I walked into Aquagga’s space with my colleague Amber from the Washington State Office of Equity in Tacoma, not entirely sure what to expect, yet I left with a clear sense that we had just seen the future of clean technology in action.
Aquagga, Inc. is on a mission to eliminate PFAS from global water supplies with advanced, affordable cleantech solutions. Our impact-driven team is dedicated to improving water quality, protecting ecosystems, and safeguarding public health for a cleaner, safer future. We are committed to developing innovative tools and technologies for a PFAS-free world. Aquagga harmonizes profitability with purpose, creating proactive solutions for critical societal challenges.
At Aquagga, the work is tangible.
The company was founded during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and has since grown to a team of 20 employees tackling one of the most persistent environmental challenges we face: PFAS contamination. Their focus is on mobile industrial wastewater treatment units designed to eliminate PFAS at the source. Standing in their workspace, surrounded by modular systems and lab-like testing stations, it was clear this isn’t theoretical. It’s hands-on, iterative, and constantly evolving.
What stood out immediately was how locally rooted their work is. Government partnerships and grants supported their early growth, and today they work with major industry players actively seeking solutions to PFAS contamination. That trajectory was shaped by both necessity and opportunity.
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What grounded the visit, though, was the interaction with an employee. They walked us through a system in development, explaining how they test, iterate, and refine each component. His enthusiasm was undeniable. It was a reminder that the work here demands curiosity and engagement; people are not only following a process, but they are also actively improving it.
That mindset shows up in how Aquagga has built its team. Mechanical engineers were among the first hires, designing and refining the technology itself. As the company has grown, so has the team, bringing in more chemists, electrical engineers, sales and marketing staff, and operators and technicians. Each role contributes to execution and continuous improvement. Operators and technicians, in particular, play an important role in shaping the technology. Their day-to-day experience using the equipment directly informs how it evolves, creating a feedback loop between design and use.
Training at Aquagga supports employees’ professional growth while also ensuring the team has the skills and flexibility needed to keep operations running effectively. Environmental health and safety training, including OSHA and HAZWOPER certifications, is foundational. Project management skills are also critical, given the complexity of their deployments. Additional training, like forklift operation, adds to the team’s ability to step into different roles as needed. This is where partnership with Workforce Central has helped manufacturers train and upskill their workforce.
As a small, highly specialized company, Aquagga benefits from employees who can apply their expertise and perspectives across different areas of the business as projects evolve. Building a broader skill set isn’t just beneficial—it’s necessary. One team member shared how energizing it was to step into a new, hands-on task outside of their usual scope. That kind of cross-functional learning strengthens both the work and the team’s overall capabilities.
There’s also a level of adaptability required that cannot be overstated.
Aquagga’s process often begins with testing real samples from potential clients, developing proof-of-concept solutions, and navigating shifting regulations and cost structures. Their workforce has to be ready to respond to those changes in real time, adjusting alongside the technology and the market. And this is what Washington STEM wants to see coming out of the Washington Jobs Initiative: an upskilled, more agile workforce that meets the shifting needs of our economy and the demand for our manufactured goods.
Mobility is another part of the job. Employees may travel across the country—or even internationally—to support installations and pilot projects, from places like Mississippi to potential deployments in Europe. For many, that exposure to different environments and applications is part of what makes the work compelling.
Being in Aquagga’s space reinforced one thing: this is a company building as it goes, refining not just its technology, but its team, its processes, and its place in an emerging industry. The pace, complexity, and level of ownership expected of employees all point to a workplace where adaptability and engagement matter as much as technical skill. Aquagga represents the heartbeat of what Washington STEM sees as serving as a technical assistance lead for the Washington Jobs Initiative for many industries like healthcare, information technology, and construction - rapid reinvention or adaptation for evolving industry needs.
Experiences like this stay with me in my role. They offer a real-world view into what work actually looks like inside a growing, innovation-driven company and what it takes for a team to keep up with that growth.
Aquagga may be a small team, yet the scope of their work and the way they approach it signals something much larger about where this industry is headed.
This story is part of an ongoing series highlighting my experience in the field as I visit training sites for businesses participating in the Washington State Jobs Initiative. Employers play an essential role in supporting student persistence through this initiative. With each visit, Washington STEM gains inspiration and information to inform our cross-system work — assessing the whole landscape to ensure adult mindsets and power structures evolve in ways that advance equity and opportunity for all participants.
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