2025 year in review

Company Announcement

A look back on our epic year

What a year! In 2025, we saw a surge of enthusiasm from owners, architects, and engineers embracing water reuse as a core component of sustainable design. From Hawaii to Florida and California to Texas, we expanded into new geographies and launched bold initiatives, including two commercially available beers and our OneWater™ Rain system, now rolling out to clients. Each step brought us closer to making water reuse the new norm.

Let’s take a look back at the highlights from this truly EPIC year:

January

January brought fresh energy and significant momentum for Epic Cleantec with new team members and national recognition. We welcomed Ruben Aguirre as our newest Water Reuse Operator in San Francisco, setting a strong foundation for the year ahead.

• Epic was featured on Freethink’s Hard Reset documentary series, spotlighting our greywater system at the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills, which recycles 438,000 gallons of greywater each year for landscape irrigation.
• Epic was named a 2025 Influencer in CRE Technology by GlobeSt. 

Our CEO and co-founder, Aaron Tartakovsky, joined Travis Loop of Waterloop for a behind-the-scenes look at San Francisco’s first approved greywater recycling project.

February 

February marked growing momentum in water reuse, from welcoming new talent, including Jack Cavanagh as our Wastewater Project Manager in the Bay Area, to expanding in key markets.

• Epic announced a strategic partnership with PMI Sales & Marketing Services Inc., a full-service manufacturer’s representative covering Texas.
• The Epic team visited colleagues in Hawaii to advance nationwide water reuse conversations and knowledge. Explore our state-by-state onsite water reuse regulations and policies here.

March

In March, the Epic team traveled to Austin for SXSW, where our CEO, Aaron Tartakovsky, joined Newsha Ajami of Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, Katherine Jashinski of Austin Water, and Samantha Flores of Corgan on stage for a thought-provoking panel on the future of water reuse. 

• In true Texas fashion, we launched a limited-edition whiskey proofed with ultra-purified recycled water in partnership with Sonoma Distilling Company for SXSW.
• ABC7 Los Angeles’ Phillip Palmer took viewers inside Epic’s OneWater™ system at the iconic Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills, highlighting how water reuse is shaping the future of sustainable luxury. 
• In honor of Women’s History Month, Epic featured six women leaders in sustainability, sharing their career journeys, lessons learned, and the importance of mentorship.

April

In April, our team took off for our annual company retreat to reconnect, align on goals, celebrate our successes, and explore new ideas for advancing water reuse in the built environment.

• Epic had a packed San Francisco Climate Week, including hosting tours at Salesforce Tower, joining a powerhouse panel with leaders from BRE, HOK, Related California, SKS Partners, + Antenna Group, and meeting with Mayor Daniel Lurie and fellow climate leaders to discuss San Francisco’s climate goals.
• We spoke with Matt Simon at Grist and Michal Christine Escobar at Hospitality Technology about recycled water being an essential pillar in building a sustainable future.
• Epic welcomed environmental engineer Sebastien Tilmans as our new Product Innovation Strategist to help propel Epic’s world-leading water reuse technology forward!

May

May marked a meaningful moment of leadership with the addition of Alexis Pelosi and Bill Brennan to our Advisory Board. Alexis brings deep expertise in climate resilience from her recent role as Senior Advisor for Climate at HUD, while Bill adds a strong foundation in water stewardship shaped by current and past leadership roles across multiple sustainability-focused organizations.

• Our team participated in the California Green Building Conference, serving as an official exhibitor! Epic joined a powerhouse panel alongside leaders from Kohler, SFPUC, and WBCSD. 
• Epic was highlighted as part of Hawaii’s first residential community to incorporate onsite greywater reuse at Kuilei Place, a 1,000+ home development in the heart of Honolulu. A meaningful ground blessing ceremony marked this milestone.

June

In June, Epic continued to spark the “yuck to yes” conversation about water reuse, using creativity and storytelling to challenge outdated perceptions.

• Our team was honored to be named one of Inc.’s Best Workplaces for the second consecutive year. 
• We partnered with Shyne & Associates, a leading manufacturer’s representative firm, to expand into the Rocky Mountain region.
• Aaron Tartakovsky authored an article in Fast Company drawing parallels between water reuse and once-feared innovations like electric lighting and indoor plumbing. 

July

In July, our team continued to focus on creative and impactful ways to educate global audiences, including international exhibitions and new insights tied to LEED v5.

• Our OneWater Brew appeared at the MAK Museum Vienna as part of the expanded exhibition “WATER PRESSURE: Designing for the Future,” highlighting innovative responses to global water scarcity.
• Epic was selected as a finalist to pitch at the LA Resilient Rebuilding Cup, presented by the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator, focused on supporting sustainable recovery efforts in LA.
• Senior Engineer, Lauren Frazier, authored a Smart Water Magazine article exploring how full resource recovery can help cities shift to circular water solutions.

August

In August, we welcomed Patty Valdes to the Epic team as our new Sales Engineer based in the Greater Austin area, bringing valuable experience across mechanical engineering and sustainable design! 

• Aaron Tartakovsky joined the Less Talk, More Action podcast, hosted by Joel Cesare and Owen Barrett, to discuss the urgent need to address the growing capacity challenges in wastewater management.

September

With our fully wrapped city vehicle fleet officially hitting the streets of San Francisco in September, our operations team stayed on the move, supporting our water reuse projects across the city. 

• National Sales Manager Jonathan Farr and Senior Engineer Lauren Frazier took the stage at the ASPE 2025 Tech Symposium in Orlando to discuss water recycling codes, permitting, and design strategies.
• The Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills, home to one of our Epic OneWater™ systems, was named a finalist in the 2025 Hotel Visionary Awards by EnsembleIQ’s Hospitality Technology. 
• Chief Operating Officer, Megan Thomas, joined Poppy Clarke of LMRE to discuss the role of innovation in addressing water challenges.

Aaron Tartakovsky was selected for Hydro20, a first-of-its-kind national recognition list launched by Waterloop, celebrating 20 leaders driving water sustainability and innovation across the U.S.

October

October was defined by global dialogue and collaboration, as Epic engaged with international leaders at major events, including the World Economic Forum’s Urban Transformation Summit and the U.S.–Saudi Water Summit.

• Aaron Tartakovsky authored an article for the Urban Land Institute exploring how water reuse is reframing water as a valuable asset rather than a liability.
• Epic was featured in Hotel Dive, highlighting how innovative technology is transforming luxury hospitality.

 

November

November marked a pivotal moment for Epic Cleantec, including the debut of OneWater™ Rain. This new system expands how we capture and reuse rainwater and HVAC condensate through smart, onsite solutions.

• Epic launched Shower Hour IPA and Laundry Club Kölsch, two commercial beers brewed with highly purified recycled building water. Crafted in partnership with Devil’s Canyon Brewing Company, the beer is designed to challenge perceptions and normalize water reuse. 
  • The launch quickly gained national attention, including a live interview with NewsNation!
• Epic had a standout week at the Greenbuild International Conference & Expo, including being the official beer sponsor, hosting a tour at the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills, and participating in a conference panel. 

December

December was a meaningful close to an impactful year, marked by personal milestones and industry recognition. We celebrated two joyful additions to the Epic family as COO Megan Thomas welcomed baby girl Lillian Claire Thomas, and CEO Aaron Tartakovsky welcomed baby girl Tobi Friedman Tartakovsky.

• Our team was proud to receive the U.S. Green Building Council California Green Building Award in Water for our work at Salesforce Tower, celebrating the achievement in person at the annual Green Gala. 
• Epic was featured in Hotel Management in an article exploring the latest advancements in hotel water filtration.

As we look back on 2025, we’re proud of the progress made toward reshaping how buildings and cities manage water. We’re deeply grateful to our team, partners, clients, and supporters who continue to help turn bold ideas into action, and we’re excited to build on this momentum in the year ahead!

Share on Social Media