: Swirltex's strategic focus on non-traditional markets for membranes allows it to tap into new areas, proving that membranes can be highly effective outside conventional settings like municipal water treatment .

Full Episode: https://dww.show/how-swirltex-nearly-crushed-its-founder-before-taking-off/

Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Reinhard Hübner (CEO of SKion Water) was my guest on the first episode of the Season 5 of the podcast, a bit more than 2 years ago.

To this date, it's still one of the most successful episodes of all time (check it out here: https://dww.show/the-7-secrets-of-the-water-company-of-the-year-you-shall-absolutely-steal/)

Since then, SKion has led... 13 M&A moves! So, since that first appearance on the podcast, every time I meet Reinhard or his Managing Director, Dirk Brusis, I make it a rule to always question them about their next M&A.

This time, it was on record during the recent Global Water Summit (https://www.watermeetsmoney.com/), and I thought you might want to hear about it, as it's a packed 15-minute conversation, with lots (like... LOTS!) of insights inside.

About SKion Water:

SKion Water is an influential player in both the municipal and industrial water treatment sectors across Europe and North America. The company is pioneering the construction of wastewater recycling plants and deploying advanced technologies for groundwater infiltration of river water. With a budgeted turnover of 1.4 billion for the current year, SKion Water is also involved in global markets, emphasizing sustainability and technical innovation to ensure water security amidst climate change.

Episode Summary:

In this discussion, Reinhard Hübner of SKion Water outlines the company's strategic responses to the challenges posed by climate change on water resources. He discusses the construction of advanced wastewater recycling plants in Germany, a pioneering effort reflecting a shift from traditional practices due to increasing water scarcity influenced by climate change. Hübner emphasizes the necessity of integrating municipal and industrial water management solutions, highlighting projects in both Europe and North America. The conversation also touches on the company’s growth and innovation strategies, noting a slowdown in acquisitions but continued investment in essential technologies and market expansions. Regulatory challenges like the new PFAS guidelines are addressed with proactive technological solutions, showcasing SKion Water's commitment to sustainable and compliant operations. Throughout the interview, the importance of decentralized operations and the integration of new technologies for efficient water management are discussed as critical elements of SKion Water's approach to addressing the global water crisis.

Key Ideas

1. Climate Change and Water Security: Climate change is creating severe impacts on water availability, affecting both natural ecosystems and human needs. SKion Water is working on solutions like the reuse of municipal wastewater to combat these challenges.

2. Municipal Wastewater Reuse in Germany: The company is constructing Germany’s first municipal wastewater reuse plant, which reflects a significant shift in traditional water management practices in the country.

3. Innovation and Growth: Despite a recent slowdown in acquisitions, SKion Water continues to expand strategically, integrating new technologies and markets into its portfolio.

4. Regulatory Challenges and Solutions: Facing new environmental regulations, SKion Water is investing in technologies such as those for on-site PFAS destruction, highlighting the company’s proactive approach to compliance and sustainability.

5. Cultural and Operational Adaptations: The company’s adaptation to various global markets showcases its flexible approach to business, emphasizing understanding and integration before expansion.

Stay tuned for more: I recorded 8 pieces at the Summit, so I won't put you ALL in this feed like this one, but I'll share you the key insights in the coming weeks!

Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.