Cohort #3
Ripple effect: shaping the future of water
Water is essential to life – and to the green transition. In the third cohort of Deep Green Innovators, you will focus on water as a driver of sustainable change.
From oceans and streams to water infrastructure, industrial and household wastewater, water-based energy, and food grown in water – this theme is about exploring the full potential of our planet’s most vital resource.
Are you ready to dive in and help create the ripple effect that shapes a sustainable society?
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The 4 challenges
In the third cohort of Deep Green Innovators, you will focus on water as a driver of sustainable change. The theme is centered on four main challenges:
Water Pollution
Water Overconsumption
Outdated Water Infrastructure
Clean Drinking Water
Water Pollution
Water pollution presents serious challenges not only for society but also for industries that depend on clean water for production, compliance, and long-term sustainability. Beyond environmental concerns, pollution also threatens ecosystem stability and biodiversity, which many industries rely on directly or indirectly. ​
Key challenges include:
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Regulation and Legislation: Industries face increasing pressure to comply with strict environmental laws and directives (e.g., the EU Water Framework Directive). Failure to meet these standards can result in fines, legal action, and reputational damage.
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Contamination: Industrial activities contribute to and are affected by pollutants like plastics, PFAS, and toxic chemicals, which can disrupt operations and lead to costly clean-up and regulatory penalties.
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Wastewater Management: Proper treatment of industrial wastewater is essential to avoid environmental damage and meet legal standards, requiring investment in advanced technologies.
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Agricultural Runoff: The agro-industry faces pressure to reduce nutrient and pesticide runoff, which contributes to water pollution and affects downstream users, including other industries.
Water Overconsumption
The overuse of freshwater resources is becoming a critical global issue, affecting both industrial operations and societal well-being.
Key challenges include:
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Agricultural Demand: Irrigation accounts for the largest share of global freshwater use. Inefficient practices lead to depletion of aquifers and reduced water availability for other uses.
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Urban Growth and Consumption: Rapid urbanization increases domestic and industrial water demand, often outpacing infrastructure development and stressing local water systems.
Industrial Water Dependency: Many industries rely heavily on water for their operations. High-consumption sectors include data centers (for cooling), energy systems (especially thermal and nuclear power plants), textile production, food processing, and mining. Overconsumption in these sectors can lead to operational risks, regulatory challenges, and competition with local communities for limited water resources.
Outdated Water Infrastructure
Aging and inadequate water infrastructure is a growing concern for both industry and society. The systems that manage drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater face increasing pressure due to urbanization, climate change, and rising demand.
Key challenges include:
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Aging Infrastructure: Many water systems are outdated, leading to frequent leaks, inefficiencies, and high maintenance costs.
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Non-Revenue Water (NRW): A significant portion of treated water is lost due to leaks, theft, or metering inaccuracies—resulting in financial losses and reduced water availability.
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Digital Transformation: Smart water technologies (e.g., sensors, AI, digital twins) offer opportunities to monitor, predict, and optimize water flows, detect leaks, and improve efficiency— but require investment and integration.
Climate Resilience: Infrastructure must adapt to more extreme weather, droughts, and shifting water availability, requiring flexible and robust design.
Industrial Demands: Industries require reliable water supply and discharge systems. Interruptions or inefficiencies can halt production and increase costs, especially in water-intensive sectors.
Clean Drinking Water
Access to clean drinking water is becoming increasingly strained due to rising demand, pollution, and climate change. As of 2022, 2.2 billion people lacked access to safely managed drinking water. By 2050, it is projected that up to half of the world’s population may face water scarcity.
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Industrial Pollution: Discharge of chemicals, heavy metals, and microplastics from manufacturing, mining, and chemical industries contaminates freshwater sources, making them unsafe for human consumption.
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Over-Extraction: Industries in agriculture, textiles, and energy often extract large volumes of groundwater, depleting local supplies and reducing access for communities.
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Climate Change: Industrial emissions contribute to global warming, which alters rainfall patterns and increases drought frequency — further reducing freshwater availability.
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Urban and Industrial Growth: Rapid expansion of cities and industrial zones often outpaces water infrastructure, leading to unequal access and increased contamination risks.
