How do you quantify mitigation and carbon capture? When you start looking at all of the different contributors in the wastewater treatment scheme to climate change, there have been reports showing that we’re only really treating a fraction of what we generate daily. We’re still emitting more greenhouse gas emissions than the entire shipping industry.
In this latest installment of Distilled, host Will Sarni, CEO of Water Foundry, explores a new guest’s background and career trajectory to find out how they began working in water before diving into microbes that can “breathe”, the shift from centralized water treatment to decentralized systems, and predictions about what the world of water will look like in five years’ time.
Will welcomed Orianna Bretschger, CEO and Founder of Aquacycl, to discuss her journey in the world of water. To kick off the conversation, Will asked her to discuss the motivations that led her to a career within the water sector.
Watch the full video episode below or keep reading for the write-up.
Orianna’s journey into the world of water
Growing up in the rural southwestern United States — where water and potential shortages are front of mind — Orianna acknowledges how impactful this fact has been to her career trajectory. After a brief stint in the aerospace sector and government consulting, during which she discovered that neither was her passion, she pursued graduate studies at the University of Southern California. Here, her passion for water resurfaced when she became fascinated with how microbiology can be used to improve and accelerate the treatment of water.
During her time as a doctoral student in the material science department, Orianna crossed paths with a visiting professor who had come to talk to her cohort about microbes with the capacity to “breathe” rocks and generate electricity.
Orianna’s passion became rooted in understanding how these microbes could electronically communicate with the environment and with each other. After gaining a deeper understanding of the science behind these microbes at a non-profit research institute in San Diego, she launched Aquacycl in 2016, a company that employs bio-electrochemical sanitation technology to support sustainable water management.
Orianna on connecting material science and microbial energy generation
Will then went on to ask Orianna about the inception of her business model which was founded on the concept of linking material science with the electrical connectivity of microbes.
Looking back to 2004, Orianna described how there was a revival of interest in this research field. It involved gaining a better understanding of the precise mechanisms the microbes use to facilitate the movement of electrons, “breathe” rocks, and generate electricity. She noted that during this period, the primary focus was on energy recovery and the waste-to-energy concept, as well as the exploration of ways to harness electrons to generate power.
Orianna recognized the value of controlling the metabolism and establishing a well-defined system that allowed the microbes to operate efficiently without diverging — a common issue in traditional wastewater treatment systems. This led them to concentrate on making water systems more energy-efficient and reliable.
We’re doing wastewater treatment as a service so it can derisk the opportunity for the customer that we’re serving. And we’re maintaining and monitoring this remotely. We don’t need full-time people onsite to run these things, so there are a lot of benefits that come inherently from the technology, and are an advantage in terms of the value proposition and business case.
Orianna also explained that they avoid challenges by not using microbes that have been cultivated in a controlled lab setting. Instead, when they transport their equipment to a customer site, it remains untouched by any laboratory-cultivated bugs.
Elaborating on their reproducible approach, she detailed how they source material locally — including sediments from drainage ditches, lagoons, and salt water — and how they specifically seek those with a dark, dense color as an indicator of biological activity. They create a conducive environment for the microbes to establish themselves within one of their reactors, using the provided surface to facilitate the “breathing” process.
Orianna on making the leap to founding Aquacycl and the company’s business model
Shifting the discussion to Aquacycl’s beginnings, Will asked about Orianna’s transition from her research-heavy academic beginnings to the business world.
Orianna explained how The Roddenberry Foundation granted her team a $5 million grant for field testing. They initiated the process by establishing a pilot program in both San Diego and Tijuana, Mexico, and upon successful outcomes, they decided to explore the potential of becoming a self-sustaining business.
Looking back at her transition from scientist to entrepreneur, Orianna shared how she recognized that their company was well-suited for the industrial food and beverage manufacturing sector. She began to learn more about the challenges faced by that industry and how their technology could deliver unique value.
Prompting Orianna to expand on Aquacycl’s business model, Will went on to ask about the company’s involvement with the 100+ Accelerator Program and the experience of Aquacycl being named as a finalist for The Earthshot Prize 2023.
Orianna credited her exceptional team for the company’s participation. They successfully showcased the significance of Aquacycl’s wastewater treatment as a service, emphasizing a distributed approach where they seamlessly implement their solutions on customer sites. Their first customer, PepsiCo, became a prime example of the technology’s effectiveness. Pepsico achieved remarkable results, saving a net 30% on their sewer expenses and mitigating more than a hundred tons of greenhouse gas emissions each month.
Addressing the issue of high-intensity wastewater treatment and its impact on climate, Orianna described how the company engaged with the California Energy Commission to quantify mitigation and carbon capture.
She also highlighted a study conducted by Princeton University that measured emissions from 63 wastewater treatment plants in the United States., which revealed that emissions double what the IPCC had reported in 2016. Most of these emissions were traced back to leaky anaerobic digesters.
She went on to explain how Aquacycl’s aim is to raise awareness and offer highly energy-efficient solutions to reduce emissions, focusing on generating DC power rather than biogas. The goal is to provide solutions that align with sustainability targets while addressing the critical issues of water management and climate change — which clearly aligns with Earthshot’s philosophy.
Orianna on water challenges and the move from centralized water treatment to decentralized systems
Will then asked Orianna to give her perspective on the move from centralized water treatment to decentralized systems.
She explained how she occasionally gives lectures at San Diego State University’s School of Public Health, some of which include background on the cholera outbreak in London in the 1800s which underscored the importance of separating water distribution from sanitation management, which ultimately led to the creation of centralized sewer systems.
However, she further explained how in the United States, only 75% of the population has access to sewer systems, leaving 25% unconnected. This scenario highlights the need for a decentralized approach to ensure safe sanitation management, particularly in areas without indoor toilets. Orianna advocates for complementary decentralized methods, similar to the energy sector’s micro-grids, to enhance water access, efficiency, and sustainability.
There needs to be some alternatives. Just like what we’ve done as a community in the energy sector, where you’re looking at micro-grids and decentralized approaches that give us more energy security in the long run, I think we have to do the same thing in water. And it’s starting to move in that direction because the reality is that you just can’t sustain and continue to grow the infrastructure the way that we have been.
Orianna on the future of the water sector
Wrapping up, Will posed his final question to Orianna: What aspects does she envision remaining unchanged in the next five years, and where might the sector experience shifts?
She emphasized that the primary challenge is not just a technological issue but rather a matter of funding and incentives for municipal infrastructure to decentralize and facilitate complementary approaches within their service areas. Currently, there is a lack of incentives, and she noted the need for increased public-private sector cooperation and policy changes to drive this shift.
She highlighted the importance of asking questions, seeking innovative solutions, and implementing them to create a new framework. She also expressed hope and optimism for a future marked by greater curiosity and a willingness to explore alternatives to address the climate crisis, even if it takes longer than desired. Despite the challenges, she emphasized that the necessary technology and determination already exist to bring about change.
Interested in more Distilled content?
Hosted by Water Foundry CEO Will Sarni, Distilled is a video podcast series that features water leaders from around the world. Each one-on-one conversation explores the guest’s unique career path, discusses the challenges and opportunities facing the water industry, and considers what’s next for water.
You’ll find more episodes here.
