The Search for solutions
By Dean Amhaus, President & CEO
At The Water Council, we often find ourselves banging the drum to alert people about present and coming water challenges. But we also focus on finding solutions, which is what keeps us hopeful for the future.
One way we facilitate solutions is through our innovation programming. I’m always inspired by the new products, methods and business models that come out of our Tech Challenge, Pilot Program and BREW 2.0 Post-Accelerator.
We recently opened the application period for our fall 2021 Tech Challenge, and it’s better than ever. For the first time, the challenge has four sponsors – A. O. Smith, Badger Meter, Watts Water Technologies and a special welcome to our newest sponsor, Xylem – and three topics:
- Technology solutions to lower operating expenses in aerobic wastewater treatment
- Internet of Things-enabled water quality sensors
- Microbial control in distribution systems and buildings
Watch the video below and visit our website to learn more about our Tech Challenge. Application deadline is Nov. 7.
Stewardship Solutions
We also are working toward solutions on the stewardship side. In the past few months, you’ve seen me drop hints about our Corporate Water Stewardship Accelerator. This offering will allow companies of all sizes to improve their water stewardship performance and translate credible actions into transparent external reporting. We are putting the finishing touches on our business plan and expect to launch the program the first quarter of 2022. Contact us to learn more.
The accelerator builds on our extensive experience working in this area. For example, earlier this week, Matt Howard, vice president of water stewardship, hosted a webinar with Nutrien about achieving water stewardship outcomes in agriculture. Click below to watch a replay.
WEFTEC Planning
We’ll be talking about water solutions of all kinds at WEFTEC, coming up Oct. 16-20 in Chicago. The Water Council is co-hosting the Global Center Stage with the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation on behalf of the state of Wisconsin. Here are the presentations we will make at WEFTEC:
- “Transforming Regional Water Stewardship,” 4:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 18, at the Global Center with a reception to follow at 5:30
- “Leveraging the E.U. Tech Bridge for U.S. Projects,” 9 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 19, at the Global Center
- “The Importance of ESG & Water Stewardship in Today’s Corporate Landscape,” 1 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 19, at the SDG 6 Theater in the Drinking Water Pavilion
- “Highlights from the BREW 2.0 Post-Accelerator & Tech Challenge,” 1 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 19, at the Innovation Pavilion
Members, you should have received a survey about your WEFTEC plans. We invite you to complete the survey whether or not you plan to attend so we have a clear picture of our member engagement there. Contact Laura Mullen with questions.
Helping you get the most out of WEFTEC is just one of the many services we offer our members. Contact us today to join our hub, where water works.
Talent Search
We know we can’t achieve these solutions without the right people in place to make them happen. That’s why we are hosting a webinar with CM Industrial on Sept. 21 on the challenges and best practices of attracting, hiring and retaining talent for water technology companies with panelists Ken Bockhorst from Badger Meter, Erin Rothman from StormSensor and Lukas Loeffler of LLIMC LLC. I hope to see you there.
Finally, I’d like to welcome our new members, Fixed Earth Innovations Ltd., Nasco Sampling/Whirl-Pak and In-Pipe Robot. Welcome to the search for solutions!
Member news & Opportunities
- News: NX Filtration has won the 2021 Frost & Sullivan Global New Product Innovation Award, given during World Water Week, for its nanofiltration membranes that remove micropollutants.
- News: Kohler Co. has partnered with Water First to provide training for water jobs for young Indigenous adults in Canada.
- News: WaterSurplus has appointed Dr. Terry Mah, former president and CEO of Veolia North America, as chairperson of its new Executive Advisory Board.
- News: Resilient Infrastructure Sustainable Communities has published a design guide for green stormwater infrastructure best management practices.
- News: Xylem is expanding its sponsorship of youth water innovation challenges.
- News: Veolia has opened a new regeneration and recycling service center and mobile assets in Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
- Jobs: The Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison seeks a full-time, tenure-track faculty member at the rank of Assistant Professor with a research focus on the economics of water resources.
- Event: Maximizing the Benefit of Food Waste Recovery: Exploring the Danish Model & Anaerobic Digestion Technology for Wisconsin. The Water Council, Wisconsin Biogas Council and the Danish Trade Council Biogas & Water Technology Alliances have joined forces to offer this webinar Sept. 23 on the possibilities of expanding the biogas sector in Wisconsin.
- Event: Marquette Business is hosting its Sustainability 2.0 conference Oct. 11, featuring thought leaders from academia and nonprofits as well as chief sustainability executives from a variety of industries. The Water Council is a sponsor of the event.