Water industry consulting.
Deep expertise. Real results.
HydroKnowledge is a water industry consulting firm helping utilities, technology companies, and investors make better decisions — faster. Our work is grounded in hands-on experience with 130+ utilities and innovators, and companies we've built or advised have collectively raised over $400M.
How we can help
Our engagements range from short-term advisory to ongoing strategic partnerships. Every project is scoped to your specific challenge.
Marketing, Branding & Communications
Positioning, messaging, and communications strategy for water utilities, startups, and industry players, helping organizations articulate their value in a sector where credibility is everything.
AI Adoption & Implementation
Practical AI strategy for water organizations, from identifying the right use cases to vendor selection, procurement, and change management.
Technology & Innovation
Helping utilities and operators evaluate emerging technology, build digital infrastructure, and avoid expensive mistakes in a fast-moving market.
Sales & GTM for Water Companies
Go-to-market strategy and sales enablement for companies selling into water utilities and municipalities, a notoriously difficult market to crack.
Advisory & Board Services
Strategic advisory for startups and established companies in water tech, from fundraising narratives to product-market fit and investor relations.
Custom Projects
Market research, due diligence, white papers, speaking engagements, and bespoke engagements tailored to your organization's specific challenge.
Operator experience.
No junior staff. No fluff.
HydroKnowledge is led by Adam Tank, co-founder of Transcend and Industrial Optic, two VC-backed water companies that together raised $35M and helped deliver clean water to 430M+ people. Our work draws on a curated network of water industry operators, engineers, and advisors who have actually built, sold, and run things in this sector.
Every engagement is led by senior practitioners. You won't get handed off to analysts or receive a recycled framework dressed up as strategy.
Common questions
- What is HydroKnowledge?
- HydroKnowledge is a water industry consulting firm led by Adam Tank, co-founder of Transcend and Industrial Optic, two VC-backed water companies. We help water utilities, technology companies, and investors with strategy, AI adoption, marketing and branding, go-to-market execution, and advisory services.
- What types of organizations does HydroKnowledge work with?
- We work with municipal water and wastewater utilities, water technology startups, industrial water companies, investors and private equity firms evaluating water assets, and industry organizations. Our clients range from early-stage startups defining their market position to established utilities navigating digital transformation.
- Who is Adam Tank?
- Adam Tank is the founder and principal of HydroKnowledge. He co-founded Transcend, a generative design company for water infrastructure, and Industrial Optic, a water robotics company that was acquired by a publicly traded firm. He is a LinkedIn Top Voice with 19,000+ followers, co-host of the Water We Talking About podcast, and editor of the At Water's Edge newsletter.
- What does a water industry consultant do?
- A water industry consultant helps utilities, technology companies, and investors solve strategic challenges specific to the water sector, including technology evaluation, AI adoption, go-to-market strategy, organizational planning, fundraising support, and marketing. HydroKnowledge specializes in engagements that require deep operator experience, the kind that comes from actually building and selling in this sector.
- How do engagements with HydroKnowledge work?
- Most engagements start with a short conversation to understand the challenge and assess fit. From there, we scope the work together, with engagements ranging from a single-day workshop to ongoing advisory retainers. Every engagement is led by senior practitioners, with no junior staff or delegated deliverables.
- Does HydroKnowledge work with water technology startups?
- Yes. We regularly work with early-stage and growth-stage water technology companies on go-to-market strategy, B2G sales into utilities, brand positioning, fundraising narratives, and advisory board services. Our network includes direct relationships with utilities, investors, and accelerators including ImagineH2O.
From the field
October 12, 2026
What Private Equity Buyers Look For In A Water Company
Private equity is invested in more than 300 water companies and most were bought in the last three years. Here's what the buyer's diligence looks like, what discounts the price, and how to prepare a water services or technology business for a sale.
October 5, 2026
Water Utility Staff Are Already Using Generative AI; Nearly Half Of Utilities Have No Policy For It
Utility staff are drafting, summarizing, searching, and creating with generative AI today, often on personal accounts. Here's what a use policy should say and what to pilot first.
September 20, 2026
Water Utilities Can Capitalize A Software Subscription; Most Vendors Never Ask.
Since GASB 96, a multi-year software subscription can be recorded on a public utility's books as a capital asset. Vendors who structure the contract for it stop competing for operating money.
Ready to work together?
Whether you're navigating a specific challenge or looking for ongoing strategic support, let's talk about what we can do together.
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