Water Footprint & Beneficial Reuse
Economic / Environmental / Social Responsibility
Dr. Rengarajan Ramesh
Wasserstein & Co
Data for this entire presentation obtained from the publications and
papers of Dr. Hoekstra and Dr. Pollack
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Wasserstein & Co. is an independent private equity and investment firm, with offices in New York and
Los Angeles. The firm was founded in January 2001 and focuses on middle-market leveraged buyout
investments and related investment activities.
Investment Criteria
 Transaction: Leveraged buyouts
 Company Size: ~$10MM+ EBITDA
 Industries of Focus: Media and communications, consumer products and water equipment and
services
 Company characteristics: Strong cash flow profile, growth opportunities and experienced
management team
Current Portfolio Companies
 Largest independent B2B media
company in US covering 17 industries
 Premier producer and marketer of
branded premium fresh fruit and
gourmet foods
 Manufacturer of missions critical
valves, fittings, tubing and accessories
for high pressure applications
Historical Investments
North American Leading Ag Publisher
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Critical for Sustaining Life, Plants and this Planet
Limited Supply of Water – 97% in Oceans, 2% in
remote areas and < 1% Fresh water available on this
planet.
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Fresh water supply is not where it is needed.
Global Population increase and meat consumption has
increased the per capital water consumption globally
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Industrial, Agricultural and Human consumption has
polluted the fresh water supply around the world.
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What we know about Water
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Colorless, Odorless, Tasteless
Three phases – Solid ( Ice), Liquid
( Water) and Gas ( Steam)
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What we know about Water
Jello > 95% Water
These hold the clue to better understand Water
Things we do not clearly understand
about Water
What is Virtual Water and Water
Footprint ?
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1. Virtual Water Footprint and its
implications for long term water
sustainability
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2. Technology Innovations for safe
& sustainable reuse of water
attachment
Two Focus Areas Reduce & Reuse
IT IS THE TOTAL AREA
OF USA & CANADA
AND BUILDING A 30
MILE WALL AROUND
THIS TO HOLD THE
WATER
Some Key Facts on Virtual Water
Water Footprint Liters /Kilo of Produce
Water Footprint
Vegetarian vs Meat Diet
POPULATION GROWTH
IMPACT ON WATER, FOOD &
AGRICULTURE
Population Growth Trends to 2080
Virtual Water Exports
Water Withdrawals Increasing....
American Annual Per Capita Water
Withdrawals NOT Sustainable
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USA will maintain its global agricultural production and export
leadership in the future exporting “Virtual Water”
USA blue water resources are slowly getting depleted –
Aquifers levels are dropping
USA industrial water consumption will continue to grow
USA population growth especially in Western, Southern USA,
continues to challenge the already stressed water resources
USA per capita consumption of water is the highest in the
world and continues to grow. Population growth will further
aggravate the situation unless some changes are
implemented.
Water Challenges in the USA
Innovations lead to
Sustainable Solutions
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Mono Molecular Graphene Membranes – Lower energy filtration and
desalination technologies – Lockheed Martin Patent issued
Capturing energy from flowing water in processing plants (Process water,
waste water, and influent water)
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Water Jet cutting and cleaning in poultry and meat processing
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Waste heat used to purify waste water
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Cavitation technologies for treating water
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Pulsed Electric Fields for disinfection
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Anammox for bio treatment to reduce energy consumption
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Finally ….... Leverage the 4th Phase of Water.
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Quorum Sensing – Real time Bacteria monitoring and prevention of
colonization of bacteria
Emerging Innovations in Water Reuse
Ice – Water – Steam - ???
Is there a 4th Phase of Water ?
Unique Properties of the Liquid Crystal ' EZ “ Water
Unique Properies of Water in the Exclusion Zone
Water is “-” Charged
Water has NO “solutes”.
Water has crystal like structure
Properties of the bulk water
Water is “+” charged
Water has solutes
Water has constantly changing structure
What is happening to the Water in the
Exclusion Zone ?
Leveraging the Exclusion Zone
What is Quorum Sensing ?.
Bacteria use quorum sensing to
mastermind behaviors, including
• Mating
• Releasing toxins
• Causing disease (virulence)
Quorum Sensing
The bacteria appear
relatively innocuous
as they quietly grow
in number.
These changes culminate in an
infection that can ambush and
overwhelm our immune system
defenses.
When their population
reaches a certain level,
instant changes occur in their
• Behavior
• Appearance
• Metabolism
How Harmful Bacteria use Quorum Sensing
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Implement water reduction practices all along the value chain
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Decentralized treatment and onsite reuse of process water and
waste water
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Treat and reuse water used in cleaning produce
Implement innovative technologies that help reduce the water,
energy, waste, and environmental footprint
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Drip, Irrigation tiling, treatment and reuse
Reduce energy in pumping, thermal energy used in
processing, sterilization, packaging etc.
Enhance food safety / security all along the value chain
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High pressure pasteurization
Reduce & Reuse