Top 22 water management startups to know in 2024

May 23, 2024

The best water management startups with smarter and sustainable water solutions

Water startups are tackling one of the most precious resources facing extreme pressure globally—water. With pollution, climate change and growing consumption, innovative technologies are needed to source, distribute, monitor, and conserve water.

Top water management startups

Complete list of water management startups that are worth knowing:

Ekatvam

Ekatvam has developed MIDAS, an innovative water management and advisory platform for rural farming communities facing climate change impacts on regional water security. Leveraging mobile tools and satellite data to provide village-level visibility into current and forecasted water availability, MIDAS alerts farmers via SMS on emerging shortages or surplus conditions monthly. These community advisories aim to improve crop planning in tandem with monsoon variability based on hyperlocal data often unavailable to remote farmers lacking stream gauges.

By combining area-specific water accounting across sources like rainfall, reservoirs and snowpack with demand modeling and seasonal forecasts, MIDAS delivers critical agro-climate intelligence to the fingertips of farmers. This enables more precise decisions aligning agricultural practices with actual water volumes accessible locally.

Hero Labs

Founded in 2018, Hero Labs produces a sensor that continually checks for anomalies pointing to leaks like drips or pipe bursts. The smart sensor combines ultrasound wave analysis with machine learning to identity leaks early before extensive damage occurs.

Hero immediately alerts property managers via mobile app about detected leaks. The device can also automatically shut off water when needed to minimize flooding.

Gradiant

Founded in 2012, Gradiant advances industrial wastewater treatment through emerging solutions. The company aimed to develop and integrate cutting-edge technologies lowering the cost and footprint associated with water management for facilities. Their capabilities include R&D, engineering and project development.

Gradiant partners with industrial enterprises facing complex water challenges. Clients rely on their technical know-how to customize solutions achieving compliance and sustainability goals through optimized, low-cost systems incorporating new methods. This aims to reduce expenses and environmental impact.

Zen Beverage

Founded in 2019, Zen Beverage provides a sustainable hydration alternative through conscientious sourcing and production. The company aimed to make premium alkaline water responsibly through renewable energy and recycled local packaging. Their process reduces emissions up to 85% compared to conventional bottling.

Zen Beverage serves eco-minded consumers seeking bottled water options aligning with their values. Customers appreciate its purity, quality, and significantly lower footprint enabled by mindful local operations. This provides ethical hydration on-the-go.

NALA Systems

Founded in 2020, NALA Systems advances desalination infrastructure through emerging membrane technology. The company aimed to develop next-generation membranes enabling lower cost, higher efficiency desalination at large scale with reduced chemical and power inputs. Their capabilities span R&D, manufacturing and systems integration.

NALA Systems partners with municipalities and industrial enterprises undertaking desalination and reuse projects. Clients rely on their technical expertise to customize solutions lowering expenses, energy and environmental footprints through cutting-edge membranes and system optimizations. This aims to enable affordable, sustainable water security.

Sepion Technologies

Founded in 2010, Sepion Technologies drives industrial filtration breakthroughs through engineered nanotech membranes. The company aimed to develop membranes with controllable pore sizes and surface properties for superior selectivity, throughput and durability in manufacturing processes. Their capabilities include R&D, manufacturing and application development.

Sepion partners with industrial enterprises to enhance filtration and separation processes. Clients rely on their material science expertise to match processes to optimal membranes delivering precision filtration. This aims to increase efficiency and product quality while minimizing waste.

Quench

Founded in 1998, Quench is seeking to make pure, great-tasting drinking water easily accessible in work environments. The company aimed to deliver solutions taking the hassle out of supplying, maintaining and refreshing business water supplies. Their offerings include installation, servicing and sanitizing of advanced filtration systems.

Quench partners with organizations equipping and managing kitchens and breakrooms. Clients rely on their equipment and expertise to make unlimited filtered water available reliably and cost-effectively. This aims to promote health, sustainability and an enhanced workplace experience.

AquaVenture Holdings

Formed in 200, AquaVenture Holdings pioneer advanced on-site water purification as an alternative to conventional bottled water options for businesses. The company aimed to deliver purification systems optimized for convenience and cost-savings without compromising on taste or reliability. Their offerings include equipment sale & rental along with ongoing maintenance.

AquaVenture partners with organizations managing facilities from hotels to hospitals to efficiently supply clean water. Clients enjoy the savings, sustainability and taste benefits of on-site water purified in real-time compared to trucked-in water alternatives. This aims to enhance operations, branding and conservation.

AquaHydrate

Launched in 2012, AquaHydrate provides high-quality hydration for fitness and wellness seekers through apurpose-designed alkaline water. The brand aimed to deliver bottled water unmatched in supporting physical demands and goals through an ideal electrolyte and mineral composition from natural sources.

AquaHydrate serves retail consumers pursuing fitness and natural wellness. Customers appreciate its smooth mineral taste and hydration supporting sustained energy and recovery. This provides specialty bottled water tailored for active lifestyles.

Calgon Carbon Corporation

Calgon Carbon Corporation was founded in 1942 when activated carbon’s unique adsorptive properties were first recognized. The company aimed to optimize and proliferate applications for activated carbon by providing tailored solutions from manufacturing through reactivation. Their capabilities span R&D, engineering, regeneration, and technical services.

Calgon Carbon partners with organizations across water, air, food and chemical markets requiring contaminant removal and environmental solutions. Clients rely on their material science and applications development expertise to deploy activated carbon solutions delivering targeted purification efficiently at any scale. This aims to enable health, sustainability and optimized operations through contaminant control.

Blackbuck Resources

Founded in 2018, Blackbuck Resources advances oil and gas water management through integrated expertise and infrastructure. The company aimed to develop and operate end-to-end water infrastructure improving economics while minimizing freshwater use and environmental impacts. Their capabilities include engineering, chemistry, well testing and water asset development.

Blackbuck Resources partners with operators pursuing water and cost efficiencies. Clients rely on their capabilities to customize sustainable water infrastructures and chemistries reducing expenses and risks. This aims to enable smooth, responsible operations.

Glanris

Founded in 2016. Glanris drives water purification breakthroughs through engineered hybrid nanocomposite filtration media. The company integrates selective adsorbents onto low-cost substrates, combining the treatment mechanisms of filtration and adsorption into one media to remove biological, organic and inorganic contaminants efficiently.

Glanris partners with municipalities and enterprises installing or operating filters to purify water. Clients employ the media to boost performance while reducing energy, chemical and maintenance requirements. This aims to lower expenses and complexity for clean water access.

PowerTech Water

Founded in 2014, PowerTech Water advances industrial wastewater management through emerging electrochemical treatment technologies. The company integrates electrolytic chlorine generation paired with renewable energy to enable affordable, high-quality treatment of difficult wastewaters. Their systems reduce chemical use while enabling water conservation or reuse.

PowerTech Water partners with industrial enterprises facing complex effluent challenges. Clients rely on their technical expertise to customize integrated treatment solutions incorporating renewable electrolytic processes to lower expenses and footprints while meeting strict requirements. This aims to enable cost-effective, sustainable operations.

Nirvana Water Sciences

Founded in 2013, Nirvana Water Sciences makes superior function-enhancing waters aligned with green values. The company employs processes like reverse osmosis and deionization for chemical-free purification and adds electrolytes and minerals tailored to targeted wellness needs like rest, energy and immunity. Their production and sourcing focuses on sustainability.

Nirvana Water Sciences serves retail consumers pursuing health, wellness and eco-friendly options. Customers appreciate the purified taste along with the function-specific formulations supporting wellbeing through natural properties. This provides specialty waters holistically designed for purity and performance.

Boomerang Water

Founded in 2008, Boomerang Water removes single-use waste from retail bottled water through innovative refilling technology and experiences. The company integrates filtration, ozonation and custom bottle sanitization systems that fill personal reusable bottles without cross-contamination. Their solutions also track usage and savings.

Boomerang Water partners with retail venues, corporations and campuses seeking to increase sustainability. Customers utilize the systems to reduce plastic waste by providing staff and visitors cost-saving access to water refills. This progresses ethical and green goals.

SunToWater Technologies

Founded in 2009, SunToWater Technologies advances atmospheric water generation through innovative thermal engineering and solar integration breakthroughs. The company aimed to develop modular, efficient systems leveraging the sun to drive water production using only the humidity naturally present in the air. Their capabilities span product design, testing and manufacturing.

SunToWater Technologies partners with communities, NGOs and governments addressing drinking water scarcity sustainably. Clients rely on their expertise to provide renewable solutions significantly lowering energy costs of extracting water from the air. This aims to economically expand access to clean water using local resources.

Fracta

Founded in 2017, Fracta enables proactive, optimized water mains renewal planning through data science. The company leverages pipe data along with environmental factors to pinpoint highest failure likelihood, enabling utilities to strategically target replacements. Their cloud-based software centralizes infrastructure analytics.

Fracta serves water utilities pursuing reductions in water loss, maintenance costs and disruption. Customers rely on their risk-based analytics to direct capital projects toward mains on the verge of failure. This allows prudent, data-backed investments in grid resilience.

Fathom Global

Founded in 2019, Fathom Global enables effective flood preparedness and response through high-resolution global flood modeling and risk analytics. The company combines climatic, terrain and flood impacts data to map flood likelihoods and severity globally across scenarios. Their cloud-based risk analytics serve multiple sectors.

Fathom serves insurers, governments, NGOs and corporations assessing or mitigating flood impacts and risks. Customers rely on their granular risk profiles and data to inform exposed assets, adaptation planning, premium pricing and disaster response. This allows proactive management of growing climate risks.

FREDsense

Founded in 2017 FREDsense enables rapid, low-cost water contaminant testing through synthetic biology and electrochemical biosensors. The company engineered microbes that react with targets like arsenic and acidity, employing them in cartridges where their electrical signals identify analytes. Results are delivered digitally through the platform.

FREDsense serves municipalities, businesses and water providers monitoring source and wastewater quality and contamination events. Customers employ the automated biosensors for affordable real-time water monitoring replacing slow, expensive lab testing. This allows quick mitigation protecting health and operations.

Antelope Water Management

Founded in 2016, Antelope Water Management accelerates water innovation by fostering growth of promising water startups through financing and market access support. The company aimed to enable emerging water technology commercialization by investing experience and relationships alongside funding.

Antelope partners with promising technology developers addressing pressing segments like desalination, efficiency, quality and storage. Portfolio companies rely on their expertise and connections to validate technologies and navigate expansion. This aims to enhance reach and adoption solving water challenges sustainably.

H2O Midstream

Founded in 2017, H2O Midstream produced water management through end-to-end systems optimization. The company integrates pipelines, recycling technology and deep expertise to minimize trucking while enabling fit-for-purpose reuse and aquifer recharge. Their capabilities span engineering, chemistry, operations and commercial development.

H2O Midstream partners with operators pursuing sustainable produced water operations. Clients rely on their infrastructure solutions and chemistry innovations to lower expenses while protecting safety, roads and the environment. This aims to establish a circular water economy.

Heart Water

Founded in 2018, Heart Water delivers premium rainwater while promoting sustainability. The company bottles rain naturally optimized by environment and geography for taste and mouthfeel. A share of proceeds funds access to clean water worldwide through partnerships.

Heart Water serves values-driven retail consumers concerned with water depletion. Customers appreciate the purity, sustainability and social impact, knowing purchases directly enable water access. This makes premium rainwater give back.

Conclusion

These water management startups are leading the way understand the scale of the crisis and the systemic changes needed to address it. As their technologies continue maturing and scaling in the years ahead, we also have to work through our individual actions and collective willpower for a more water secure world. The health of future generations and ecosystems depends greatly on the decisions we start making today.

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