Adding Value where Nobody is Willing to Go

Professionals driven by purpose and making a real positive impact | The Water MBA travels to Aquatech Amsterdam

In our mission to address global water challenges, we often focus on issues like water stress, scarcity, reuse, lack of investment, and contaminants such as PFAS.

While these are critical topics, it's essential to remember the foundational issue: millions worldwide still lack access to basic water and sanitation services.

This fundamental need forms the base of the pyramid in our efforts to improve water infrastructure and management.

This staggering statistic underscores the urgency of addressing water access, especially in developing countries where rapid population growth poses significant challenges to infrastructure development.

Urban centers in these regions often struggle to meet increasing demand, leaving rural areas even further behind on the investment priority list.

In our episode featuring Yessey on The Water MBA TV, we explore initiatives aimed at bridging this gap.

Yessey discusses practical solutions such as drilling deep wells, harnessing water from springs, constructing handwashing facilities, and implementing community education programs.

These efforts are vital in regions where traditional infrastructure development lags.

One inspiring example of individual action is the story of Ryan Hreljac, who, at six years old, began raising funds to build wells in Africa.

His initiative led to the creation of the Ryan's Well Foundation, which has since completed over 1,000 water and sanitation projects, benefiting more than 1.5 million people in 17 developing countries.

As professionals dedicated to advancing water management, our daily work often centers on large-scale solutions.

However, it's important to occasionally extend our support to grassroots initiatives like those led by Yessey and organizations such as the Ryan's Well Foundation.

By doing so, we can contribute to immediate, tangible improvements in communities that need it most, reinforcing the importance of our collective mission.

For a deeper insight into these grassroots efforts, I encourage you to watch our episode with Yessey, available on The Water MBA TV.

Global Water Watch

Following one of my posts a few days ago on LinkedIn, I discovered a platform that allows me to analyze water reservoirs worldwide.

I haven't yet explored its accuracy compared to local platforms, but after testing the tool, it looks quite impressive.

I wanted to share it in case you find it useful.

Supported by Google.org, the Water, Peace, and Security Partnership and the European Space Agency, Global Water Watch provides free, globally accessible, near-real-time information on over 70,000 reservoirs worldwide.

Using Earth observation data, this platform empowers decision-makers with critical insights to manage reservoirs more sustainably, equitably, and efficiently.

Aquatech Amsterdam 2025

I had the chance to visit Aquatech Amsterdam for the first time.

It was only a one-day round trip, but 24 hours in the city and at the exhibition boosted my inspiration and knowledge. I also had a great time reconnecting with old friends and making new ones.

I want to create a concise yet detailed analysis of my agenda, the people I spoke with, the behind-the-scenes moments, and the conversations that made me think. I’ll lay out everything I learned for everyone to see.

Stay tuned for a special edition—coming to your inbox in the next few days!