The Water Council, a nonprofit championing water technology innovation in the world’s freshwater hub, today announced the winners of its 2021 Pilot Program. Funded by grants from the Fund for Lake Michigan (FFLM), Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) and Wells Fargo, the Pilot Program accelerates the validation of promising water technologies, paving a path to commercialization.
The winners address several water-related challenges in Wisconsin, including harmful algal blooms, wastewater treatment, nutrient capture and field runoff. The winners were selected by FFLM and MMSD from a diverse global field of applications based on their ability to offer innovative, integrated water solutions while maintaining a cost-efficient, scalable and deployable model:
“By funding these pilots, the sponsors address some of the biggest challenges facing their own entities as well as Wisconsin water quality pain points, while also allowing companies to test their innovations in real-world settings,” said Karen Frost, vice president of economic development and innovation at The Water Council. “The pilots help these technologies reach their maximum potential for market commercialization and environmental impact.”
Since its launch in 2015, the Pilot Program has awarded grants of more than $822,000 to 17 companies to help pilot technologies in Wisconsin, accelerating the deployment of water technology to solve problems, create new business and improve water quality on a regional and global scale.