The term “disruptive” is thrown around by just about everyone these days – investors, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and even Cleantech Group! I fear the word is doomed to follow the same projected path of the word “sustainability”… Before heading too far down that road, I’d like to get in my two cents on some of the water technologies I perceive to be “disruptive” in today’s world.
- Amoeba. A majority of commercial and industrial cooling tower operators have used the same [chemical] treatment system for decades and are hesitant to try anything new, even in the face of rising water and energy costs. Many alternative treatment systems have been on the market for over a decade, but market penetration has been slow. Non-oxidizing agents such as biocides, though more expensive, are increasingly being tested and talked about.
- Axine Water Technologies. According to data tracked through i3, over a quarter (27%) of venture capital dollars in the first half of 2012 went to companies providing solutions primarily applicable to industrial water users. The growing presence and importance of this consumer segment stems from concerns around toxicity of wastewater streams, the use of treatment chemicals (and potential creation of byproducts), discharge
…
