The Water Council Now Accepting Applications For Fifth Round Of Pilot Program

The Water Council and supporting partners Fund for Lake Michigan, Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District and Wells Fargo, announced recently that the fifth round of the Pilot Program is now accepting applications. The program connects water-related businesses with potential sites and funding to further validate and commercialize technologies.

"We're thrilled to partner with Wells Fargo, MMSD and The Water Council to support game-changing technologies that address our most urgent water quality challenges," said Vicki Elkin, executive director of the Fund for Lake Michigan. “The challenges we are facing require new approaches and cutting-edge technologies.”

“With infrastructure as a top priority for the U.S. federal government, coupled with the amount of time it takes for a water tech product to work its way from concept to market-ready, means it’s crucial to provide as much support as we can right now to help businesses test, refine and validate their products,” said Dean Amhaus, president and CEO of The Water Council. “We’re pleased to work with our partners to support businesses that provide solutions for infrastructure and innovation needs.”

“Wells Fargo is honored to support The Water Council through our Clean Technology and Innovation grant program,” said Mary Wenzel, executive vice president and head of sustainability and corporate responsibility at Wells Fargo. “The Council’s platform for gathering technical data in order to scale and commercialize technologies will provide much needed enhancements to our water infrastructure and fills a critical gap in the clean-tech ecosystem.”

“There will always be better, more cost effective ways to protect public health and our rivers and lakes through clean water innovations. We fully support these local efforts that harness the potential to benefit the world,” said Kevin Shafer, executive director of the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District.

Applications are being sought for the following areas of emphasis:

• Intelligent stormwater green infrastructure (i.e. cisterns, bioswales, green roofs, porous paving materials, etc.) – robust, low-cost systems for monitoring the performance of green infrastructure or that create web-based infrastructure that allow for the active management of stormwater with green infrastructure systems and the integration thereof
• Stormwater quality – projects that enhance the ability to detect contaminants in stormwater and runoff, including agricultural runoff, innovate the ability for best management practices to better capture and treat stormwater and polluted runoff from both urban and rural environments, and identify beneficial reuse of reclaimed water will be deemed high priority
• Stormwater quantity – projects that achieve run-off control through delayed release to the sewer system and area waterways, improve infiltration rates of green infrastructure and maximize bio-retention will also be deemed high priority
• Plant process technology – innovations for nutrient removal, energy production and cost reductions, and other plant optimization technologies
• Other water technology applications not already listed – projects that address other water-focused technologies for demonstration in Southeast Wisconsin in industrial and agricultural settings

For application requirements, entry forms and other Water Council program details, go to watertechhub.com. Applications are being accepted through November 3, 2019 and winners will be announced in December.