Innovation & Circular Economy
Overview
The Innovation and Circular Economy Strategic Implementation Team (SIT) is driving the adoption of innovative technologies and circular economy principles to create a more equitable, efficient, and resilient water future. We aim to demonstrate the widespread benefits of these practices across economic, environmental, and societal facets.
Technology for Equity and Sustainability
Addressing Equity, Innovation, and Resilience in the Water Sector
The Challenge:
Equity across the water sector is challenged by a lack of innovation culture, a digitally limited workforce, inefficiencies among utilities, insufficient data standards for assets and water quality, and the complexity in governance and policy that limits efficiencies that could be realized.
“The effort this team is working on is grounded in the belief that technology can drive meaningful progress while also supporting equity, ensuring that innovation benefits all communities, not only those with the most resources.”
The Team’s Response:
A roadmap focusing on five strategies, each addressing a key strategic area where technology can enable meaningful progress:
- Equitable Technology Innovation and Deployment
- Digital and Smart Infrastructure
- Data and Technology Governance
- Sustainable Resource Management
- Enhanced Consumer Engagement
Circular Water Economy
Roadmap to Circularity for Utilities
The Challenge:
Aging infrastructure, rising operational costs, and natural disasters are converging to create unprecedented pressure on water systems. At the same time, communities are demanding more transparent, resilient, and sustainable solutions to water shortages, service disruptions, and communities dealing with increasing rate increases.
“Empower utilities to lead the transition from a linear (take, treat, dispose) model to a circular water economy that maximizes value across systems.”
The Team’s Response:
A systems-based solution framework grounded in the three Rs (Reduce, Recover, Regenerate), utilizing existing initiatives that help close the loop.
Water 2050: Innovation & Circular Economy
The envisioned world of 2050 will include:
- Technologically transformed water management with point-of-use and fit-for-purpose treatment technologies.
- An innovative recycling approach and market-driven incentive structure for more efficient use of water and its by-products to generate less waste.
- Optimized conservation as consumers gain a greater understanding of their water needs vs. water usage.
- Partnerships and integration between the water and other industries to create more efficient and effective ways to sustain water while providing service.
Recommended Actions
The short-term recommended actions for the Innovation & Circular Economy Strategic Priority include:
- Maximize efficiency through reuse, conservation, and expanding collaboration with other sectors/Employ digital solutions such as AI and machine learning to optimize efficiency, operations, and water quality.
- Strive for rapid adoption of technology that results in equitable and sustainable outcomes.
- Optimize efficiency through a circular water economy.
Resources
Technology Innovation for the Future of Water
In 2050, new drinking water, wastewater, and water supply challenges will demand advanced technologies. The water sector must innovate new solutions for water treatment, source water protection, water reuse, desalination, updating aging infrastructure, and much more.
See All Water 2050 Videos
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Water 2050 Think Tank Reports
Technology Think Tank:
The second think tank was held in December and focused on technology. Participants included representatives from the water and wastewater utility, manufacturing and consulting communities; innovation incubators, Silicon Valley thought leaders, privacy and cybersecurity experts, regulators and academics, CEOs and an agriculture research hydrologist.
Technology Think Tank
Computer History Museum, Mountain View, California, December 2022
Participants
Cristina Ahmadpour
President and Managing Director (Americas) Isle Utilities
Christine Boyle, Ph.D.
Vice President of Business Incubation Xylem Inc.
Clifford Chan
General Manager East Bay Municipal Utility District
Colin Chung
Founder and President Kayuga Solution
Zonetta English, MBA, Assoc. DBIA
Strategic Initiatives and Project Delivery Director Louisville MSD (Louisville/Jefferson County Metropolitan Sewer District)
Judith Germano
Founder and Lead Counsel Germano Law LLC
Sally Gutierrez
Sr. Advisor to the Director of the Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response U.S. EPA, Office of Research and Development
Jihyon Im
Environmental Engineer CDM Smith Inc.
Joe Jacangelo, Ph.D.
Vice President Director of Research Stantec
Gigi Karmous-Edwards
CEO Karmous-Edwards Consulting LLC
Patrick Keaney
Worldwide Head of Business Development for Water Amazon Web Services
Thomas Kuczynski
Vice President of Information Technology District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (DC Water)
David LaFrance
CEO AWWA
Mahesh Lunani
Founder and CEO AQUASIGHT
Barb Martin
Director of Engineering and Technical Services AWWA
Randy Moore
Director of Sales, Agency Development and Industry Affairs Tnemec Company, Inc.
Kevin Morley
Manager, Federal Relations AWWA
Martha Nunez
Project Manager, Asset Management Products Autodesk, Inc.
Andy O’Reilly, Ph.D.
Research Hydrologist U.S. Department of Agriculture
Vishnu Rajasekharan, Ph.D.
Senior Manager, Innovation & Research Hach Company
Andy Richardson
Board Chairman Emeritus Greeley and Hansen
Chi Ho Sham, Ph.D.
Past President, AWWA Independent Consultant
Travis Smith
Senior Director of Strategic Marketing Badger Meter
Pauli Undesser
Executive Director Water Quality Association (WQA) and Water Quality Research Foundation (WQRF)
Carol Walczyk
Vice President of Process Efficiency Analytics Veolia North America
Shannon Wedding
Director of Business Development & Product Management McWane, Inc.
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