The Water & Carbon Group
Designs, builds and operates low-energy wastewater treatment and ecological infrastructure solutions.
| Date | Investors | Amount | Round |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | investor investor | €0.0 | round |
* | $10.0m | Early VC | |
| Total Funding | 000k | ||
The Water & Carbon Group (WCG) is an Australian environmental engineering company established in 2007 that specializes in designing, building, and operating advanced water treatment infrastructure. The firm operates globally, with a significant and expanding presence in the United States, focusing on transforming waste management challenges into sustainable opportunities. The company's business model revolves around providing the full spectrum of services from solution development and delivery to long-term operation and maintenance of its systems. WCG serves a diverse client base that includes municipal and industrial landfills, local and state governments, water utilities, and industries such as mining and manufacturing.
The company's core offering is its patented Low Energy Evaporative Fractionation (LEEF) System®, a technology designed to remove per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), often called "forever chemicals," from complex wastewater streams like landfill leachate. This system utilizes foam fractionation, a process that injects air to create bubbles that attract PFAS compounds, forming a concentrated foam that is then separated from the water. The LEEF System® is noted for its ability to treat highly contaminated water to the point where PFAS are non-detectable, with low energy consumption and minimal waste compared to traditional methods. Beyond PFAS remediation, WCG's expertise extends to biological solutions, media and membrane filtration (including reverse osmosis and activated carbon), and developing natural capital solutions like treatment wetlands that mimic natural ecosystems to polish water.
WCG's journey began with a focus on integrating nature-based solutions with conventional engineering to deliver greener, lower-cost infrastructure. A significant milestone was the commissioning of a global-first treatment plant for the City of Darwin at Shoal Bay, which combines the LEEF System® for PFAS removal with biological treatment and a polishing wetland, creating a zero-discharge solution. This success has been foundational to its international expansion, particularly into the U.S. market, where it launched its first operational plant in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The company's growth has been supported by strategic investments from firms like Emerald Technology Ventures and Ecolab, culminating in a US$10 million funding round in 2024 to accelerate its U.S. expansion amid increasing regulatory pressure on PFAS contamination. The company is led by CEO Jim Hunter, who brings over 30 years of experience in the water, wastewater, and ecology sectors, with a notable track record in commercializing new environmental technologies.
Keywords: wastewater treatment, PFAS remediation, environmental engineering, landfill leachate treatment, water technology, foam fractionation, LEEF System, ecological engineering, water reuse, sustainable infrastructure, contaminated water solutions, industrial wastewater, biological water treatment, membrane filtration, natural capital solutions, water security, environmental remediation, Australian cleantech, zero-discharge treatment