The ongoing 15th annual United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP15) in Copenhagen, Denmark, is a failure for more reasons than one. Not only has the West and the others failed to arrive at a consensus so far, it has also left a crucial element out of the deliberations.
There has been no relevant mention of water on the agenda and this has caused the greens and experts to slam negotiators for their failure to recognize water as a crucial element while hammering out agreements on climate change.
Perhaps, the participants have managed to take out the single most important element to mitigating and adapting to climate change. It's what some are saying is like not talking about food shortage in the face of a famine.
It's unreasonable, no doubt. Climate change has already had demonstrable affect on global water supplies and in the future, more water stress is being predicted.
In fact, the 'UN World Water Development Report 3: Water in a Changing World', which was produced in anticipation of discussions at COP15, states that evidence of the impact of climate change on the earth’s hydrological cycle is mounting in many regions of the world, in the form of increased frequency of floods, droughts and other water hazards and changes in long-term trends in precipitation.
The report states that climate change is one of the basic drivers of change for water, besides demographic, economic, social and technological forces. "Climate change can affect water resources directly, but also indirectly through its impact on the other drivers", it adds.
Yet, COP15 managed to make just some customary do-good noise and effort about water. The conference organizers just managed to ensure that the meeting remains strictly a green one and the relevance of water was brought through serving only tap water instead of mineral water.
Delegates have also been told to bring their own cups, or use biodegradable cornstarch cups available on site. Plastic bottles will be a strict no. "If some people insist on drinking bottled water, we won't take it away from them. But we will really recommend them not to," Head of Sustainability for COP15 Jan-Christoph Napierski was quoted as saying in news reports.
But, critics feel, all this is mere posturing.
According to the Global Water Partnership (GWP) and the Global Public Policy Network on water management (GPPN), a joint initiative by Stakeholder Forum and the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI), water is the primary medium through which climate change impacts will be felt by human populations and the environment. Adapting to climate change will require adapting to changes in water availability and distribution.
The failure to recognise the role of water management in adapting to climate change has numerous and multifaceted repercussions for people's lives; It means that national water suppliers will not have access to sanitation systems that are resilient to flooding or unexpected weather events: It means that farmers will not have adequate information or resources to ensure that they can cope with diminishing rainfall: It means that new pressures will be put on already strained relations between neighbouring states who depend on shared water resources, a statement issued by GWP-GPPN stated.
For years to come, water would remain central to the world’s development challenges. And, lack of water, which will surely get exacerbated by climatic changes, is likely to hit future development milestones. Notwitstanding the mitigation efforts being carried out across the world, people will continue to experience the impacts of climate change through water.
It's time water gets its due in all talks on climate change.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Water, a safe investment option.
The global water sector would remain a safe investment choice during 2010 and for several years beyond, a US-based investment management firm has said.
The consultancy, which tracks the water sector, and some of its top companies regularly, has identified water conservation and efficiency, recycling and reuse as the hot areas of investment in the sector.
A report from Summit Global Management entitled 'The Case for Water Equity Investing 2010' has stated that water being an underestimated resource, many might not realise that it represents the "world's third biggest (industry sector) in terms of embedded capital behind only oil & gas and electrical power", and the global market is estimated to be $500 billion per year.
The report said that the global economic crisis will undoubtedly impact the volume and rate of investment going into hydrocommerce in the near term. But the investment side of the industry has certainly evolved over the last 25 years, and the changes are virtually all positive.
Given the compelling, recession-resistant business model, combined with the urgency of water challenges across the globe, the consultancy is of the view that the outlook for water stocks today is much better than it was 25 years ago, or even five ago. Hydrocommerce will undoubtedly remain one of the world’s most vital industries, and will continue to offer some of the best risk/reward characteristics to the intelligent long-term investor, it added.
The findings of the report come as a shot in the arm for those looking at water as an investment option. Water scarcity is now a global issue. Going ahead, as climate changes come into play more strongly and affect supplies, population growth raises demand and pollution eats into already-scarce resources, it would be a profitable industry for those who come up with viable solutions.
The consultancy, which tracks the water sector, and some of its top companies regularly, has identified water conservation and efficiency, recycling and reuse as the hot areas of investment in the sector.
A report from Summit Global Management entitled 'The Case for Water Equity Investing 2010' has stated that water being an underestimated resource, many might not realise that it represents the "world's third biggest (industry sector) in terms of embedded capital behind only oil & gas and electrical power", and the global market is estimated to be $500 billion per year.
The report said that the global economic crisis will undoubtedly impact the volume and rate of investment going into hydrocommerce in the near term. But the investment side of the industry has certainly evolved over the last 25 years, and the changes are virtually all positive.
Given the compelling, recession-resistant business model, combined with the urgency of water challenges across the globe, the consultancy is of the view that the outlook for water stocks today is much better than it was 25 years ago, or even five ago. Hydrocommerce will undoubtedly remain one of the world’s most vital industries, and will continue to offer some of the best risk/reward characteristics to the intelligent long-term investor, it added.
The findings of the report come as a shot in the arm for those looking at water as an investment option. Water scarcity is now a global issue. Going ahead, as climate changes come into play more strongly and affect supplies, population growth raises demand and pollution eats into already-scarce resources, it would be a profitable industry for those who come up with viable solutions.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
India's Tatas make foray in low-cost water purifier market
India's leading corporate Tata Group has launched a new low-cost water purifier targeted at the rural masses. The water filter is designed to be used in rural households that have no electricity or running water and would use ash from rice milling to filter out bacteria. The business group hopes it will provide safe drinking water for millions and cut the toll of deadly diseases.
The low-cost purifier will cost around Rs 1000 (or about $22) and should find easy acceptance among people in rural India. It's, of course, another matter that there are thousands of villages across India where water is just not available.
The scourge of water pollution not only affects India, but the entire world. According to the United Nations, more than one in six people worldwide, or 894 million, do not have access to clean water for their basic needs. Diarrhoea remains the leading cause of illness and death, particularly among children.
Nearly 90 per cent of deaths from diarrhoea are due to lack of sanitation, unsafe drinking water and water for hygiene. In India, 75 per cent of the rural population does not have access to safe drinking water.
The Tatas have befittingly called the new product Swatch (meaning pure, clear in Hindi). The product has come up after the group carried out extensive research. The group has reportedly invested Rs 1 billion in the project and set a target of selling three million units in the next five years.
A low-cost product is not new to the Indian market. The home water purification industry in India is a buoyant one and there are already several players, as also a few more low-cost water purifiers in the market. FMCG giant Hindustan Unilever had also rolled out its battery-operated Pureit model, which has a 4.5-litre capacity and can filter up to 1,500 litres.
Tata's Swatch has a 9.5-litre capacity and can filter 3,000 litres until the cartridge has to be replaced. The device uses tiny silver particles to kill harmful germs that can lead to diseases like diarrhoea, cholera and typhoid, something quite common in India.
The device meets the highest US Environmental Protection Agency standards and also removes micro-organisms, colour and odour. The group had tested it in 600 rural households across four Indian states before it was launched.
The low-cost water purifier market is expected to see some more roll-outs and product innovations in the years to come as water scarcity and pollution grow. It would also be a prudent business decision for all those in the industry, as the bottom of the pyramid offers a huge, huge potential market.
The low-cost purifier will cost around Rs 1000 (or about $22) and should find easy acceptance among people in rural India. It's, of course, another matter that there are thousands of villages across India where water is just not available.
The scourge of water pollution not only affects India, but the entire world. According to the United Nations, more than one in six people worldwide, or 894 million, do not have access to clean water for their basic needs. Diarrhoea remains the leading cause of illness and death, particularly among children.
Nearly 90 per cent of deaths from diarrhoea are due to lack of sanitation, unsafe drinking water and water for hygiene. In India, 75 per cent of the rural population does not have access to safe drinking water.
The Tatas have befittingly called the new product Swatch (meaning pure, clear in Hindi). The product has come up after the group carried out extensive research. The group has reportedly invested Rs 1 billion in the project and set a target of selling three million units in the next five years.
A low-cost product is not new to the Indian market. The home water purification industry in India is a buoyant one and there are already several players, as also a few more low-cost water purifiers in the market. FMCG giant Hindustan Unilever had also rolled out its battery-operated Pureit model, which has a 4.5-litre capacity and can filter up to 1,500 litres.
Tata's Swatch has a 9.5-litre capacity and can filter 3,000 litres until the cartridge has to be replaced. The device uses tiny silver particles to kill harmful germs that can lead to diseases like diarrhoea, cholera and typhoid, something quite common in India.
The device meets the highest US Environmental Protection Agency standards and also removes micro-organisms, colour and odour. The group had tested it in 600 rural households across four Indian states before it was launched.
The low-cost water purifier market is expected to see some more roll-outs and product innovations in the years to come as water scarcity and pollution grow. It would also be a prudent business decision for all those in the industry, as the bottom of the pyramid offers a huge, huge potential market.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
What water conflicts?
Water scarcity is giving rise to conflicts. Among people, within nations and between nations. At places, these conflicts are leading to growing instability among people. As is evident in the Middle East.
But, a leading expert in water resource policy and conflict resolution says though conflicts over water are at the heart of regional instability, they could become catalyst for cooperation and peace, if managed properly.
There is a growing tendency to cooperate over water even though politicians have threatened to take to the battlefield over the precious resource, he added. "Two thirds of the time we do anything over shared water, we cooperate. That is hugely important," said Programme Director in Water Conflict Management and Transformation at Oregon State University, Aaron Wolfe.
He feels that water turfs just lead to mere posturing by politicians of all hues. The last formal war over water was fought in 2,500 B.C. between two Sumerian city-states contesting the Tigris basin, he said recently at the United Nations General Assembly.
The problem, he says, is that water is often managed unilaterally and thus inefficiently, and is used to exacerbate tensions. Water itself did not respect political boundaries, but governments used man-made borders to protect their sovereignty, economies and nationalities.
Also, policy discussions over water issues focused too much on global trends and solutions, while neglecting the regional and sub-regional water disputes that were a real security concern, responsible for poverty, disease and degradation in many parts of the world.
His comments come as a whiff of fresh air after reports and comments, including the United Nations, warning that water stress, amplified by climate change, was likely to pose a mounting security challenge in the years to come.
The struggle for water could threaten fragile states and drive regional rivalry, the UN had warned in the third edition of World Water Development Report, entitled 'Water in a changing world', which was released during the World Water Forum at Istanbul in March 2009.
More than 1 billion people lack access to safe drinking water and 2.4 billion, or about half the world’s population, has no access to basic sanitation.
Every year, water-related ailments make some 250 million people sick and claim the lives of 2.2-5 million more. These statistics provide a powder keg good enough to explode and divide a humanity already divided. But, would the misery and pain by chance bring us together?
But, a leading expert in water resource policy and conflict resolution says though conflicts over water are at the heart of regional instability, they could become catalyst for cooperation and peace, if managed properly.
There is a growing tendency to cooperate over water even though politicians have threatened to take to the battlefield over the precious resource, he added. "Two thirds of the time we do anything over shared water, we cooperate. That is hugely important," said Programme Director in Water Conflict Management and Transformation at Oregon State University, Aaron Wolfe.
He feels that water turfs just lead to mere posturing by politicians of all hues. The last formal war over water was fought in 2,500 B.C. between two Sumerian city-states contesting the Tigris basin, he said recently at the United Nations General Assembly.
The problem, he says, is that water is often managed unilaterally and thus inefficiently, and is used to exacerbate tensions. Water itself did not respect political boundaries, but governments used man-made borders to protect their sovereignty, economies and nationalities.
Also, policy discussions over water issues focused too much on global trends and solutions, while neglecting the regional and sub-regional water disputes that were a real security concern, responsible for poverty, disease and degradation in many parts of the world.
His comments come as a whiff of fresh air after reports and comments, including the United Nations, warning that water stress, amplified by climate change, was likely to pose a mounting security challenge in the years to come.
The struggle for water could threaten fragile states and drive regional rivalry, the UN had warned in the third edition of World Water Development Report, entitled 'Water in a changing world', which was released during the World Water Forum at Istanbul in March 2009.
More than 1 billion people lack access to safe drinking water and 2.4 billion, or about half the world’s population, has no access to basic sanitation.
Every year, water-related ailments make some 250 million people sick and claim the lives of 2.2-5 million more. These statistics provide a powder keg good enough to explode and divide a humanity already divided. But, would the misery and pain by chance bring us together?
Friday, November 20, 2009
India's Jain Irrigation undertakes 'water footprint' project
Jain Irrigation, India's leading manufacturer of water distribution devices and irrigation systems, has charted plans to launch a water footprint initiative aimed at conserving the resource. It has roped in World Bank's private lending arm, International Finance Corporation (IFC) for the endeavour.
The initiative will allow Jain Irrigation to measure its environmental and sustainability benefits and help identify ways for it to reduce water consumption. This is one of the first such moves undertaken in the Indian corporate sector to understand the concept of water footprint.
Water footprinting involves evaluating direct and indirect water usage in business activities, including those of suppliers. It also entails understanding linkages to local water sources and scarcity, and assessing impacts on community water resources and the environment with the goal of adopting conservation measures.
The effort couldn't have come in at a better time. Water supply in the country is waning and pollution is eating into it further. In a country, where agriculture remains the mainstay of rural income, though as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP) it remains less than one-fourth of a contributor, water availability plays an important role.
The project will demonstrate effective management of natural resources, particularly the benefits to farmers of water conservation. Jain Irrigation is a diversified player in the Indian water infrastructure industry and commands a sizeable presence in agri-business too.
The company claims to be the world’s second-largest drip irrigation systems company after Israel’s Terafin. Its micro-irrigation products are well entrenched in the Indian agriculture industry.
The water footprinting exercise is also expected to bring benefit to several other Indian companies. The project will also aim to develop tools that can be replicated by other private sector companies in ascertaining their direct and their suppliers' water exposure, minimizing water risks, improving water efficiencies, and limiting their water-related social and environmental impacts.
It would be a worthwhile effort for Indian companies, particularly in the water-intensive industries, to tune in and stay abreast with the initiative, and its results. In the near future, it would be prudent for these companies, as also others in India, to undertake water footprinting to not only bring down the usage of the scarce resources, but also understand the future business risk.
The initiative will allow Jain Irrigation to measure its environmental and sustainability benefits and help identify ways for it to reduce water consumption. This is one of the first such moves undertaken in the Indian corporate sector to understand the concept of water footprint.
Water footprinting involves evaluating direct and indirect water usage in business activities, including those of suppliers. It also entails understanding linkages to local water sources and scarcity, and assessing impacts on community water resources and the environment with the goal of adopting conservation measures.
The effort couldn't have come in at a better time. Water supply in the country is waning and pollution is eating into it further. In a country, where agriculture remains the mainstay of rural income, though as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP) it remains less than one-fourth of a contributor, water availability plays an important role.
The project will demonstrate effective management of natural resources, particularly the benefits to farmers of water conservation. Jain Irrigation is a diversified player in the Indian water infrastructure industry and commands a sizeable presence in agri-business too.
The company claims to be the world’s second-largest drip irrigation systems company after Israel’s Terafin. Its micro-irrigation products are well entrenched in the Indian agriculture industry.
The water footprinting exercise is also expected to bring benefit to several other Indian companies. The project will also aim to develop tools that can be replicated by other private sector companies in ascertaining their direct and their suppliers' water exposure, minimizing water risks, improving water efficiencies, and limiting their water-related social and environmental impacts.
It would be a worthwhile effort for Indian companies, particularly in the water-intensive industries, to tune in and stay abreast with the initiative, and its results. In the near future, it would be prudent for these companies, as also others in India, to undertake water footprinting to not only bring down the usage of the scarce resources, but also understand the future business risk.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Another PE fund eyes India water industry
The growing scarcity of water in India and China is attracting several private investors. As the two leading economies battle growing water shortages and runaway pollution of water resources, soem of these PE funds are sensing a growing potential in services and technologies that present solutions to these problems.
The latest among the long list of private investors in the water industry is PE firm Olympus Capital that has closed a $250 million Asia fund that seeks to make investments in the waste management, water quality treatment infrastructure and clean energy sectors in the two countries.
Betweem them, India and China have enough people to present a huge market, perhaps bigger than any other market. So, Asia's third and second largest economies, in this order, remain on the investment radar of investors looking for opportunities in the sector that is already seeing a lot of action.
Olympus' fund, Asia Environmental Partners LP, has received commitments from several quarters including the private lending arm of World Bank, International Finance Corporation (IFC). The fund intends to focus on equipment and services companies engaged in water management and energy efficiency.
Olympus is reportedly exploring opportunities that call for investments ranging from $20 million USD to $100 million USD. Its immediate focus would be on energy efficiency and water management, besides municipal solid waste management.
Despite the growing interest of investors in the Indian water industry, it has remained largely devoid of any big ticket private equity deals. As a result, most of the companies in the sector, particularly the small and medium-sized ones, have depended on traditional routes of fund raising, including borrowings and going public.
However, now that several water-focused funds and private equity vehicles have announced investment plans, the water sector would see a lot of activity.
Hopefully, in the process, some long-term solutions and technologies would get available to the masses.
The latest among the long list of private investors in the water industry is PE firm Olympus Capital that has closed a $250 million Asia fund that seeks to make investments in the waste management, water quality treatment infrastructure and clean energy sectors in the two countries.
Betweem them, India and China have enough people to present a huge market, perhaps bigger than any other market. So, Asia's third and second largest economies, in this order, remain on the investment radar of investors looking for opportunities in the sector that is already seeing a lot of action.
Olympus' fund, Asia Environmental Partners LP, has received commitments from several quarters including the private lending arm of World Bank, International Finance Corporation (IFC). The fund intends to focus on equipment and services companies engaged in water management and energy efficiency.
Olympus is reportedly exploring opportunities that call for investments ranging from $20 million USD to $100 million USD. Its immediate focus would be on energy efficiency and water management, besides municipal solid waste management.
Despite the growing interest of investors in the Indian water industry, it has remained largely devoid of any big ticket private equity deals. As a result, most of the companies in the sector, particularly the small and medium-sized ones, have depended on traditional routes of fund raising, including borrowings and going public.
However, now that several water-focused funds and private equity vehicles have announced investment plans, the water sector would see a lot of activity.
Hopefully, in the process, some long-term solutions and technologies would get available to the masses.
Monday, October 26, 2009
India-centric fund eyes investments in water sector
Yet another fund has decided to tap the growing water industry in India. India-centric Prithvi Sustainability Innovation and Technology Fund, with a proposed corpus of $150 million, has decided to make investments in the Indian cleantech industry, including the growing water industry.
The fund is looking to make investments in companies in India that provide solutions to water, air and soil contamination. And, it will be looking at emerging areas such as biofuels, air pollution management, soil conservation and organic farming, renewable energy sectors like solar power and wind, solid waste management, biomass combustion, co-generation systems and recycling technology.
Phew! That's just about as much cleantech you can have on your plate.
Prithvi hopes to achieve first close of the fund by January 2010 at $100 million and a final close in March. (I hope to be around to share its next step here).
The fund is currently tapping overseas investors including institutions, high net worth individuals and hedge funds in the US and UK. It also remains in talks with investee companies and will make investments after the first close.
Prithvi hopes to invest in companies engaged in various sectors of the water industry and is particularly eyeing projects in the water contamination, rainwater harvesting and wastewater treatment industry.
The proposed investment by Prithvi in the water sector in India is an indication of the growing interest of venture capitalists in the technology solutions being provided by some Indian companies in the sector. With the growing scarcity expected to create additional demand for water in the country, several private equity funds have already evinced interest in picking up stakes in companies engaged in the water sector.
The $150-million fund will have an investment range of $5 million to $15 million (Rs 23-Rs 70 crore) each in order to help ventures across a range of clean and green technology segments.
The fund is looking to make investments in companies in India that provide solutions to water, air and soil contamination. And, it will be looking at emerging areas such as biofuels, air pollution management, soil conservation and organic farming, renewable energy sectors like solar power and wind, solid waste management, biomass combustion, co-generation systems and recycling technology.
Phew! That's just about as much cleantech you can have on your plate.
Prithvi hopes to achieve first close of the fund by January 2010 at $100 million and a final close in March. (I hope to be around to share its next step here).
The fund is currently tapping overseas investors including institutions, high net worth individuals and hedge funds in the US and UK. It also remains in talks with investee companies and will make investments after the first close.
Prithvi hopes to invest in companies engaged in various sectors of the water industry and is particularly eyeing projects in the water contamination, rainwater harvesting and wastewater treatment industry.
The proposed investment by Prithvi in the water sector in India is an indication of the growing interest of venture capitalists in the technology solutions being provided by some Indian companies in the sector. With the growing scarcity expected to create additional demand for water in the country, several private equity funds have already evinced interest in picking up stakes in companies engaged in the water sector.
The $150-million fund will have an investment range of $5 million to $15 million (Rs 23-Rs 70 crore) each in order to help ventures across a range of clean and green technology segments.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Merck shows the way, brings down water usage
As water supplies across the world dwindle in the wake of climate change and population growth, some companies with a global presence are undertaking serious reduction in water usage. Most of these companies have been making these efforts as part of the overall plan to become more sustainable and minimize business impact on the environment.
Global pharma major Merck announced earlier this month that it has achieved and exceeded its corporate goal to pare water use by 15 per cent between 2004 and 2008. It thus joins a growing list of corporates, including Wal-Mart, Kraft Foods and Whole Foods Market, that are cutting down on water usage in their production systems.
Merck said its strategy for improving water use efficiency included reducing overall demand for water, controlling water discharges and understanding the water-related challenges in regions where it operates.
Merck has achieved significant savings in water use. During 2008, its facilities recycled or reused 1.8 billion gallons of water, reducing its water use by 15 per cent during the previous five years from 2004.
In 2008, the company used 6.1 billion gallons of water less than in 2004, which translated into a 52 per cent reduction. The closure and sale of two water intensive facilities accounted for 59 per cent of its total reduction. Water use reductions at the remainder of its facilities, including new sites that have been added, were 21.4 per cent.
According to the company, it is engaged in numerous initiatives worldwide to reduce water use. Although it has achieved the water use reduction goal, the company said it continues to place high priority on optimizing use of water.
Merck has assigned a water manager at each of its major site who is responsible for identifying water use reduction opportunities, preparing a facility water "balance" to help prioritize the implementation of best practices and conducting water audits to identify leaks and opportunities to reduce water use.
During this year, the company said it will continue its efforts to map water use at its facilities and begin to create profiles of water availability and risks at facilities around the world. The company intends to use that information to identify water use improvements and opportunities that optimize environmental benefit and business value.
It is time that other leading companies too emulate Merck and make efforts to bring down the usage of water, and energy through adoption of efficient methods of production. The need of the hour is to reduce the water footprint and be more water-efficient.
Global pharma major Merck announced earlier this month that it has achieved and exceeded its corporate goal to pare water use by 15 per cent between 2004 and 2008. It thus joins a growing list of corporates, including Wal-Mart, Kraft Foods and Whole Foods Market, that are cutting down on water usage in their production systems.
Merck said its strategy for improving water use efficiency included reducing overall demand for water, controlling water discharges and understanding the water-related challenges in regions where it operates.
Merck has achieved significant savings in water use. During 2008, its facilities recycled or reused 1.8 billion gallons of water, reducing its water use by 15 per cent during the previous five years from 2004.
In 2008, the company used 6.1 billion gallons of water less than in 2004, which translated into a 52 per cent reduction. The closure and sale of two water intensive facilities accounted for 59 per cent of its total reduction. Water use reductions at the remainder of its facilities, including new sites that have been added, were 21.4 per cent.
According to the company, it is engaged in numerous initiatives worldwide to reduce water use. Although it has achieved the water use reduction goal, the company said it continues to place high priority on optimizing use of water.
Merck has assigned a water manager at each of its major site who is responsible for identifying water use reduction opportunities, preparing a facility water "balance" to help prioritize the implementation of best practices and conducting water audits to identify leaks and opportunities to reduce water use.
During this year, the company said it will continue its efforts to map water use at its facilities and begin to create profiles of water availability and risks at facilities around the world. The company intends to use that information to identify water use improvements and opportunities that optimize environmental benefit and business value.
It is time that other leading companies too emulate Merck and make efforts to bring down the usage of water, and energy through adoption of efficient methods of production. The need of the hour is to reduce the water footprint and be more water-efficient.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Look beyond innovations to tackle water shortages
Global water issues are becoming complex and experts now feel that tackling them would require some out-of-box thinking. Innovations are not enough where water scarcity is concerned and an effective solution to the water problem will involve a business model, creative packaging and a reasonable price, former technology officer of General Electric Water and Process Technologies Ramesh Rengarajan said.
Rengarajan said the requirement was to find solutions that married water sustainability with efficiency. He proposed treatment and reuse of water through a decentralized power system as one solution for water scarcity that may minimize environmental impacts. His comments came during an interactive session at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in late August.
The former GE official said he saw the treatment and reuse of water as a solution for the growing water shortages across regions. While this "toilet-to-tap" method makes some people uneasy, it has been widely used with no harmful effects.
He said he envisioned a device people could plug in and use on-site, like an air conditioner, to disinfect water. The solution would have to be cost-effective in order to work. While people are willing to pay for gas and oil, they are reluctant to do so for water, he added.
According to Rengarajan, finding a solution to global water scarcity was 'not a challenge, but an opportunity'. A solution would benefit the environment and potentially create a multibillion-dollar business, he added.
Against a backdrop of growing water scarcity around the world, any business that promises a solution would indeed be worthwhile. The last several years have seen advancement in technology solutions including new and efficient ways to desaline, reuse and treat water. Now, water is even being made from mist, or out of air. Going ahead, all of these would become still more efficient and effective, and hopefully, some new solutions would arrive.
Rengarajan said the requirement was to find solutions that married water sustainability with efficiency. He proposed treatment and reuse of water through a decentralized power system as one solution for water scarcity that may minimize environmental impacts. His comments came during an interactive session at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in late August.
The former GE official said he saw the treatment and reuse of water as a solution for the growing water shortages across regions. While this "toilet-to-tap" method makes some people uneasy, it has been widely used with no harmful effects.
He said he envisioned a device people could plug in and use on-site, like an air conditioner, to disinfect water. The solution would have to be cost-effective in order to work. While people are willing to pay for gas and oil, they are reluctant to do so for water, he added.
According to Rengarajan, finding a solution to global water scarcity was 'not a challenge, but an opportunity'. A solution would benefit the environment and potentially create a multibillion-dollar business, he added.
Against a backdrop of growing water scarcity around the world, any business that promises a solution would indeed be worthwhile. The last several years have seen advancement in technology solutions including new and efficient ways to desaline, reuse and treat water. Now, water is even being made from mist, or out of air. Going ahead, all of these would become still more efficient and effective, and hopefully, some new solutions would arrive.
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