We interviewed Alejandro Sturniolo, co-founder of the Water Positive Think Tank, to understand the context in which this initiative was born, its objectives, and the actions they propose to promote the positive water concept in society.
The urban population facing water scarcity is expected to double worldwide, rising from an already significant 930 million people in 2016 to between 1.7 and 2.4 billion by 2050. We are facing an “imminent risk of a global water crisis,” warns the United Nations World Water Development Report 2023. While water use efficiency has improved by 9%, water stress and scarcity remain major concerns in many parts of the world.
New water cannot be created. The water molecule consists of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom, and while this might seem simple, bonding these atoms is not. It would require a massive energy discharge (making it extremely costly), and the process carries a high risk of explosion. In theory, it is possible; in practice, progress has been minimal. For now, the water we have is all we have. Therefore, the solution lies in proper water management and processes like reuse and desalination.
To make a meaningful impact, a growing trend has gained traction in recent years: becoming water positive—returning more water to the environment than is consumed. This concept has united over a hundred professionals in the Water Positive Think Tank (WPTT), a voluntary initiative dedicated to thinking, analyzing, educating, and proposing sustainable water management alternatives. These include water conservation, stormwater management, circularity, and water purification, explains Alejandro Sturniolo, Vice President of the Board of the International Desalination Association (IDA) and one of the founders of the Water Positive Think Tank.
We spoke with him to understand the context in which this initiative was born, its objectives, and the actions it proposes.
Words matter, and their choice carries weight. Thinking and speaking in a positive way inherently conveys something constructive, and this is what resonates with the expression Water Positive. There is no formal definition, but as explained on the Water Positive Think Tank website, “being water positive means that an entity—such as a company, a community, or an individual—goes beyond mere water conservation and actively contributes to the sustainable management and restoration of water resources.”
This involves “implementing practices and technologies that reduce water consumption, improve water quality, and increase its availability.” The water positive goal is to “leave a positive impact on aquatic ecosystems and ensure that more water is conserved and restored than is used or depleted.” In other words, the balance should be positive, ensuring that water usage does not negatively affect overall availability.
The global perspective on this concept comes from the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Goal 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
It includes perspectives for 2030 with ideas such as improving water quality by reducing by half the proportion of untreated wastewater and significantly increasing safe recycling and reuse worldwide, or the efficient use of water resources in all sectors while ensuring the sustainability of freshwater extraction and supply.
The idea of forming a professionalized working group emerged just over a year ago. “At the 2023 UN Water Conference in New York, the founders of the Think Tank realized that the call to action, present in every speech at the event, was a direct and personal appeal to those with the knowledge and experience—we had to take on this responsibility,” says Sturniolo. The looming water insecurity scenario required “studying, promoting, and advocating for the necessary measures to reverse this situation,” he adds.
With this shared purpose, the first step was collaboration. More than 50 professionals from different disciplines, continents, and cultures joined this group, which is primarily focused on a scientific and systemic approach to finding synergies and collectively driving progress on the 2030 Agenda and the urgent need for water resilience for all, Sturniolo explains. Today, the group has grown to over 100 members.
Their goal is to “gather and organize every action that leads to a positive and sustainable impact on water resources in three key dimensions: quality, quantity, and accessibility (or geolocation).”
To understand, analyze, and communicate these actions in a clear and accessible way, always grounded in scientific evidence, the Think Tank works within the Water Positive Framework.
In this working framework of the WPTT, the methodologies, agreements, and pillars that experts believe should be considered for the implementation of strategies and initiatives for water resource management will be established. It is divided into four verticals – water conservation, rainwater collection, water reuse, and purification – and within each of them, there are various subsections outlining the options and methods for implementation.
Among them, no single technology stands out on its own, but Sturniolo highlights water purification through advanced technologies such as reverse osmosis, ultrafiltration, ultraviolet radiation equipment, and the incorporation of artificial intelligence and machine learning as crucial. “In the Think Tank, we only propose generic processes that generate a positive impact on water resources, without going into technological details,” he acknowledges.
He does highlight that effluent regeneration represents a significant market potential, “since through purification with advanced processes, we can obtain both quality and quantity of water in the basin where it is needed.” This is no small potential: “Approximately 1 billion cubic meters of treated and untreated effluents are discarded daily worldwide, a figure 10 times larger than the desalination market,” he reveals.
The expert believes this is a priority and necessary market with additional benefits. “At the same time as we generate more freshwater, we reduce surface water pollution and minimize water transportation,” he explains. And this is what is known as “positive impact on water resources.”
Thinking about water positively means giving back more than is consumed and, in turn, offsetting that consumption. These benefits are what the world’s largest corporations are interested in supporting as a way to offset their water footprint, something similar to what they do in the carbon market with greenhouse gas emissions, Sturniolo adds.
In general, “investment in effluent regeneration and other water treatment technologies presents a significant opportunity to create a positive impact on the planet while addressing the critical water needs of communities and industrial sectors worldwide,” he concludes.
Although the framework will be available on their website by the end of 2024, a draft version is already accessible for those interested. In March, they made their first official submission in Chile, a leading country in desalination in Latin America. “It was presented to the Chilean government through ACADES (Chilean Desalination Association) during its congress in the week of World Water Day. At the same time, we delivered a copy to representatives of the World Bank at the same event, which was attended by former Chilean President Eduardo Frei, who implemented the water plan that made Chile the largest desalination leader in Latin America,” says Sturniolo.
Verticals of the Water Positive Think Tank Framework
The WPTT group was formalized at the end of 2023, but in reality, the spark had been ignited a couple of years earlier. In addition to Alejandro Sturniolo, its origins included Miriam Brusilovsky, President of the Israel Desalination Society; Domingo Zarzo, President of the Spanish Association for Desalination and Reuse (AEDYR); lawyers Eduardo Orteu and Esther Gonzalez; Daniele Strongone from the International Desalination Association (IDA); and Guillem Gilabert-Oriol from DuPont Water Solutions.
There are many water experts, but Sturniolo emphasizes that what truly sets this group apart is transdisciplinarity—a concept embodied by Gisel Booman, a biologist specializing in Geographic Information Systems and a key member of the group. The WPTT also includes experts in agriculture, geography, medicine, economics, law, and communication.
How is such a large group of people, with different knowledge and experiences, and from all over the world, organized? In five groups, each with its own objectives and tasks, which are shared every three months. In Communication, they are responsible for internal and external communication, and their main function is education, both within and outside the water sector. In Legal and Regulatory Affairs, led by Orteu, they are responsible for the creation of the non-legal associative entity called Water Positive Think Tank. “We chose this legal status because we didn’t want to add another association to the market; on the contrary, we want to support all existing associations that accept our help,” explains Sturniolo. Governance focuses on strategic direction, policies, and procedures, and Strategic Partnerships is responsible for communicating with different organizations worldwide to share their work and help promote it.
The most critical working group is the one responsible for the development of the framework. “The Water Positive Framework is led by five world-class technical representatives, 80% of whom are women, which is not a standard in our market and something we are very proud of,” adds Sturniolo, who highlights that the leaders of all groups are composed equally of 50% women and 50% men, something that has happened organically. “We are proud that such a young organization has this characteristic,” he emphasizes.
The Think Tank is established, the working groups are structured, the framework is on track, and the objectives are clear. So, what’s next? “The biggest challenge is, without a doubt, education on water resources and communication. This is a major part of our goal because we are not only facing a global water crisis but also a knowledge crisis,” says Sturniolo.
The lack of education and awareness about water issues and potential solutions can be a major obstacle because “many people do not understand the severity of the situation or the actions needed to mitigate it.” That is why, at WPTT, they consider it essential to raise public awareness about the importance of sustainable water management and the technologies available to achieve it.
Although still less than a year old, the Water Positive Think Tank has a clear vision of both the challenges and the objectives. The situation is complex, and much work remains to be done, but to conclude, they share, as expected from their name, a positive message: “We have achieved something incredible: creating pure water sustainably through renewable resources, and many corporations are willing to support us to offset their water footprint through these resources. Let’s help more people learn about it.”
In many industries, companies have announced their intention to move toward water positive goals. “Businesses are investing in projects that improve water quality and availability, as this not only benefits the environment but also enhances their reputation and regulatory compliance,” says Sturniolo.
Microsoft, Google, Unilever, Nestlé, Levi’s, IKEA, Starbucks, Danone, IBM, and Coca-Cola are some of the companies that designed water compensation strategies years ago.
For example, Meta, a major tech company that requires massive amounts of water for its data centers and computing processes, announced in 2021 its goal to restore more water than it consumes by 2030. That same year, PepsiCo also pledged to reduce its water consumption and replenish the water used in drought-affected regions where it has manufacturing plants. “The water footprint of the industry represents 90% of the water we consume, so it makes sense for the industry to take responsibility for the issue,” adds the WPTT co-founder.
For businesses and the industrial sector to implement effective sustainability and water resource management strategies, “it is essential that they start by studying, researching, and seeking professional guidance to gain a clear understanding of their company’s current situation,” says Sturniolo. This means conducting a comprehensive assessment of their environmental impact and water footprint. Once they have this initial picture, the next step will be to “set clear and realistic objectives that align water management with global sustainability goals and local and international regulations,” he concludes.
Then comes the strategy design, and not only its implementation but also continuous monitoring and analysis through “sustainability reporting, as the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) has transformed the way sustainability is reported, requiring greater transparency and accountability,” explains the expert.
That applies to companies, but what about cities and administrations? According to Sturniolo, the approach should be similar: assess their current situation, set specific goals to improve water management, design concrete strategies, and, again, prioritize reporting. “Cities and administrations that are better prepared will find it easier to establish these partnerships, attract investments, and achieve more efficient and sustainable water management,” he states.
Improving water resource management at both the industrial and urban levels brings benefits that positively impact the entire planet and society. “By managing water sustainably, food and energy production can be optimized, contributing to decent work and economic growth. Additionally, aquatic ecosystems and biodiversity are preserved, and the fight against climate change is reinforced,” as highlighted in SDG 6. Once again, thinking positively is key to advancing water circularity.
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