A Trump Victory Would Be a Water Disaster
In September, I signed the pledge with VCs for Kamala in order to protect the capitalist institutions and entrepreneurs that build the innovation economy every day. As an investor in water technology companies, my view is that our climate-tech industry, the public’s health, and the environment, will be at mortal risk should Trump win. We only need to be reminded what he did last time; what he said he will do next time; and how he will end crucial programs that the Biden-Harris administration have just begun.
Perhaps you’ve forgotten that Trump, in his last term, declared war on water, and specifically water efficiency. He spent the last year of his presidency in a “crusade” against inefficient water pressure, against maximum flow rates in showers, and against clothes washers with short cycle times. “Toilets and Showers. You do not get any water,” he said alarmingly. Really, the water efficiency crusade was a ruse to attack regulations in any form. But industry needs certainty, and rolling back regulations in place for 30 years will destabilize water policy frameworks that investors need to de-risk investments.
What is he planning to do next time? Trump’s primary target will be to destroy the US Environmental Protection Agency, according to Project 2025, written by his closest aides and advisors. In addition, Trump will weaken or eliminate rules that protect public health from cancer-causing chemicals and contaminants. His next administration would dismantle Biden-Harris rules and guidance for PFAS, lead, and soot. PFAS exposure has been shown to be associated with kidney and testicular cancer, liver damage, hormone disruption, and diminished vaccine effectiveness. (American Progress) The recently completed Lead and Copper Rule could be undermined, leading to increased exposure to lead that has no safe level and contributes to learning disabilities and severe symptoms of ADHD. Kamala is committed to getting the lead out of our water. The Biden-Harris administration announced $3 billion this year to do just that, plus much more for drought resilience. I am heartened every day when new startups introduce their new technologies that aim to detect and destroy these contaminants and in so doing, protect our public health and our lakes and rivers. If Trump wins, these startups will blink out, along with new investments in chemical detection and removal.
Leaders in the Biden-Harris administration have begun significant new programs that must be continued to have the intended impacts. Most importantly, perhaps, are new policies that invite indigenous tribes to co-manage some of our most precious public lands and waters. Biden-Harris issued Proclamation 10285, which restored Bears Ears National Monument and re-established Bears Ears Commission consisting of one elected member from five Tribes to protect and restore the monument’s objects and values. Just this year, NOAA established the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary, America’s 17th national marine sanctuary, off the Central Coast of California. These lands and waters “are, and have always been, the native homelands of Chumash Peoples (and Salinan Peoples) and their ancestors.” NOAA and the Tribes will collaboratively co-steward this coastal area “to protect and honor this special place.” For long-term protection and regeneration of America’s natural heritage, co-management programs such as these must continue and expand.
Of course, Echo River’s portfolio will perform better under a regulatory framework that maintains existing regulations and continues their current trajectory. The health and well-being of our families are at stake. And the natural ecosystems on which all life depends may deteriorate and unravel beyond repair should Trump win. Join us in protecting the innovation economy. You know what to do. Vote, donate and volunteer!
Portfolio Updates
Since everybody loves video, here are a few recent portfolio company updat`es in video format:
Hohonu highlights their work on flood monitoring in Massachusetts. This HOA community in Cape Cod, MA thought that their access road flooded a few times per year, but Hohonu measured 50 flooding events within the 6 first months of monitoring
Jennifer from Waterplan explains the details of water efficiency in this webinar. Waterplan also participated in the OpenAI + Y Combinator o1 hackathon, where state-of-the-art AI is applied to transform #water management. 🌍💧
Aaron Tartakovsky Co-Founder & CEO of Epic Cleantec, shared his thoughts on how water reuse can reshape our future on the second episode of Corgan’s water series. atch the conversation to learn how Epic Cleantec is leading the charge on sustainable water solutions for the built environment! In addition, Epic has partnered with Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills to install an innovative water reuse system.
Watergenics, the AI-powered water quality sensing platform, is raising an additional €1 million at a €12 million pre-money valuation. Learn about Watergenics in this video. Watergenics is pursuing a crowdfunding strategy at Invesdor.
Industry News
Morgan Stanley raises 1 Gigaton Climate Private Equity Fund at $750M (Morgan Stanley)
Blast from the Past
Water, War & Peace in the Middle East: 30 Years On. Water can be both a source of cooperation and conflict. I began my career researching under Dr. Peter Gleick, founder of the Pacific Institute. Peter is best known for his work on water and climate, as well as his Water Conflict Chronology. When I was a new policy analyst at the Institute, I researched and co-authored a piece on how the Middle East negotiations between Israel, Jordan and the Palestinians was unfolding, and contributed to Gleick’s “Water, War and Peace in the Middle East: 30 Years On.” Maybe not surprisingly, the article remains just as relevant today. So, on this 30th anniversary of publication, Environment Magazine is republishing the original article.
The Last Drop
Watergenics is on a mission to make water quality visible, not just through technology but also by sparking new perspectives. Perhaps in a first for startups, Watergenics hosts an Artist-in-Residence. Currently, that is Berlin-based artist Mimoko Wakatsuki. Working in textiles and mixed media, Wakatsuki uses mesh materials as dividers, revealing intricate, often hidden connections between individuals and their environments, which act as a reminder of the complex layers within water quality and the environment.
And lastly, my sister is visiting Japan and sent a photo of this cool, pool installation of water-art at the Kanazawa Art Museum.
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