Forward of a three-day water startup matching occasion, organized by WaterCitizen.Org and hosted by DC Water on 19 February, Dr Robert Bornhofen, director of innovation at DC Water, shares his views on the challenges confronted by the US utility and the way they’re being addressed.
DC Water gives ingesting water and wastewater companies to 700,000 DC residents and wastewater companies to a different 1.8 million individuals within the US states of Maryland and Virginia. What are the utility’s fundamental challenges?
There are three key challenges dealing with DC Water that come to thoughts. One is getting old infrastructure resembling previous and leaky pipes and valves in want of restore and/or substitute.
One other is the transformation towards digital applied sciences that result in smarter programs. This includes sensor know-how and the applying of synthetic intelligence (AI) and huge language fashions. Little question, it is a difficult enterprise that requires deliberate thought, good funding, and alter administration.
The third space includes the situation of DC Water in serving our nation’s capital. We’ve got only one supply of water for public consumption – the Potomac River. Technique is at present underway to create one other sustainable supply of potable water ought to this one supply be compromised.
What choices are being thought of?
As a extremely progressive utility, DC Water is formulating numerous choices as we communicate. We’re guided by a five-year strategic plan referred to as Blueprint 2.0, which lays out 5 strategic imperatives from which our innovation technique aligns as our guiding compass.
As for a extra sustainable water supply, as famous, a number of concepts are into consideration, resembling utilizing effluent from handled wastewater as a brand new supply of potable water to reinforce the standard sources of rivers, lakes and aquifers.
Different sources of renewable vitality are being pursued. As an example, DC Water is investing in photo voltaic panels to generate renewable vitality.
We’re additionally seeking to additional leverage district vitality as a renewable vitality supply. This includes tapping underground sewer pipes the place temperature variations exist with above-ground temperatures.
This temperature differential permits us to create cool air in the summertime and heat air within the winter months. The end result retains buildings snug whereas lowering the necessity for grid electrical energy powered by fossil gasoline.
Leak detection is one more space of curiosity. We’re taking a look at options that contain such applied sciences as fiber optics and synthetic intelligence (AI), together with machine-learning, to assist pinpoint water leaks.
Experimentation can be underway with AI-enabled chatbots in a few areas inside DC Water for added effectivity financial savings.
How would you evaluate innovation technique growth and execution for DC Water, in contrast with non-public companies?
The comparability in industries may be very totally different. In contrast to different industries, the water utility sector holds an enormous public accountability for offering clear water, sewer assortment, and wastewater remedy – in full compliance with federal, state, and native laws. It’s a life-giving trade that usually goes unnoticed, however is all the time on, serving the general public 24 hours a day, 7 days every week, one year a yr.
Given their important position, the place mishaps can probably result in critical penalties, water utilities are typically threat averse to vary, greater than I skilled in different industries. Take generative AI, for instance, initially, there was some resistance when it was first promoted at DC Water. Nevertheless, this apprehension has since been reconciled via larger consciousness of AI and related controls.
The mindset shared amongst management and workers is likely one of the largest variations I’ve skilled when evaluating the water utility sector to different industries. For my part, utilities are typically overly affected person and complacent towards appearing on issues recognized to exist.
By comparability, most of the for-profit corporations I do know, the place ‘time is money’, act with larger agility in addressing urgent issues.
At DC Water, innovation is being superior in a number of methods. Our Chief Government and Basic Supervisor David Gadis is a strategic chief who has made innovation a precedence. His imaginative and prescient for an enterprise-wide method to innovation based mostly on greatest practices, framework fashions, instruments, and outlined roles is making a constructive impression.
The WaterPitch! Water Startup Matching Extravaganza is being held at DC Water’s headquarters on 18-20 February 2025. Why are occasions like this necessary for utilities and municipalities?
Innovation is about range of thought, expertise and opinion. I imagine that the water sector wants new views, recent concepts, and an ecosystem of good companions. Occasions like WaterPitch! make this doable.
Quickly, WaterCitizen will host its third Annual WaterPitch! occasion at DC Water’s headquarters. That is the place innovators scout new applied sciences and capabilities.
I participated in final yr’s occasion and was impressed by the various alternatives shared for startups and supporters of water entrepreneurship. WaterPitch! is the place we community, study from each other, and generate recent concepts. It is a wonderful venue for addressing water challenges in all sectors, contemplating all options, and all levels of startups.
Ultimately yr’s WaterPitch, I witnessed one of many Greatest Pitch Award winners ship their presentation – Alberto Lopez from Sunfish.AI. In reality, we introduced Sunfish to DC Water afterwords for discussions on potential use of his know-how, and advisable Alberto’s pitch be included in a Technical Advisory Group assembly with utility leaders, buyers, and startups all through the northeastern US.
Via WaterPitch! I used to be capable of meet numerous Startup Founders and perceive how their improvements help the water trade with new capabilities and trendy know-how for added impression.
At this yr’s WaterPitch, DC Water’s Vice President of Water Operations, Chris Collier, will current a reverse pitch on a problem. He’ll interact a roomful of native and regional companies in dialogue, hoping to listen to of capabilities and concepts that may probably clear up this problem.
I’m impressed how WaterCitizen founder and chief govt Dr Cat Shrier and her workforce work to carry collectively the totally different individuals and organizations concerned in water entrepreneurship – together with entrepreneurs, buyers, funding businesses, innovation-focused shoppers and entrepreneur help packages – right into a cohesive neighborhood.
The WaterPitch! Water Startup Matching Extravaganza takes place 18-20 February at DC Water’s HQO Waterside Occasions Heart in Washington DC. To register, go to WaterPitch.Org
The occasion is organized by WaterCitizen.Org and contains pitches from as much as 60 water startups and reverse pitches by as much as 50 potential buyers, funders, shoppers and accelerators. There are additionally alternatives for liaison with Members of Congress, federal businesses, commerce representatives, and different policymakers.
