The world must mobilize up to $7 trillion for water infrastructure by 2030 while more than 80% of global wastewater still enters water bodies untreated, according to the World Bank and UNESCO.
Shirley Zhong, co-founder and COO of Toronto-based Xatoms, grew up near industrial complexes in Guangdong, China, and watched nearby rivers become increasingly polluted.
Xatoms uses AI and quantum chemistry to discover photocatalysts—materials that react when exposed to light and decompose contaminants rather than simply trapping them in a filter.
Zhong says the company trained four AI models to target more than 160 contaminants and discovered 22 new materials. Added to polluted water or applied to filters, the materials can be activated by sunlight, LED, or ultraviolet light.
The technology is now being evaluated through more than five pilots with Fortune 500 companies. Xatoms has also been recognized by the World Economic Forum as an emerging water innovation.
The critical next step is proving that these light-activated materials can deliver consistent treatment at industrial scale, where emerging contaminants and polluted wastewater remain difficult and expensive to manage.
Xatoms is part of The Water Council’s 2026 BREW 2.0 cohort, supporting water technology companies as they move toward broader commercial adoption. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gkpnNbjj
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability. Visit https://www.waterloop.org/
Subscribe to catch every video: https://www.youtube.com/@waterloop
Never miss an episode! Subscribe to waterloop:
🎧 Spotify:https://bit.ly/waterloopSpotify
🎧 Apple Podcasts:https://bit.ly/waterloopApple
🎧 YouTube Podcasts:https://bit.ly/waterloopYouTubePod
Follow waterloop for more stories on water sustainability:
🔹 Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/the_waterloop/
🔹 LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/thewaterloop
#Water #CleanWater #WaterTechnology #Innovation #Pollution
