International Water Day: Why new technologies are urgently needed to protect the world’s most valuable resource

Water is a fundamental human right. Nonetheless, millions of people worldwide face water scarcity, as climate change, population increase, and changing economic demands reshape global water dynamics, making efficient water management one of our time's most critical concerns. 

On the International Water Day, we move beyond raising awareness: it’s time for action. Addressing these hidden losses is essential, and innovation plays a crucial role in ensuring that every drop is accounted for. 

The Hidden Cost of Water Waste 

Approximately half of the world’s population experiences severe water scarcity for at least part of the year, with about 500 million people facing it year-round. Even though everyone in Germany fortunately has access to it, clean drinking water as a resource is becoming increasingly scarce. Over the past 20 years, the country has lost a volume of water equivalent to that of Lake Constance.  as this resource scarcity poses challenges for industry that must now, more than ever, use water supplies more sparingly.

Also in Germany, between 2007 and 2019, the average annual water loss due to leakage was approximately 470.614 million cubic meters and such example of significant loss may be seen all around. They are only one of many issues in water management, highlighting the critical need for infrastructure upgrades and effective policies. 

The Role of Startups in Water Conservation 

The urgency of finding solutions to tackle such challenges and protecting the world’s most valuable resource is clear. But what’s really the solution?  

There is no single answer—there are many solutions. From small, everyday actions like reducing water waste and increasing awareness of consumption to large-scale industrial innovations, every step matters – many of them involving exploring new paths and, perhaps, leveraging technology along the way. 

At BRYCK, our brand-new vertical focuses precisely on supporting some of these approaches. We are starting a dedicated Water Solutions initiative to bridge the gap between startups, researchers, and industry leaders, fostering innovation that directly addresses these pressing water management concerns. 

“Our goal is to transform the industry by connecting strong industrial companies with the most promising startups and accelerating the integration of new technologies for the future of water—leveraging data-driven, technology-enabled solutions that optimize usage, reduce waste, and ensure long-term sustainability.” 

Christian Lüdtke, CEO of BRYCK

We want to ensure that emerging ideas go past the prototype stage and into real-world applications. Our goal is to give entrepreneurs direct access to industry partners, allowing them to validate their ideas in practical settings, as well as combining business acceleration, strategic partnerships, and industry-backed pilot programs. 

The Leakage Monitoring Program: A Startup Initiative for Real Impact 

The first major step in this new vertical is the launch of BRYCK's first water-focused startup program, the Leakage Monitoring Program, in collaboration with RAG AG, one of Europe's most experienced post-mining operations specialists. 

This six-month initiative is designed for startups developing solutions for leakage detection, such as pipeline monitoring, and predictive maintenance. The goal? To incorporate these technologies into real-world industrial situations while assuring their scalability for long-term use. 

Headquartered in Essen, Germany, RAG is a leading German company specializing in post-mining operations and industrial water management. Which has one of the most complex mine water pipeline infrastructures in Europe, operating networks that reach depths of up to 600 meters.  

Our so-called perpetual tasks include the controlled discharge of mine water from disused mines, the management of surface water in mine subsidence areas and the pumping, monitoring and purification of groundwater in the area of former coking plant sites. Reliable and sustainable drinking water protection is at the centre of our measures. As we manage 110 million cubic metres of mine water alone every year, we are aware of the extent of our responsibility and the immense potential for innovation in this sector. That is why we are committed to driving forward new solutions - with state-of-the-art technologies and new perspectives to optimise water consumption, reduce waste and improve sustainability. By joining the BRYCK initiative, we want to foster an ecosystem where ground-breaking ideas can go from concept to reality. We want to provide startups with the platform and resources they need to test, refine and scale their innovations - ensuring that the next generation of water management solutions is not only developed, but actively implemented where it matters most. For us, responsibility starts on our doorstep - innovation and collaboration are our driving force.”

Dr. Michael Drobniewski, RAG Aktiengesellschaft

Startups participating in the Leakage Monitoring Program benefit from a range of advantages designed to support their development, validation, and scaling within a real-world industrial setting.

  By combining industry expertise, financial backing, and strategic networking, the program creates an ideal environment for you to test, refine, and scale your solutions. 

From Awareness to Action 

International Water Day is a moment to reflect on the urgent need for water conservation—but reflection alone is not enough. Action is required to drive real impact, and that’s where innovation meets opportunity. 

“Water is too valuable to be lost to leaks and inefficiencies. It’s time for industries to rethink how they manage this resource—starting with innovation-driven solutions. We see huge potential in research groups and young startups. The task now is to set a starting point and bring these ideas and visions into large-scale application” 

Torben Stallmann,  member of the WaterHub team

By supporting startup-led efforts, encouraging collaboration across sectors and innovators, and investing in practical, scalable solutions, we want to make a significant contribution to safeguarding water as an accessible resource for future generations.  

If your startup is working on a solution that might redefine industrial water management, now is the time to take it to the next level: Visit: bryck.com/water to get to know more!