Lauren Roth Venu, CEO, 3Rwater Inc

Lauren Roth Venu

CEO 3Rwater Inc.

What are your hopes for the future of our water sources?

I believe we need to view all water as a resource rather than a liability. Integrated water management that is digitally managed and includes blue-green infrastructure is the future. This includes decentralised onsite water management on private properties - including for wastewater, grey-water reuse and stormwater management - as an infrastructure network that is integrated and supportive of the larger water utility systems.

Why is water quality still a topic of concern globally?

accessibility to GSI solutions for private property owners by easily identifying and sizing GSI solutions for individual properties, as well as serving as a building management software that helps property owners track stormwater captured, money saved and weather forecasting to prepare their GSI for storm events.

It also helps cities efficiently track the locations, status and volumes of stormwater being managed and streamlines data integration into centralised asset management softwares.

Increasing the accessibility and efficiency of GSI greatly improves water quality by increasing the number of GSIs in communities and tracking their status and maintenance to ensure the design intent for pollutant reduction is met.

Increased urbanisation combined with ageing, inadequate infrastructure and climate change, is causing more flooding and pollution and also impacting future water supplies.

Stormwater runoff is the leading cause of pollutants and bacteria entering into waterways which creates public and ecosystem health concerns that greatly impact community livelihoods and economies. If you could change one thing about the way water quality is managed currently, what would it be?

One barrier to increased implementation and equity with green stormwater infrastructure is the cost to install. I would like to see more incentives offered at the local or national level to accelerate the adoption of GSI, and grants offered to priority areas in need which often coincide with economically disadvantaged communities.

Similar to the renewable energy industry incentive programs, if either tax credits and/or more utility savings could be offered, we could see accelerated widespread adoption of GSI which would not only significantly benefit water quality since >70% of stormwater runoff comes from private property, but also help to accelerate adaptation to climate change and build resiliency.

What role does the water industry play in improving water quality?

The water industry provides standards, methodologies and technologies to help improve water quality.

An example is green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) as a decentralised stormwater management approach that specifically addresses water quality. GSI also provides other benefits such as reducing localised flooding, supporting water supply, reducing heat island effects, absorbing CO2 and restoring natural hydrology and habitats.

GSI design standards emerged from the water sector and have been widely adopted by many cities around the globe. Moreover, most major cities now require GSI for new or redevelopment projects and GSI retrofits are now being strongly encouraged through utility fee credits, rebates or other financial incentives. This is seen as a means to build resiliency, meet regulatory compliance and delay expensive large “grey” stormwater infrastructure upgrades.

What steps are you taking to help improve water quality?

3Rwater is helping to change the way cities manage stormwater. Our mobile and data management platform called Follow the Drop helps municipal GSI programs build community engagement, collect stormwater metrics, and easily and efficiently track their GSI assets including their maintenance. What role do you think technology will play in securing water quality?

Climate change and population growth are accelerating the demand for innovative water solutions. Technology will continue to lead the way in providing modern techniques for improving water quality such as advancements in water management processes, materials, communications, monitoring, and data collection and management.

Website: 3r-water.com