Colorado River Basin FundOffering OverviewThe Colorado River Basin Fund is a private equity fund that seeks to invest in innovative water techno...
Published on by Water Network Research, Official research team of The Water Network
Offering Overview
The Colorado River Basin Fund is a private equity fund that seeks to invest in innovative water technologies addressing water scarcity and quality issues in the basin.
We believe innovative technologies and business models offer promising water solutions for the basin and beyond.
The American West is now among the world’s most water-stressed regions and is facing impacts to business growth, economic development, social well-being, and ecosystem health.
With a bias for action, our team of experienced professionals will identify and invest in forward-thinking companies addressing water challenges in the basin. We have established, long-term relationships within the US and international water sectors for deal sourcing access, and our networks allow for exposure to water technology companies at their earliest stages.
The Colorado River Basin Fund is the first placed-based water-focused investment fund in the United States.
Water is an everyone, everywhere problem. Action is needed now to protect it. There's too much at stake to sit back and wait for someone else to come up with a solution.
Fund Focus
The fund seeks to identify and invest in the following challenges:
Water Supply and Demand
For nearly two decades, the Colorado River Basin has been in an extended period of drought – a prolonged period of abnormally low precipitation. This extended period of drought is actually just one factor in the water stress and scarcity currently being experienced in the Colorado River Basin. The eight US states that rely upon the Colorado River Basin are feeling these impacts due to increasing demand for water from agriculture, cities, and manufacturing needs while also striving to preserve the recreational and ecosystem value of the river system.
Water Treatment
Water scarcity and over-allocation are not the only challenges facing the Colorado River Basin. The water quality of the region has also been of increasing concern. Mining and agricultural runoff have led to poor surface and groundwater quality which also impacts the availability of water for drinking water and manufacturing. The region can no longer afford to extract water for a one time use and then discharge the water – we are moving towards increasing water reuse and recycling as we assign greater value to the availability of water in the basin.
Agriculture
Of water withdrawn or diverted from the Basin, the agricultural sector is by far the largest consumer, making up an estimated 70 percent of all Colorado River Basin water. It is imperative that we move to smart agriculture which includes the adoption of digital technologies to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of water resources and nutrients while increasing crop productivity. Smart agriculture coupled with the increase in urban vertical indoor agriculture solutions can provide more sustainable, resilient, healthy, accessible, and affordable food for an ever-increasing population in the region.
Smart Homes and Cities
Just as our homes and cities have adopted technologies to more efficiently manage energy, we are now seeing the adoption of smart home technologies to more efficiently use water. Digital technologies can reduce the demand for water in homes and for irrigation while also proactively monitor for pipe leaks which can save water and money from damages. We are also now exploring how to deploy digitally connected utilities to improve the sustainable and resilient delivery of water to homes, neighborhoods, and cities.
The fund seeks to identify and invest in the following types of technologies:
Technologies
Growth Strategy
Increased technology need and adoption
As water infrastructure ages, demand grows, and the various stressors from climate change continue, we believe that the public sector and private industry will increasingly embrace technology and innovative business models to ensure adequate water quality and supplies throughout the basin.
Scale potential
While the basin provides significant opportunity to commercialize new technology, it’s not unique in its thirst for limited water resources. We view the basin as a strategic “testbed” to determine the feasibility of emerging technological solutions for subsequent application in the global water sector.
SOURCE: https://bit.ly/3sZYIqY
Media
Taxonomy
- Funding Partnerships
- Fundraising
- water funds