Deadline: 2 May 2025
The Water Council is inviting applications for its Tech Challenge to connect water innovators to innovative water users through topic-specific open innovation contests.
Topics
- Topic 1: Sensors for biological organisms and disinfectant byproducts
- On behalf of A.O. Smith, Badger Meter, Watts Water, and Xylem, The Water Council is managing a Tech Challenge seeking innovative solutions for sensing microbiological organisms or disinfection byproducts. Disinfection byproducts (DBP) result from organic compounds reacting with disinfectant chemicals. Microbiological detection is sought for the following types of applications:
- Presence of pathogens in water distribution system, wastewater effluent, and biosolids
- Presence of illicit discharges to storm and sanitary sewers
- Process monitoring of wastewater treatment
- Detection of yeast in fermenting processes
- On behalf of A.O. Smith, Badger Meter, Watts Water, and Xylem, The Water Council is managing a Tech Challenge seeking innovative solutions for sensing microbiological organisms or disinfection byproducts. Disinfection byproducts (DBP) result from organic compounds reacting with disinfectant chemicals. Microbiological detection is sought for the following types of applications:
- Topic 2: Removal of organic contaminants from water
- On behalf of A.O. Smith, Badger Meter, Watts Water, and Xylem, The Water Council is managing a Tech Challenge seeking novel treatment and removal methods for removal of organic contaminants. Alternatives to Activated Carbon are sought for the following types of potential applications:
- Point of use/Point of entry drinking water treatment
- Municipal water supply
- Municipal and industrial wastewater
- Cooling towers and systems
- Boilers and water circulation systems
- Well water
- On behalf of A.O. Smith, Badger Meter, Watts Water, and Xylem, The Water Council is managing a Tech Challenge seeking novel treatment and removal methods for removal of organic contaminants. Alternatives to Activated Carbon are sought for the following types of potential applications:
- Topic 3: lab on a chip
- On behalf of A.O. Smith, Badger Meter, Watts Water, and Xylem, The Water Council is managing Tech Challenges seeking innovative solutions for “lab on a chip” for water and wastewater applications. Lab-on-a-chip solutions at Technology Readiness Level 6 or higher are sought for:
- Real-time monitoring of water and wastewater
- Epidemiological detection of emerging viral pathogens, including H5N1
- Portable PCR-based technologies
- Detection of emerging contaminants, including pharmaceuticals and their byproducts
- On behalf of A.O. Smith, Badger Meter, Watts Water, and Xylem, The Water Council is managing Tech Challenges seeking innovative solutions for “lab on a chip” for water and wastewater applications. Lab-on-a-chip solutions at Technology Readiness Level 6 or higher are sought for:
Funding Information
- Participants compete for a $10,000 prize along with corporate expertise and feedback and the potential for corporate partnerships.
Key Success Criteria
- Topic 1: Sensors for biological organisms and disinfectant byproducts
- TRL 3 or higher (Feasibility Demonstration: Initial development of technology has been completed. Basic components of the technology are well understood. Minimum: Laboratory Scale)
- Durable
- Low cost
- Long lasting
- Low energy usage
- Rapid response
- Minimizing false positives or false negatives
- Non-toxic reagents or no reagents required
- Topic 2: Removal of organic contaminants from water
- Not based on Activated Carbon
- Wide range of operating temperatures
- Durable
- Low cost
- Topic 3: lab on a chip
- TRL 6 or higher (Viability Demonstration: Technology demonstration as a model or prototype in relevant environment. In process of being transferred to industrial partner)
- Low cost
- Long lasting
- Low energy usage
- Rapid response
- Non-toxic reagents or no reagents required
- Minimizes false positives or false negatives
Eligibility Criteria
- Water technology innovators from anywhere in the world—including inventive individuals, university students or researchers, water professionals or private sector and government labs—are invited to apply.
For more information, visit The Water Council.
