Colorado entrepreneurs are pitching new technologies to get investors to make bets on ventures that rely on the state's waterways. The event called Trout Tank H-2-O aims to help Colorado's businesses create more jobs for the area. CGTN's Hendrik Sybrandy takes a deep dive and brings us this story.

In Denver, Colorado, the other day. People gathered for an event called Trout Tank H2O. A play off the U.S. reality T.V. show Shark Tank in which aspiring entrepreneurs competed to sell investors on their business ideas, Trout Tank featured five businessmen pitching their water-related companies to a panel of judges. Kokopelli makes light, inflatable packrafts. Instream Water takes aim at single-use plastic water bottles.

PATRICK MAHNCKE, OWNER INSTREAM WATER "We are a network of free-standing, weather-proof, filtered water refill stations that are installed in public spaces and dispense clean-filtered water into a reusable bottle."

Culver Vanderjagt's invention revolves around toilets.

HENDRIK SYBRANDY DENVER "His product, called SinkTwice, is a sink that sits on top of a toilet. One flush sends clean water through the faucet and onto your hands for washing, then straight into the tank below."

CULVER VANDERJAGT, OWNER SINKTWICE "SinkTwice connects directly to the valve, and the valve comes straight from the city. It's in fact, some say, cleaner than the water that comes out of a faucet."

Vanderjagt says several thousand have been sold. The device detects water leaks and saves water and space in the bathroom. It's the kind of new approach to water challenges this pitch event was after.

ABRAM SLOSS DENVER METRO SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER "Water's a critical resource here in the West, just like it is throughout the entire world. So anything we can do or play a role in finding innovative solutions to protect that precious resource, we're all in."

Mike Smith's company uses carbon offset credits to help replenish forests.

MIKE SMITH, OWNER RENEWWEST "We're facing some severe environmental challenges, and without innovation within the sector everything else falls apart."

The five businesses took part in an eight-week accelerator program before undergoing some light grilling. In the end, Smith took top prize of $5,000 along with some valuable exposure, including to potential investors. He says environmental innovation has been slow in coming until very recently. Hendrik Sybrandy, CGTN, Denver.