In the unfolding era of clean energy, smart investors are leaning on expert guidance more than ever—especially as they navigate the technical, regulatory, and financial thickets of wind, solar, hydrogen, grid resilience, and climate risk. For instance is your clean tech firm or company in wastewater treatment considering an office in Riyadh or should you stick with Dubai?  Below is a curated spotlight on 20 firms that shine for their deep expertise and proven ability to manage the complex risks of sustainable energy investment.

Consultants can help you find the risks and opportunities.

1. DNV

Why Investors Should Care: As a trusted independent advisor in wind, solar, storage, hydrogen, carbon capture, and more, DNV offers rigorous risk assessment and certification—helping investors avoid technical pitfalls and regulatory headaches.
Website: dnv.com

2. Wood Mackenzie

Why Investors Should Care: With powerful analytic tools and strategic advisory across oil, gas, renewables, utilities, and storage, they enable investors to anticipate market shifts and optimize asset portfolios.
Website: woodmac.com

3. E3 (Energy & Environmental Economics)

Why Investors Should Care: Specialists in net-zero strategies and digital technology for renewable integration, E3 helps investors model the energy future with clarity and confidence.
Website: See Willdan’s site (E3 now part of Willdan)—willdan.com

4. Arrowhead Consulting

Why Investors Should Care: Boutique agility with strong confidentiality and customized economic/technology-driven insights make Arrowhead a favorite for investors seeking tailored, strategic advice.

5. Brattle Group

Why Investors Should Care: Their data-driven approach to production forecasting, climate risk modeling, and finance-focused advice equips investors to manage uncertainty with clarity.

6. ICF International

Why Investors Should Care: A go-to for compliance, operational efficiency, and upstream GHG management—ICF aligns investments with evolving global standards.

7. McKinsey & Company

Why Investors Should Care: Their global analytics, proprietary energy models, and sustainability practices ensure investments are rooted in resilience and foresight—especially valuable in volatile markets.

8. Boston Consulting Group (BCG)

Why Investors Should Care: BCG guides decarbonization, capital planning for renewables, and energy system transformation—crucial for investors steering long-term portfolios.

9. Arthur D. Little (ADL)

Why Investors Should Care: Known for its Open Consulting innovation model, ADL helps investors navigate utility convergence, smart energy systems, and sustainable transformation.

10. Roland Berger

Why Investors Should Care: Delivers hands-on strategic support for decarbonization, market entry, and circular economy investments—especially useful for mid-sized deals in Europe and beyond.

11. Jacobs Energy Consulting

Why Investors Should Care: With deep engineering roots and hydrogen systems expertise—even partnering with NASA—Jacobs delivers infrastructure-level insights that help investors assess emerging tech risks.

12. Ramboll

Why Investors Should Care: A global leader in renewables, energy islands, hydrogen, and digital analytics—Ramboll’s integrated model helps investors foresee infrastructure and climate exposures.
Website: ramboll.com/energy

13. Energetics (now part of ERM)

Why Investors Should Care: Deep climate risk and energy transition expertise in Australia; invaluable for investors looking into APAC energy markets and adaptation strategies.
Website: via ERM

14. Enerdata

Why Investors Should Care: Energy data specialists—providing quality datasets that alert investors to macro energy trends before they hit headlines.
Website: energdata.net

15. Perfect Sense Energy (UK)

Why Investors Should Care: They offer turnkey solar solutions—design, financing, installation, and monitoring all in one; perfect for investors seeking efficiency in solar rollouts.
Website: perfectsenseenergy.com

16. Inspired PLC (UK)

Why Investors Should Care: A listed consultancy with deep expertise in procurement, ESG strategy, and cost savings—equips investors with sustainability-aligned operations.
Website: inspiredplc.co.uk

17. The Carbon Trust (UK)

Why Investors Should Care: A mission-driven advisor helping clients map decarbonization, supply-chain footprints, and net-zero strategies—one of the most credible voices in green finance.
Website: carbontrust.com

18. ZTP (Zero Trace Procurement) (UK)

Why Investors Should Care: Offers real-time software for carbon tracking and procurement—ideal for investors demanding transparency and data-driven ESG oversight.
Website: ztpuk.com

19. Lumina Energy (UK)

Why Investors Should Care: Specializing in public-sector energy spend, sourcing, and carbon-reduction plans—keeps big institutional capital aligned with green commitments.
Website: luminaenergy.co.uk

20. Ignite Energy (UK; part of Inspired PLC)

Why Investors Should Care: Provides hands-on energy monitoring and efficiency—critical for investors focused on operational and financial performance in commercial assets.
Website: igniteenergy.co.uk

Why Investors Should Partner With These Firms

1. Manage Technical and Regulatory Risk: Avoid stranded assets, permitting issues, or flawed engineering—all through expert vetting and certification.

2. Navigate Market Volatility: Data-driven insights anticipate policy shifts, commodity cycles, and technology disruptions—keeping investment horizons healthy.

3. Advance ESG Credibility: Empower your portfolio with scientifically backed net-zero roadmaps, carbon accounting tools, and green operational strategies.

4. Protect Capital Through Forecasting: Accurate modeling, scenario planning, and resource forecasts help investors build resilience into project valuations.

5. Accelerate Diligence & Deal Flow: Consultants help streamline due diligence, enabling swift but informed decision-making.

The post Investing in the Middle East? These 20 Energy consultants can de-risk your portfolio appeared first on Green Prophet.

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are critical to modern cities, safeguarding public health by managing billions of liters of sewage and industrial discharge every day. But as the world races to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, a key source is slipping under the radar: the wastewater sector itself.

In a new review published in Environmental Science and Ecotechnology (July 2025), researchers from the Harbin Institute of Technology and international collaborators challenge current greenhouse gas accounting methods for WWTPs, warning that conventional approaches significantly underestimate the sector’s climate footprint—particularly when it comes to fossil carbon dioxide (CO₂).

It’s well known that WWTPs emit methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O)—two potent greenhouse gases—during biological treatment and sludge handling. What’s less understood is the role of fossil CO₂, released from synthetic chemicals like detergents and industrial effluents. Because this carbon originates from fossil sources, not organic decay, it adds to atmospheric CO₂ but remains unaccounted for in most emission inventories.

Using radiocarbon analysis, the study’s authors found that fossil carbon makes up 4–28% of the total carbon in incoming wastewater. That fossil carbon is mostly converted to CO₂ and vented during treatment—yet this invisible flow of emissions is ignored in most official climate reports.

Related: BioprocessH2O works with food and beverage wastewater

“Wastewater is not just a sanitation issue—it’s a climate issue,” said Dr. Haiyan Li, corresponding author of the study. “By overlooking fossil CO₂ and relying on outdated estimation methods, we’re underreporting a major source of greenhouse gases.”

Current greenhouse gas estimates from WWTPs largely depend on broad default emission factors provided by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). These factors are often too generic, failing to reflect the variation in plant design, local climate, and wastewater composition—especially in urban areas with a mix of domestic and industrial sources.

To address this, the researchers analyzed two main approaches to monitoring emissions:

Unit-based methods (e.g., flux chambers, optical gas imaging) are good at pinpointing emission hotspots like aeration tanks but can miss the big picture. Plant-integrated methods (e.g., drone surveys, mobile labs, and aircraft) offer facility-wide data, often capturing higher methane emissions. However, they vary widely in accuracy and cost.

The review also calls for customized, technology-specific emission factors—especially for plants with advanced processes like sludge incineration or energy recovery, where fossil carbon emissions can increase total reported GHGs by more than 20%.

Toward Smarter, Climate-Responsive Treatment

To help cities transition to low-carbon wastewater treatment, the authors advocate for real-time, multi-gas monitoring systems and the inclusion of fossil CO₂ in national climate inventories. Doing so would empower local governments and plant operators to align their emission reduction strategies with actual site conditions—not assumptions.

“We need better data to drive better policies,” said the research team. “Smarter monitoring tools can bridge the gap between science and action.”

This research underscores a broader shift in thinking: that wastewater infrastructure—long seen as a hygiene utility—must also be recognized as a critical node in the fight against climate change.

American Industry’s Role

Some of the world’s largest wastewater treatment projects are spearheaded by U.S.-based engineering firms, including:

Jacobs Solutions Inc., a leader in global water infrastructure, which has delivered WWTP designs in cities from Los Angeles to Abu Dhabi.

AECOM, involved in large-scale wastewater upgrades across the U.S. and internationally.

Black & Veatch, which has helped develop climate-resilient treatment facilities with energy recovery systems.

HDR, known for advanced water quality treatment and smart monitoring solutions.

As climate regulations tighten and emissions tracking becomes more rigorous, these companies are well-positioned to innovate—if they adapt their designs and monitoring practices to reflect the new science.

Wastewater treatment plants are quietly contributing to the climate crisis—and our current accounting methods aren’t telling the full story. Recognizing the role of fossil carbon and deploying smarter monitoring tools may be the key to transforming this essential service into a truly climate-smart sector.

The post Wastewater plants are a hidden climate issue, and we’re measuring it all wrong appeared first on Green Prophet.

The United Nations has 17 objectives that paint a more resource-conscious and fair world called the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The sixth mission is to “ensure access to clean water and sanitation for all” by 2030. The turn of the decade will happen before too long, so assessing progress and moments for improvement at this stage is critical. How is SDG 6 going, and what can humanity do to achieve it?

The Wins and Conditions

Years of governmental and humanitarian work have achieved massive wins for the planet since the goal’s inception. Here is how each pillar of this goal has changed between 2015 and 2022.

More Widespread Sanitation and Hygiene Services

Many nations have water availability, but no way to clean it for drinking and basic hygiene needs. It is why enhancing access to already clean water and sanitation technologies must occur simultaneously. Sanitation services rose from 49% to 57%, and hygiene services rose from 67% to 75%.

The positive movement is necessary, but it also needs to happen faster. Current accomplishments have given millions of people better sanitation while informing them of the best steps forward. For example, rural areas saw enhancements while urban regions are unaltered or have reduced water quality.

Increased Access to Drinking Water

Water scarcity plagues the planet, as the climate crisis causes reserves to run dry and rains to be infrequent. It impacts 785 million people globally but is becoming less common every year.

Dependability is uncertain, so restoring access is essential for an equitable world. In these years, access to safe drinking water rose from 69% to 73%. The positive trend influences the goal because it shows the power of collaboration, but the future needs work to occur six times faster than this rate to meet the target. 

Better Water Efficiency

Resource use efficiency is an aspect of this goal because it lowers global water stress levels. It dictates how much freshwater is available versus how many renewable resources can compensate for demand. The worldwide average was at a safe range in 2020 because of optimizations in agriculture and industry. Small adjustments like investing in low-flow fixtures and water recycling technologies make a monumental difference.

However, the progress also shows that the average hides regional differences, as countries in southern Asia and northern Africa see unprecedented levels of water stress.

The Setbacks and Improvement Areas

As valuable as the wins are for giving clean and plentiful water to nations, many are not on track to meet 2030 expectations. Several obstacles hinder progress, and knowing what they are and how they influence SDG 6’s trajectory is crucial for discovering solutions. 

Robust advocacy networks to increase urgency for these issues are vital for getting as close as possible. These are the setbacks activists, governments and citizens can work on together.

Decline in Official Development Assistance

Investments are the lifeblood of most infrastructure development and water access expansion. Funding for these projects has slowed between 2015 and 2021, declining from $9.6 to $8.1 billion. 

Private and public stakeholder interests have changed everywhere for many reasons, whether geopolitically or socioculturally influenced. Regardless, advocates and legislators must establish programs and convince investors to reach peak commitment.

Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) Is Rare

IWRM is a methodology that balances commercial and industrial water use with the needs of the citizens. It ensures there are enough resources to go around while paying attention to the impacts usage has on ecosystems and the future of sustainable development. Implementation rose to 57% in 2023, but the goal is 91% by 2030.

Companies using the most resources can catalyze change by budgeting for more holistic water management systems. Many could wait until it is mandatory through regulatory power, but organizations must act while they wait for more standardization. 

Water Quality Is Declining

In the U.S., around 40% of its water does not meet the standards of the Clean Water Act, which is the primary framework for regulatory influence. Many of the world’s low-quality reserves demonstrate a greater need for monitoring technologies and even better sanitation density. 

The reality should inspire collaborative efforts to share advanced technologies, like the Internet of Things, to let nations collect more data about what impacts their water. Increasing awareness of specific pollutants informs targeted treatment needs.

Adverse Actions Against Water Protections

Many private, public and governmental choices are hurting essential natural water features and resources. They need elevated protections to achieve SDG 6. For example, India has suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, which influences accessibility to people in Pakistan.

Global wetlands are also under threat in many nations, with many in desperate need of restoration and care. Mangroves, marshes and other ecosystems are critical for filtering water while serving as essential carbon sinks. These processes have a lasting impact on neighboring communities and habitats by boosting soil quality. This helps industries like agriculture conserve water, as the soil is better at absorbing it to achieve better growth cycles.

Activities like this must receive opposition from legislators and citizens alike. Otherwise, they will continue to happen. Neglecting water protection is one of the most widespread negative influences on SDG 6, as it culminates in many actions.

Ensuring Water and Sanitation for All

The progress and setbacks bring equal hope to this objective. Every win is a celebration, which sustains momentum until humanity hits its 2030 goal. Simultaneously, each shortcoming will inspire greater action and innovation. Current projections prove progress is slow in 2025, but accelerating efforts and boosting funding for related projects could get it there despite potential barriers.

The post Global Progress and Setbacks: Tracking Water Quality Indicators Toward SDG 6 by 2030 appeared first on Green Prophet.

Scientists at The University of Texas at El Paso and Stanford University were recently surprised to find that the natural community of zooplankton — tiny, aquatic animals known to graze on bacteria— present in freshwater and saltwater do not clean water that is contaminated with fecal microorganisms. That means poo.

The research, published today in the biology journal mSphere, reveals important insights about the limitations of zooplankton in treating bodies of water that have been contaminated with fecal organisms, the team said. A 2017 US water quality inventory revealed that over 50% of rivers, bays and estuaries were unsafe for at least one use, in many cases because of fecal contamination.

Related: this US company BioprocessH2O makes wastewater clean for the food industry

“When sewage is released into clean bodies of water and humans are exposed to it, it can lead to illness in humans,” said Lauren Kennedy, Ph.D., assistant professor of civil engineering at UTEP, who is the corresponding author on the study. “Our research seeks to understand what factors can render pathogens unable to infect people. In other words, how long does it take for the water to become safe for recreation again without any forms of outside intervention?”

Kennedy explained that water from sewage and septic tanks can accidentally enter bodies of freshwater as a result of accidents, inadequate water treatment or corroded infrastructure.

The authors hypothesized that zooplankton naturally present in water might graze on microorganisms from fecal contamination, inactivating the organisms and effectively “cleaning” the water.

To test this idea, the team added a virus called MS2 and the bacteria E.coli to samples of freshwater and saltwater taken from the San Francisco Bay area of California. MS2 and E.coli are considered useful proxies for scientific research, Kennedy said, because they are present at high concentrations in sewage and their presence often indicates fecal contamination in the environment. The water samples naturally contained both “large” particles like zooplankton, sand and dirt, and “small” or dissolved particles like salt.

They found that the large particles, including zooplankton, did not have a significant effect on the inactivation of the pathogen proxies. The small particles, however, seemed to have a greater impact. The pathogen proxies were inactivated at higher rates in high-salinity water, for example, ocean water taken from San Pedro Beach.

“I am proud that we were able to provide another perspective to consider for surface water remediation efforts,” Kennedy said.

The research, she added, is an important step forward in understanding the limits of zooplankton as natural “cleaners” of contaminated water. The next phases of the research will focus on the impact of salinity on pathogen survival in contaminated waters.

The post Zooplankton go eww to poo appeared first on Green Prophet.

An interview with BioprocessH20 Tim Burns, company CEO, entrepreneuring wastewater treatment for the Food and Beverage industry

Water is the most extensively used raw material in the food and beverage industry. It is used for processing, as an additive to products, but also as a cleaning agent. But waste can’t just go down the drain.

Due to heavy loads of chemicals and biological waste, industrially processed water needs to be filtered before it goes to the municipal water treatment center. The industrial sector can have an impact on the environment and economy as a result of rising water demand and wastewater production. In some US states aquifers have run dry. With the increasing scarcity of drinking water, the reuse of wastewater has become an important economic and ecological concern. Optimizing water consumption and wastewater reuse in the food industry is necessary for business reasons and a growing list of environmental ones enforced by governments. 

Food processors, industrial manufacturers, automobile manufacturers, oil and gas companies and more all need to be mindful of the wastewater they produce when they conduct their core business.

All forms of waste, whether liquid or solid, require specialized treatment methods before disposal. Where do companies turn? What does the future look like? We speak with the world leader in sustainable wastewater treatment, BioprocessH2O, an American company from Rhode Island that mimics nature in their system designs. ​​Clients like Coca Cola use their system to meet wastewater standards in the food industry. 

Tim Burns, the CEO of BioprocessH2O shares some insight into a global challenge of wastewater treatment and its potential for reuse.

Give us an overview of why companies turn to you. 

Companies turn to us for our expertise in the wastewater field. We have some of the best engineers in the business, and are confident in the systems that we build. We have helped some of the biggest companies in the US get control over their wastewater, and because of that many turn into repeat customers.

Are there non-US locations you work with and what special challenges do you face outside the US?

We work with companies across the world, with a focus in North America. Each country has its own unique regulating body, that has its own set of parameters or rules that they adhere to. This makes it different from the US, as not all regulators are concerned with the same things.

When you work with non-US companies, let’s say EU, Canada and the Middle East. If you work there, or want to work there, how are the standards and demands different? 

The testing standards, and goals, are different in many of the countries you mentioned. For example, in the Middle East we recognize that the biggest water related questions are around desalination and water reuse, to help the countries there that do not get much rainfall get more access to water. This is different from the US, Canada and the EU that has ample rainfall, ands main concern tends to environmental and public health harm reduction. 

What do you love most about your job?

I love that we get to solve hard challenges for our clients, while helping the environment and public health. 

What frontline technologies is your company looking at? If you could invent a time machine, what would the future look like for your business in 20 years? 

We actually are now a preferred partner for Zwitterco which has developed a new membrane that has promising lab results, and we hope this translates into promising installations for our clients. The Zwitterco membranes use a certain type of material which has both a negative and positive charge, this in effect reduces the amount of membrane fouling expected in a membrane system. 

To the second part of the question, I think that in 20 years from now, we will be a lot better about testing, and pinpointing sources of wastewater than we are today. If we could have a “magic” technology, it would be one type of filtration method that worked for all types of pollutants.

What research centers around the world are doing the best work in wastewater remediation? 

That is a good question. I would say the best research still comes out of universities. For example, the Reverse Osmosis, and the new membranes I have talked about previously, both came out of partnerships with labs from universities. This is very common across industries, not just ours. You see this in tech, as well as biotech and pharma. 

How do things get trickier in areas where aquifers are depleted, like in California, or let’s say in Saudi Arabia? 

We expect people in this region to be more concerned with water use reduction, instead of just water filtration. As water becomes more scarce, it becomes more expensive, leading to higher input water costs for manufacturing plants. 

Could you work with agriculture solutions that use treated greywater? If yes, how. Hydroponics, aquaponics, greenhouse ag or conventional farming.

Yes this is common in our industry, where a farm will need to filter their wastewater, and then are actually able to use the filtered water to water their crops of something of this nature. While wastewater filtered by our systems are not always drinkable, it is often clean enough to use for other purposes. 

What does a company need to do today to ensure they can scale their water treatment solutions so they will be relevant in 15 years?

A lot of the time it comes down to planning ahead. We work with our clients to understand their production goals now, and in the future, to figure out the size of the water system that needs to be installed in order to handle and plant expansions that may be in the future. 

Now how can we ensure that we scale? I think we just need to stick to our plan, which is to give our customers the best systems we can at a fair price. This allows us to show our competence, and has helped grow our name in the wastewater industry.

Give us a bit about your background. 

I have had a very entrepreneurial career. I left the corporate world early on, and helped scale a chemical disposal company working with the founders. From there I founded a few companies, one of which was bioprocessAlgae, which aimed to turn Algae into biofuel. I have a finance/business background and took up a masters in environmental science from Brown University. 

::BioprocessH2O website

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Food processors specializing in dairy, meat, confectionery, and beverage production are restricted from disposing of animal byproducts or wastewater through standard drainage systems. All forms of waste, whether liquid or solid, require specialized treatment methods before disposal.  

The world leader in the sustainable space of wastewater treatment is BioprocessH2O, an American company from Rhode Island that mimics nature in their system designs. ​​

The company offers sustainable water filtration devices that help their clients become EPA-compliant. Their products are adaptable to different industries and global locations. 

The company is currently focused on expanding its partnerships within the global food and beverage manufacturing sector, specifically targeting firms that face challenges in managing liquid waste. They are already helping large companies and publicly-traded entities future-proof their factories to meet evolving environmental standards and by doing this the company assists both their clients and the environment.

Current clients include giants like Haribo, Coca Cola and Kraft Heinz. Even the US Border Services trust BioprocessH2O with treating wastewater at their facilities in the US. 

The food and beverage industry faces unique challenges in wastewater management, because effluent produced is diverse and can include biological and organic elements that have special health and environmental risks.

A common theme is the need to reduce biochemical oxygen demand, BOD, in effluent across industries. 

Other pollutants vary on whether or not they are present and may include nitrogen and phosphorus, inorganic contaminants, pathogens and antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Companies that show traces of such problematic pollutants can be met with heavy fines, negative press, environment lawsuits and risks to shareholders. 

Current success stories include Hood, which reduced biochemical oxygen (BOD) demand by more than 90% with BioprocessH2O’s sustainable treatment solution. Coca-Cola also upgraded a failing treatment system, to a new MBR system, reducing BOD from 25,000 mg/L to less than 50 mg/L; and Guggisberg Cheese which achieved over 90% BOD reduction for permit compliance.

BioprocessH2O’s main products are a Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) and a Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR).

Consider the case study of Kraft Heinz which needed to meet new permit limits while accommodating increased production capacity. Consulting with BioprocessH2O Kraft Heinz implemented a comprehensive wastewater treatment system that included an equalization tank, screening, and a Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR), achieving effluent quality well within permit limits, with BOD levels below 250 mg/L and TSS levels below 5 mg/L.

How does an MBBR Work? Understanding the Basics

The Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR) at its core uses the power of microorganisms to effectively treat wastewater. The solution is made up of biofilm carriers, which are small plastic elements that provide a large surface area for microorganisms to grow on. These are matched with an aeration system that gives oxygen to the biofilm, breaking down pollution using the power of nature. 

Current competitors in this space include Ecologix Systems, World Water Works, and Evoqua. BioprocessH2O stands out for deep industry knowledge, customer support, and competitive pricing, says a company spokesperson.

Founded in 2007 with 2 guys and a dog, the company has grown to 20 people to include satellite offices in Western Massachusetts and Florida. The ROI varies from project to project. The quickest ROI, the company notes, was for a product recovery case and was 8 months until they broke even.

Who needs BioprocessH2O?  Services are ideal for industries with varying wastewater compositions from landfills, food and beverage, manufacturing, pulp and paper, petrochemical, all the way to mining and cities that need wastewater management. After treatment, the clean water is separated from the carriers and discharged.

When companies work with the leading experts in wastewater management they not only ensure operational sustainability but also set standards among the competition. 

::BioprocessH20

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Are you among those who have a love-hate relationship with cow’s milk? From childhood memories of milk mustaches to adult debates over health impacts, cow’s milk has been a staple in many diets. But how beneficial is it for human consumption? Let’s break down the pros and cons so you can make an informed choice. The team at Mike Hammer Moving swears by it, but is it the right choice for you?

Nutritional Benefits

Cow’s milk is packed with essential nutrients. It’s a rich source of calcium, which is vital for strong bones and teeth. Additionally, it provides protein, which is crucial for muscle growth and repair. The vitamins in cow’s milk, such as vitamin D, vitamin B12, and riboflavin, contribute to overall health and wellness.

But that’s not all. Cow’s milk also contains potassium, which helps regulate blood pressure, and phosphorus, which plays a role in energy production. These nutrients make cow’s milk a powerhouse for those looking to maintain a balanced diet.

However, it’s essential to consume it in moderation. While these nutrients are beneficial, too much of anything can be harmful.

Bone Health

One of the primary benefits of consuming cow’s milk is its positive impact on bone health. Calcium and vitamin D, found abundantly in cow’s milk, are critical for maintaining bone density and preventing osteoporosis.

Regular consumption of cow’s milk during childhood and adolescence can lead to stronger bones in adulthood. This is particularly crucial for individuals at risk of bone-related issues, such as the elderly or those with a family history of osteoporosis.

But remember, while cow’s milk can support bone health, it should be part of a varied diet that includes other calcium-rich foods like leafy greens and fortified plant-based milk.

Convenience and Availability

Cow’s milk is widely available and affordable. It’s a staple in grocery stores, making it easy for consumers to incorporate it into their diets. Whether you’re looking for whole milk, skim milk, or lactose-free options, there’s something for everyone.

The convenience of cow’s milk extends beyond just drinking it. It’s a versatile ingredient used in cooking and baking, from creamy soups to fluffy pancakes. Its availability and versatility make it a go-to choice for many households.

However, the convenience of cow’s milk should not overshadow the importance of considering individual dietary needs and preferences.

Lactose Intolerance and Digestive Issues

Not everyone can enjoy cow’s milk without experiencing discomfort. Lactose intolerance is a common condition where individuals lack the enzyme lactase, needed to digest lactose, the sugar found in milk. This can lead to symptoms like bloating, gas, and diarrhea.

For those with lactose intolerance, consuming cow’s milk can be a challenging experience. Fortunately, there are lactose-free options available, which provide the same nutritional benefits without the digestive discomfort.

It’s crucial to listen to your body and choose alternatives if cow’s milk doesn’t agree with you. Plant-based milk, such as almond, soy, or oat milk, can be excellent substitutes.

Health Concerns

While cow’s milk offers numerous benefits, there are potential health concerns to be aware of. Some studies suggest that high consumption of cow’s milk may be linked to an increased risk of certain health conditions, such as heart disease and certain cancers.

The saturated fat content in whole milk can contribute to elevated cholesterol levels, which is a risk factor for heart disease. Additionally, some research indicates that excessive dairy intake might be associated with an increased risk of prostate and ovarian cancers.

However, it’s important to note that these studies are not conclusive. Moderation and a balanced diet are key to minimizing potential health risks.

Environmental and Ethical Considerations

The environmental impact of dairy farming is another factor to consider. Dairy farming contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, water usage, and land degradation. The carbon footprint of producing cow’s milk is significantly higher than that of plant-based milk alternatives.

Ethical concerns related to animal welfare are also prevalent in the dairy industry. Issues such as the treatment of cows and the separation of calves from their mothers raise questions about the ethical implications of consuming cow’s milk.

Additionally, water pollution is a significant environmental issue linked to dairy farms. Dairy farms generate large volumes of wastewater containing manure, chemicals, and other pollutants that can contaminate local water supplies if not properly managed. This pollution can lead to the degradation of aquatic ecosystems, harm to wildlife, and potential health risks to humans. To address these issues, dairy farms can adopt several strategies for effective wastewater treatment. For more detailed information and solutions tailored to dairy farms, read this article on Dairy Wastewater Treatment.

For environmentally conscious and ethically minded individuals, exploring plant-based milk alternatives can be a way to align dietary choices with personal values.

Conclusion

The debate over cow’s milk is multifaceted, with strong arguments on both sides. From its nutritional benefits and positive impact on bone health to potential health risks and environmental concerns, cow’s milk presents a complex picture.

Ultimately, the decision to consume cow’s milk should be based on individual needs, preferences, and values. Whether you’re a fan of traditional cow’s milk or prefer plant-based alternatives, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer.

Next time you’re sipping on your favorite beverage, remember to consider what’s best for you. The team at Mike Hammer Moving might love their daily dose of cow’s milk, but your choice should reflect your unique dietary needs and lifestyle.

The post The Milky Debate: Is Cow’s Milk a Friend or Foe for Humans? appeared first on Green Prophet.

More than 17,000 animals are killed each minute in slaughterhouses across the United States.  Slaughterhouse byproducts such as fat, bone, blood, and feathers often are sent to rendering facilities for conversion into tallow, lard, animal meal, and other products. The runoff from byproducts harms people as it flows into rivers and streams eventually polluting the land and the people drinking from aquifers.

If you look at news around the world, slaughterhouses or abattoirs, are dumping waste with no regard to the environment. See Tunisia, India, England.

Both slaughterhouses and rendering facilities require a near-constant flow of water, and they discharge staggering quantities of dangerous and damaging water pollution into rivers and streams, including millions of pounds of nitrogen and phosphorus, along with bacteria, grease, and other pollutants.

Today, the US Environmental Protection Agency (known as the EPA) proposed new water pollution control standards for slaughterhouses and rendering facilities. This is after a victorious lawsuit started by a number of lawsuits from community and conservation organizations. The new rules could help to prevent at least 100 million pounds per year of water pollution by strengthening or imposing standards on a fraction of the country’s approximately 5,000 slaughterhouses and rendering facilities, which together are leading sources of nitrogen and phosphorus pollution.

Water pollution from slaughterhouses and rendering facilities threatens human health and the environment.  For instance, exposure to nitrogen compounds in drinking water can cause colorectal cancer, thyroid disease, birth defects, and—in infants under six months of age—methemoglobinemia, or “blue baby syndrome,” a potentially fatal condition.  In addition, nitrogen and phosphorus pollution feed algal growth, which can render water unsafe for drinking, unfit for recreation, and uninhabitable for aquatic life.

As algae die and decompose, they consume oxygen, giving rise to “dead zones” in iconic waterways such as Chesapeake Bay and the Gulf of Mexico.

“Pollution from slaughterhouses and rendering facilities disproportionately harms under-resourced communities, low-income communities, and communities of color,” said Earthjustice attorney Alexis Andiman.

Pollution from slaughterhouses and rendering facilities exacerbates environmental injustice.  Most slaughterhouses and rendering facilities are located within one mile of populations that, on average, the EPA classifies as “low income,” “linguistically isolated,” or at high risk of exposure to toxic substances.

To make matters worse, slaughterhouses and rendering facilities are often located near additional slaughterhouses, rendering facilities, concentrated animal feeding operations, and other sources of pollution, compounding the risks they pose.

The federal Clean Water Act requires the EPA to set water pollution standards for all industries, including slaughterhouses and rendering facilities, and to review those standards each year to determine whether updates are appropriate to keep pace with advances in pollution-control technology.

Despite this clear mandate, the EPA has failed to revise standards for slaughterhouses and rendering facilities for at least 19 years.  Some slaughterhouses and rendering facilities are still subject to standards established in the mid-1970s.

And the EPA has never published national standards applicable to the vast majority of slaughterhouses and rendering facilities, which discharge polluted wastewater indirectly through publicly-owned treatment works—also known as POTWs—even though the EPA has acknowledged for decades that, without adequate pretreatment, pollutants in slaughterhouses and rendering facility wastewater pass through many POTWs into our nation’s rivers and streams.

The victory was brought on by Earthjustice and the Environmental Integrity Project on behalf of Cape Fear River Watch, Rural Empowerment Association for Community Help, Waterkeepers Chesapeake, Waterkeeper Alliance, Humane Society of the United States, Food & Water Watch, Environment America, Comite Civico del Valle, Center for Biological Diversity, and Animal Legal Defense Fund.

This coalition initially challenged the Trump Administration’s decision not to update water pollution control standards for slaughterhouses and rendering facilities in 2019.  In response to that challenge, the EPA pledged to strengthen its regulations—but it did not commit to a timeline for doing so.  The coalition filed a second lawsuit in December 2022 to press the EPA to act promptly, resulting in an agreement that committed the EPA to propose new standards by December 2023 and publish final standards by August 2025.

“Today, the EPA took a major step towards reducing the massive flow of pollution that slaughterhouses dump into America’s rivers,” said John Rumpler, senior clean water director for Environment America. “If the agency follows through with a strong final rule, it will mark significant progress in reducing threats to wildlife and public health – including toxic algae, pathogens and nitrate contamination of drinking water sources.”

Many publicly owned wastewater treatment plants are not equipped to treat the waste they receive from one or more of the estimated 3,708 indirectly discharging slaughterhouses and rendering plants across the country, likely contributing to 73% of these facilities violating their clean water permit limits for pollutants typically released by those dischargers, said Kelly Hunter Foster, a Waterkeeper Alliance Senior Attorney.

One way to avoid this is for the facility itself to install a MBR or MBBR for slaughterhouse wastewater treatment which are designed to handle high contaminant discharges.

“Lax regulations allow industrial animal agriculture to profit while burdening communities with pollution and causing animals immense suffering,” said Animal Legal Defense Fund Senior Staff Attorney Larissa Liebmann. “With these updated pollution standards, EPA is making slaughterhouses account for some of the costs of their unsustainable business model.”

Building better environmental regulation in your country, province, state or city? Look to the EPA guide for starters.

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Wastewater must be treated beyond conventional methods used today in Israel in order to eliminate Covid-19, report scientists from Ben-Gurion University (BGU) in Beersheba, Israel. The researchers have found that parts of the coronavirus or SARS-CoV-2  survives after sewage purification in treatments plants.

They isolated RNA samples of the virus post-treatment and the finding worries them for a number of reasons.

Wastewater poses a potential threat of a renewed outbreak around the world, the researchers urge. It may not reach your homes in the tap, but sewage workers are exposed to the virus through human faeces and urine by the nature of their work. 

“If we do not want recurring waves of outbreaks, reducing the infection rate may not be enough, wastewater must be neutralized as well,” says Oded Nir of the Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research at BGU. 

The BGU team analyzed samples of sewage collected during the first lockdown in April, 2020 and during the second wave in July. They found ample abundance of the virus’s RNA. Most of the sewage in Israel and other developed countries undergoes biological treatment before it gets released to the environment or before the water is reused, however that was insufficient to reduce the virus concentration to undetectable levels, the researchers report.

Their findings were just uploaded to medRxiv (links to the synopsis) and will be undergoing peer review shortly. An earlier study started this spring is using the sewer and live sewage to isolate Covid-10 outbreaks on city streets.

They urge wastewater to be further treated to minimize the risk of dissemination and infection of Covid-19. In a couple of instances where wastewater was treated by chlorine, the Covid-19 virus was no longer detectable.

Protect our sewers from dangerous waste

If wastewater is left untreated, or if pipes burst or overflow from rains or winter storms in the Middle East, Covid-19 could infect people or animals who come into contact with it and perhaps create a mutated version of the virus, the scientists speculate. Covid-19 could also affect water sources if sewage is dumped in open areas.

In Israel, wastewater is collected, treated and then reused for agriculture. By the time it reaches the fields it is treated partially and called greywater which is not safe for consumption. In earlier studies in Israel (2016), researchers at the Hebrew University have reported a buildup of pharmaceuticals in the water and researchers are only now trying to understand how birth control pills, and drugs like cocaine and legal ones like chemotherapy and epilepsy medicine affect us when used in greywater to water vegetables and fruit. These pharmaceuticals also end up in treated water we drink – see Alon Tal. 

We asked Oded Nir a few more questions:

How worrying is it? “The main worry is that, worldwide, the new coronavirus is being discharged to the environment in an uncontrolled manner, which can have effects that we cannot predict,” Nir tells Green Prophet. 

“The pandemic is global, so the entire world should be worried and consider to minimize SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater effluents.

“Farmers should not be worried in particular, since wastewater effluents in Israel are chlorinated before reuse in agriculture. Overflow can be problematic but it is a short event. The continuous discharge should be taken care of,” he explains. 

“We did not study greywater. Treated wastewater leaving the wastewater treatment plant can contain traces of the virus if not chlorinated or further treatment by (for example) membranes. Around the world, these effluents ends up in rivers or lakes. If the virus traces are infectious (we are not sure yet) it could infect humans or animals, thus impeding efforts to eliminate the pandemic.”

What’s the best long-term solution in your mind to help humanity? Beyond choline. Something more sustainable?

Nir’s response: “I think the future is in applying advanced low-energy membrane filtration to the effluent. This can remove viruses completely and also reduce other bad stuff like organic micro-pollutants and heavy metals. We are currently working on such solutions in my lab.

“In this context, we are working on developing advanced membrane processes for (1) upgrading the quality of treated wastewater so it can be used in agriculture more sustainably or discharged into rivers without ecological damage. (2) recover valuable resources from wastewater, especially phosphorus which can reused as fertilizer.”

Additional researchers in the Covid-19 wastewater study at BGU include: Hala Abu Ali, Karin Yaniv, Edo Bar-Zeev, Sanhita Chaudhury, Marilou Shaga, Satish Lakkakula, and Prof. Zeev Ronen.

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Is there a Covid-19 hotspot growing in numbers on Fifth Avenue near the Empire State Building or is it happening now in Brooklyn? Look to your sewer and it will tell you endless information about the health or problems of a local population.

Human waste carries knowledge and disease, and it also carries the pharmaceuticals we use to keep our problems at bay. Now a wastewater data company called Kando is being hired in Israel to confirm Covid-19 outbreaks in the country. Kando can also predict where an outbreak will occur. 

Covid-19 can be detected in sewer systems, and knowing where it is being flushed – means health services can get a better handle on local Covid-19 hotspots and outbreaks. 

“Monitoring our sewers is like taking the ‘blood test’ of a city,” said Ari Goldfarb, the CEO of Kando.

Kando is the Israeli cleantech company that was hired for the task. In good days the company provides data to wastewater management companies so they can understand how to use their resources for treating pollution optimally. The company started a pilot this summer with Israeli universities and announced recently it will continue its sampling throughout Israeli cities. Some $220,000 USD was put into to support the pilot until the end of this year.

The company takes samples from sewers which are brought back to a lab to undergo polymerase chain reaction – or PCR – testing. We assume that in the future some better “real time” and online data assessment tool will be put in place to make sense of the data, because anyone anywhere can pull a sample of sewage out of a manhole and test it. The questions will be – what are we looking for and what does it mean in comparison to the density and population.

“Shit” down streets, not nations

Contract tracing has become impossible with dense communities and neighborhoods in poorer demographics in Israel where up to 12 people can live in one small apartment, or more if extended families are brought in. But it’s been impossible to segregate these areas in red or green zones: they predominantly poor ultra-Orthodox Jewish neighborhoods and poor Muslim enclaves. 

“The successful initial results of this pilot study demonstrate that our sophisticated wastewater monitoring systems can help detect new outbreaks and determine exactly where and how serious they are,” Goldfarb says.

The company partnered with local universities Ben Gurion University and the Technion “to offer actionable insights to authorities, alarming them to outbreaks even before residents are symptomatic. Our hope is to help cities around the world prevent wholesale shutdowns and mitigate future outbreaks.”  

Kando puts its sensors into manholes and say they are able to quantify and delineate this environmental and epidemiological data, allowing them to narrow down measurements to neighborhoods, and potentially streets.

The coastal city of Ashkelon in Israel was chosen as the pilot site for the project as it was believed to have a low number of case. But what researchers discovered was something entirely different: significant remnants of the coronavirus in municipal wastewater, indicating early detection of outbreaks in local neighborhoods.

The results suggest that tracking coronavirus remnants in the sewer network is a timelier and more efficient gauge of the extent of outbreaks than testing individuals – especially given the asymptomatic nature or delay in symptoms of those suffering from COVID-19. 

The results of the pilot study will offer authorities capabilities for early detection of new outbreaks and can help avoid total lockdowns by pinpointing affected areas, the company believes. Israel is in the third week of a 3-week lockdown, its second nation-wide lockdown since the middle of March, 2020.

Helping identify hubs of contagion can allow a much more localized response – avoiding the need for more sweeping lockdown measures. And that is something we all want. 

“Identifying traces of the coronavirus in city wastewater is extremely challenging due to the various types of substances found in sewage systems, including industrial wastewater, which can dilute or destroy remnants of the virus,” said Professor Nadav Davidovitch, Director, School of Public Health at Ben Gurion University, and who is part of the project:

“Our unique methodology enables us to detect and trace the presence of the virus and calculate its concentration with these substances factored into the equation, and to integrate epidemiological evidence in order to pinpoint emerging COVID-19 hotspots. This will allow authorities to take actions to contain future outbreaks. This type of interdisciplinary science will continue to help disease containment methods – for coronavirus, and beyond.”

Artificial Intelligence going down the drain?

Kando provides Internet of Things data for for wastewater management with operations in North America, Europe, Australia, Asia and Israel. The company was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in Israel.  They can detect blockages in real time before extensive damage is done to sewer systems.

It is no coincidence that Israel produces a disproportionate number of wastewater data companies for its size: Israel has been a global leader for greywater recycling. It reuses about 97% of its water as grey water, but it comes with challenges as these lines can not contaminate drinking water for domestic use. Greywater contains a high amount of bacteria and toxins, even pharmaceuticals, so much to the point that organic vegetable growers in Israel don’t want to use the subsidized water offered to them for fear of a chemical load in their produce.

Who wants to eat someone else’s cancer medicine or birth control pills? There is also cocaine, codeine and methadone. 

But silver linings? Some startups make new paper from sewage waste. 

When I studied biology in university the professors always told us that there is gold in animal excrement –– how well an animals is doing, its habitat, its link in the web of life. I spent a year studying the waste of small amphibians to understand how populations of indicator species bounce back after forest fires or clearcut logging.

In times like these we need to put ourselves back into the circle of life and look for answers even in the lowliest places – the toilet bowl.

The case of an environmental fallacy?

Alon Tal, environment leader and lawyer from Israel cautions against this “looking for a needle in a haystack approach”. He has experience looking to wastewater for pollutants, including pharmaceuticals. He isn’t convinced this is a great method for detecting Covid-19 cases in the city:

“When you look at things at the neighborhood level, you just have to be careful you don’t commit, the “ecological fallacy”.

“Here’s a good explanation on you tube:

“So yes – it is good to know if there appears to be some residual corona in the sewage system of a city,” Tal tells Green Prophet. “But it can’t tell me a whole lot. It might be from a single family. It might be from an old age home which is in danger – or from an asymptomatic yeshiva student.

“I imagine that in the peak incidence days, Bnei Brak’s sewage [in Tel Aviv] might have been slightly higher than other communities. But you’d have to be very lucky to get samples to prove this. Concentrations are de minimis.

“In short —  I know they used sewage to try to identify illegal use of narcotics and such.  But, it’s not entirely clear to me why this makes more sense than simply random testing several hundred people directly. That might tell me much more about where morbidity is happening and how to intervene,” he concludes.

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