Sonaar Luthra: We need to track the world's water like we track the weather

The speaker discusses the urgent need for a global water service to address water quality and scarcity issues. They highlight the inadequacies of current water data, the impact of climate change, and the lack of accountability in pollution management. The talk emphasizes the importance of investment in water technology and proposes solutions like a global water service. The speaker calls for government accountability and action against major polluters, urging for better conservation strategies and restructuring of subsidies to improve water efficiency.

What was the speaker's initial belief about solving water problems?

• That better technology alone could solve them

• That more government policies were needed

• That international cooperation was essential

• That public awareness was the key

Why are current water usage statistics considered inadequate?

• They are updated frequently

• They are too detailed

• They do not account for the climate crisis

• They are based on direct measurements

What is the main weakness of the dilution model in pollution management?

• It requires too much data

• It assumes abundant water availability

• It is too expensive to implement

• It is only applicable to small water bodies

Which organization is the largest consumer of jet fuel, contributing to PFAS contamination?

• NASA

• The European Union

• The US Department of Defense

• The United Nations

What percentage of global venture capital is invested in early-stage water technology companies?

• 1.2%

• 12%

• 0.12%

• 0.012%

What is a proposed benefit of a global weather service for water?

• It would eliminate the need for water conservation

• It would help forecast water shortages

• It would increase water pollution

• It would reduce the need for weather forecasting

What is an opportunity zone in the context of water investment?

• A new type of water purification technology

• A region with abundant water resources

• A tax incentive for investing in distressed areas

• A government program for building dams

How can landowners in the US contribute to water conservation?

• By selling their land to the government

• By using a conservation easement

• By building private reservoirs

• By reducing their water usage by 50%

What is a major source of water pollution according to the speaker?

• Industrial waste

• Air pollution

• Fertilizer and pesticide runoff

• Household waste

What is necessary for progress in water security, according to the speaker?

• Confronting conflicts of interest

• More corporate sponsorships

• Increased military spending

• Less public involvement