Liquid Assets

Every time you ask ChatGPT a question, a data center somewhere uses water to cool its servers. Most people have no idea, and neither do the utilities supplying that water. Newsha Ajami, a hydrologist and founding director of Stanford's Governance for Risk, Resilience, Recovery Program (GR3), has spent years tracing water through the hidden seams of the economy, from the electricity charging your phone to the chips powering the AI boom. The U.S. still has no national water strategy, and emerging technologies are arriving faster than the water systems built to serve them.What we cover:- Water's hidden footprint in nearly every product and service, from gas and lithium extraction to electricity generation to data storage- Why the U.S. has no unified federal water mission, and how the Colorado River makes that problem impossible to ignore- The six-pillar national water strategy framework Ajami co-led through the Aspen Institute's National Water Strategy Initiative, two years in the making- How states are welcoming hyperscale data centers for jobs and tax revenue without tying those decisions to water or energy availability, leaving small utilities unprepared- Why standardized water disclosure and a new utility business model, more like a service plan than a metered drip, could unlock the sector the way transparency unlocked startup financeNewsha Ajami is the founding director of the Governance for Risk, Resilience, Recovery Program (GR3) at Stanford's Doerr School of Sustainability, and a commissioner at the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. Connect with her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/newsha-ajami-phd/Book rec: Newsha recommended Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr (2021), a novel weaving three storylines across radically different eras, including one set aboard a generation ship guided by an AI, as a reminder that imagination remains the one thing no system can replicate.Also available on:Website: https://www.liquidassets.cc/

Ravi Kurani sits down with Gregory Holliday, Director of the 50 Liter Home Coalition, to explore how global brands and cities are redesigning the way we live — creating homes that use just 50 liters of water a day, yet feel like 500. Gregory unpacks how companies like Procter & Gamble, Kohler, IKEA, and Electrolux are uniting to make sustainability invisible — embedding efficiency into every shower, dishwasher, and faucet without asking people to sacrifice comfort.He shares the coalition’s origins in the wake of Cape Town’s “Day Zero,” his own journey from U.S. diplomat to water advocate, and how behavior, design, and technology intersect to make conservation intuitive. The conversation dives into the data behind 50L’s pilot homes in Los Angeles, the lessons from real families living efficiently, and the long-term vision for water- and energy-smart homes worldwide.This episode is sponsored by ⁠⁠⁠⁠HASA⁠⁠⁠⁠ (hasa.com).⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Liquid Assets

In this episode of Liquid Assets, host Ravi Kurani sits down with Jose Castro, founder and CEO of Segura, to unpack how rapid diagnostics complement (not replace) lab confirmation, where multi-analyte testing pays off first—Lead & Copper Rule triage, treatment optimization, remote mining, beverage networks—and what validation and manufacturing at scale will take to make field diagnostics the new default.This episode is sponsored by ⁠⁠HASA⁠⁠ (hasa.com).⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Liquid Assets⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠

Is Your Water Safe? In this episode, water engineer and SimpleLab Tap Score CEO Johnny Pujol joins host Ravi Kurani to expose what most people get wrong about tap water. From lead pipes to hidden contaminants, we dive into why government reports fall short—and how modern at-home testing is transforming the way we trust (or don’t trust) our water. Learn how Tap Score is empowering thousands to take control of their drinking water safety with science-backed diagnostics, and get practical tips on choosing the right filter for your home.🔍 A must-listen for homeowners, renters, and anyone who drinks water.This episode is sponsored by HASA (hasa.com).⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Liquid Assets⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠

In this episode of Liquid Assets, host Ravi Kurani dives into a game-changing approach to sustainable desalination with guest Bruce Crawford, CEO and co-founder of Nona Technologies. An MIT spinout backed by the U.S. Army, Nona is pioneering a new way to turn saltwater into fresh water at any scale. At a time when many countries are investing in large-scale desalination megaprojects to combat water scarcity – for example, Saudi Arabia’s ambitious Vision 2030 program – Bruce’s vision is radically different: bring Desal to the people via small, flexible systems that can work anywhere.From decentralized water treatment units that fit on a pallet to innovations in reusing cooling tower water, Bruce’s story exemplifies how water tech startups are driving the future of water. This conversational yet insightful discussion explores how Nona’s novel Ion Concentration Polarization (ICP) technology makes desalination portable, efficient, and adaptable – unlocking resilient water solutions for a thirsty world.What you'll hear in this episode:A breakthrough in desalination technology: How ICP (Ion Concentration Polarization) works to separate salt from water without high pressure or heat, and why it’s a leap beyond traditional reverse osmosis.Decentralizing water treatment: Why moving desalination from massive plants to modular, on-site systems can bring water to remote communities, disaster relief operations, and even military field camps.Water reuse in cooling towers: How Nona’s compact desal units can recycle blowdown from industrial cooling towers (like those in data centers and power plants), saving huge volumes of water amid the booming demand for AI and cloud computing.Challenges and rewards for water tech startups: Insight into Nona’s journey from an MIT lab project to an award-winning startup, and how it fits into a larger wave of innovation in the water industry.The future of sustainable water innovation: Bruce’s vision of a world using less water – from household-sized desalination appliances to industry-scale water savings – and how physical technologies and digital water solutions together can secure our water future.Check out the episode's sponsor, the leader in water treatment solutions - ⁠⁠⁠⁠HASA⁠⁠⁠Connect with Us:⁠⁠⁠⁠Liquid Assets⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠

Every second, our oceans undergo rapid transformation due to climate change, pollution, and human intervention. While coral reefs may seem like distant, beautiful ecosystems, they play a crucial role in protecting our coastlines, regulating marine biodiversity, and supporting economies across the world.In this episode of Liquid Assets, we sit down with Patrick Clasen, co-founder of Ecotech Marine, an innovator in marine technology and coral reef restoration. From his early days as an engineering student designing aquarium equipment to leading advancements in coral restoration technology, Patrick shares his journey into the world of marine conservation and innovation.We discuss the dire state of coral reefs, the growing threat of ocean acidification, and how cutting-edge technology is being leveraged to protect and restore marine ecosystems. Patrick also dives into the intersection of entrepreneurship and sustainability, sharing lessons from scaling Ecotech Marine and collaborating with research institutions to tackle some of the ocean’s biggest threats.What You'll Hear in This Episode:The importance of coral reefs – Why they matter beyond aestheticsWhy 98% of Florida’s reefs are nearly dead – And what’s being done about itThe role of ocean acidification – How pH levels are affecting marine lifeHow DARPA and marine institutions are working – Efforts to reverse coral declineThe fascinating technology behind reef restoration – Innovations in coral farmingHow Ecotech Marine developed groundbreaking tech – Advancements in aquarium and ocean monitoringWhat individuals and businesses can do – Steps to support ocean sustainabilityCheck out the episode's sponsor, the leader in water treatment solutions - ⁠⁠HASA⁠Book Recommendation:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠The Rational OptimistConnect with Us:⁠⁠Liquid Assets⁠⁠⁠⁠InstagramConnect With Patrick ClasenLinkedIn

Every year, California faces a brutal cycle of wildfires, but this time, the stakes are higher than ever. The Palisades and Eaton Fires have destroyed over 12,000 homes, burned 40,000 acres, and displaced 100,000 people. But beyond the visible destruction, there’s another crisis unfolding—one that remains largely unseen: the failure of our water infrastructure.In this episode of Liquid Assets, we sit down with Reuben Vollmer, CEO and Co-Founder of Spout Water, to discuss how California’s water mismanagement played a pivotal role in fueling these wildfires—and how it’s now impacting the drinking water of thousands. With fire hydrants running dry, plastic pipes melting into the water supply, and entire communities left with "do not drink" advisories, we explore the connection between fire, climate change, and water security.Reuben shares his personal experience of being evacuated due to the fires and the devastating loss of not just homes but the memories tied to them. He explains how a decade in the water industry led him to develop Spout, an innovative device that pulls clean drinking water from the air, offering an alternative for those who can no longer rely on traditional water infrastructure.We also dive into the controversial use of fire retardants—why they're necessary, but how they may also be accelerating the growth of invasive species, setting the stage for even bigger fires in the future. And, as bottled water shortages rise, Reuben unpacks why one in five Americans already rely on bottled water and what that means for our environment.What you'll hear in this episode:Why LA’s fires arebookended by water mismanagement—from drought-driven fuel loads to water contamination post-fireThe shocking reality offire hydrants running dry and themelting water system polluting local drinking waterHowfire retardants may be unintentionally fueling future firesThehidden costs of bottled water and why its overuse is creating an environmental crisisThescience behind Spout, a device that generatespure drinking water from the airHow Reuben’spersonal story of water scarcity inspired his mission to make clean water accessible to allBook Recommendation:Cutting Through Spiritual MaterialismConnect with Us:Liquid AssetsInstagram