The U.S. Department of State showcased innovative American water technologies at “USTech H2.O,” a half-day event held on Friday, March 21 in Washington, DC in celebration of World Water Day.
The stars of the show were 28 game-changing water technologies, developed by Americans, selected by an independent panel of experts, and presented at the Department of State. These technologies included pioneering approaches to water treatment, purification, pumping, monitoring, testing, energy and nutrient recovery, and water plant design. Six top technology providers – Innovative Water Technologies, ProCleanse, AguaClara, Puralytics, Floating Island Solutions, and KII, Inc. – delivered short high-impact on-stage presentations, and 22 of them showcased their solutions in the State Department’s Exhibit Hall.
The event featured remarks by many speakers including Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment Catherine Novelli, who highlighted the linkage between the availability of clean water, climate change, and economic prosperity. Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Dr. John Holdren addressed the importance of innovation in conserving and purifying water, as well as the inextricable link between water, energy, and climate change.
Last week I attended the Gulf of Mexico Alliance 8th Annual All Hands Meeting held in Tampa, Florida. The Gulf of Mexico Alliance is a partnership of the states of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas, with a goal of significantly increasing regional collaboration to enhance the ecological and economic health of the Gulf of Mexico. The Alliance encourages collaboration among government agencies, businesses, education providers and non-governmental organizations. Priority issues addressed by the Alliance include water quality, habitat conservation, ecosystem assessment, nutrient impacts, community resilience and environmental education.
