Epic Cleantec is a San Francisco-based environmental services company specializing in onsite water reuse solutions for the built environment. Founded in 2015, the company aims to revolutionize urban water management by enabling buildings to recycle and reuse wastewater resources, thereby enhancing sustainability and resilience. Epic Cleantec's mission is to transform the way communities think about water and resource recovery, contributing to a more sustainable future.
Key Strategic Focus
Epic Cleantec's core objective is to deploy onsite water treatment and reuse systems within individual buildings or groups of buildings. Their innovative OneWater™ system treats wastewater onsite, producing highly purified water for non-potable applications such as toilet flushing, irrigation, cooling towers, and laundry. This approach can reduce a building's water demand by up to 95%, leading to significant cost savings on water and sewer bills. Additionally, the system recovers heat energy from wastewater and converts organic waste into carbon-rich soil amendments, further enhancing sustainability.
Financials and Funding
As of November 2024, Epic Cleantec successfully closed a $12 million Series B funding round. This capital is intended to drive the company's growth by scaling operations, advancing technology, and developing new solutions, while expanding its reach across North America and beyond.
Pipeline Development
Epic Cleantec has implemented its systems in several high-rise buildings in San Francisco, including a 40-story apartment building capable of recycling up to 2.5 million gallons of water annually. Notable projects include installations at Fifteen Fifty, a luxury residential building developed by Related California, and two Sentral-managed multi-family buildings in San Francisco—Chorus and The Landing. The Chorus system can recycle up to 2.9 million gallons of water annually, while The Landing system can recycle up to 1 million gallons per year.
Technological Platform and Innovation
Epic Cleantec's proprietary OneWater™ system is a comprehensive onsite water reuse solution that treats wastewater to produce highly purified water for non-potable uses. The system also recovers heat energy from wastewater and converts organic waste into soil amendments, promoting a circular approach to resource management. This innovative technology has been recognized as a TIME Best Invention in 2022.
Leadership Team
- Aaron Tartakovsky, Co-founder and CEO, has been instrumental in leading Epic Cleantec's mission to revolutionize urban water management.
- Eric Hough, Chief Commercial Officer, brings extensive experience in commercial strategy and partnerships, contributing to the company's growth and market presence.
- Megan Thomas, Vice President of Operations, oversees the operational aspects of the company, ensuring efficient implementation of projects.
- Jonathan Farr, National Sales Manager, joined the team in January 2024 to scale sales and partnership efforts.
Competitor Profile
Market Insights and Dynamics
The global water and wastewater treatment market is experiencing significant growth, driven by increasing urbanization, stringent environmental regulations, and the need for sustainable water management solutions. The adoption of onsite water reuse technologies is becoming more prevalent as municipalities and building owners seek to reduce water consumption and wastewater discharge.
Competitor Analysis
Key competitors in the onsite water reuse industry include companies like Hydraloop and Greyter Water Systems, which offer residential and commercial greywater recycling solutions. However, Epic Cleantec differentiates itself by providing comprehensive, building-scale systems capable of treating various wastewater streams, including blackwater, and integrating resource recovery features such as heat energy recovery and soil amendment production.
Strategic Collaborations and Partnerships
Epic Cleantec has established significant partnerships to strengthen its market position and innovation capacity. In June 2024, the company partnered with Salesforce to operate the building's groundbreaking blackwater reuse system within the iconic Salesforce Tower in San Francisco. This system is the largest onsite water reuse system in a commercial building in the United States.
Operational Insights
Epic Cleantec's strategic considerations include focusing on major urban markets with high water demand and stringent regulations, positioning the company as a leader in sustainable water management solutions. Their distinct competitive advantages lie in the comprehensive nature of their OneWater™ system, which not only treats wastewater but also recovers valuable resources, providing a holistic approach to water reuse.
Strategic Opportunities and Future Directions
Looking ahead, Epic Cleantec aims to expand its reach across North America and beyond, leveraging its recent funding to scale operations and advance technology. The company is well-positioned to capitalize on the growing demand for sustainable water solutions in urban environments, with plans to develop new solutions and forge additional strategic partnerships to further its mission.
Contact Information
- Website: epiccleantec.com
- Twitter: x.com/epiccleantec
Epic Cleantec's commitment to innovation and sustainability has earned it numerous accolades, including being named to Inc.'s 2024 Best Workplaces list and Fast Company's 2024 Next Big Things in Tech list.
