Game Changers with Jess Todtfeld | Water Is the Next Oil

What if the most important resource shaping the future of the world is not oil, lithium, or rare earth minerals… but water?

In this episode of Game Changers, Jess Todtfeld sits down with water policy expert and Salty Water Podcast host Eric Jankel to explore why water could become the next global power struggle. As climate pressures grow, infrastructure ages, and populations increase, access to clean water is quickly becoming one of the most important strategic issues facing governments, industries, and communities worldwide.

Eric Jankel has spent decades working in the global water sector, including helping launch the Middle East Desalination Research Center in Muscat, Oman, a historic effort designed to bring Arab and Israeli scientists together to collaborate on water technology. Today he advises companies and organizations across the water and infrastructure space and hosts the Salty Water Podcast, where he interviews global leaders shaping the future of desalination, reuse, and water security.

During this conversation, Jess and Eric explore why water is increasingly becoming a geopolitical issue, why many people misunderstand the economics of desalination, and why innovations happening right now could dramatically reshape how the world produces and manages fresh water.

One surprising insight: the common belief that desalination is too expensive may no longer be true. When compared to building new reservoirs, well fields, and massive pipeline systems, desalination can sometimes be just as cost effective, especially for coastal regions.

They also discuss why water reuse may be one of the biggest untapped opportunities in the United States, particularly in industrial settings where enormous amounts of water are used in manufacturing processes.

The conversation also dives into the global race to advance water technology. Through a partnership between the government of Abu Dhabi and the XPRIZE Foundation, more than $100 million is being offered to accelerate breakthroughs in desalination technology. The goal is to dramatically reduce the cost and energy required to produce fresh water from the ocean.

Perhaps the biggest takeaway from this episode is that most people rarely think about water infrastructure because it is largely invisible. It runs underground in pipes and treatment systems that quietly support modern civilization. But as climate change increases both drought cycles and extreme storms, the need to invest in resilient water systems is becoming more urgent than ever.

00:00 Why water may be the next global game changer
00:55 The biggest misconception about desalination
02:10 Water reuse and why the U.S. should be doing more
03:30 Why we take water infrastructure for granted
05:00 Climate change, droughts, and stronger storms
06:20 Why water is becoming a geopolitical issue
07:45 The global water conflicts already happening
09:05 The $100M XPRIZE for desalination innovation
10:40 The surprising 7,500 year history of desalination
12:00 Eric’s path into the global water sector
13:20 Using water cooperation to promote peace
14:20 Lessons from leaders working in water

Eric Jankel has worked in global water policy and infrastructure for decades. His career includes leadership in major water initiatives, including the launch of the Middle East Desalination Research Center in Muscat, Oman. He now advises companies across the water and infrastructure sector and hosts the Salty Water Podcast, where he interviews global leaders working to solve the world’s most pressing water challenges.

Hosted by Jess Todtfeld, media strategist, bestselling author, and Guinness World Record holder for most media interviews in 24 hours. Jess is the founder of Media Ambassadors and helps experts turn visibility into real business results.