FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Meghan Jensen (414) 988-8754
mjensen@thewatercouncil.com
Pilot Program selects two winners to move water technology working prototypes, to real world pilot sites
MILWAUKEE, WI, MARCH 21, 2016 – The Water Council, Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) and the Fund for Lake Michigan (FFLM) today announced two winners that best align with The Water Council’s Pilot Program’s goal to address integrated water solutions through innovation, application and demonstration, while maintaining a cost-efficient, scalable and deployable model.
Applicants were asked to respond to one of the following areas of emphasis: Intelligent Stormwater Green Infrastructure; Stormwater Quality; or Stormwater Quantity. A diverse, independent panel of judges from A. O. Smith Corporation, We Energies, City of Milwaukee, Fund for Lake Michigan and the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District, conducted a competitive analysis of each proposal. After two deductive rounds of voting, the following two projects were selected for funding:
“Technology innovation is a challenging process in such a legacy industry as water and the commercialization process can be long and difficult,” said Dean Amhaus, president and CEO of The Water Council. “The Pilot Program aims to bring efficiency and much needed funding, advisory support and designated demonstration sites to our companies, in order to launch new technologies to market.”
Winners of the Pilot Program receive:
“By coordinating efforts, the District, the Fund for Lake Michigan, and The Water Council can leverage funding and expertise to accelerate the deployment of technologies needed to solve problems, create new business, and improve water quality,” said John Hermes, MMSD Commission Chair. “Collaboration on research projects ultimately can help MMSD achieve long range goals and strategic objectives to cost effectively protect public health and improve our rivers and Lake Michigan.”
In August 2015, The Water Council announced a partnership with MMSD and Fund for Lake Michigan that would provide $600,000 in joint funding over two years to advance new, clean water technologies through the Pilot Program. The first year of the Program was launched in January 2015 through a Clean Technology & Innovation grant from Wells Fargo.
“We’re thrilled to partner with MMSD and The Water Council on this pilot program,” said Vicki Elkin, executive director of the Fund for Lake Michigan. “I honestly believe that these technologies could prove to be game changers in how we manage major rain events and prevent pollution from fouling our rivers and beaches.”
The Pilot Program catalyzes companies and professionals that are developing new products to be able to bring these new innovations to market quicker. 2016 Pilot Program winners will receive $182,385 collectively that will help to create 12 demonstration sites around the city of Milwaukee beginning in Spring 2016.
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About The Water Council
The Water Council was established in 2009 by Milwaukee-area businesses, education and government leaders. The nonprofit organization, consisting of more than 180 members, links together global water technology companies, innovative water entrepreneurs, acclaimed academic research programs and, most importantly, some of the nation’s brightest and most energetic water professionals. The Water Council is capturing the attention of the world and transforming the Milwaukee region into a World Water Hub for freshwater research, economic development and education.
About Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District
MMSD is a regional government agency that provides water reclamation and flood management services for about 1.1 million people in 28 communities in the Greater Milwaukee Area. Since 1994, MMSD has captured and cleaned 98.3% of all the water and wastewater that has entered the regional sewer system. The goal nationally is to capture and clean 85%. The District serves 411 square miles that cover all, or segments of, six watersheds.
About Fund for Lake Michigan
The Fund for Lake Michigan, a private foundation based in Milwaukee, was established in 2011as part of an agreement between We Energies, Madison Gas and Electric, WPPI Energy, Clean Wisconsin and Sierra Club to safeguard the lake and improve water quality in the region. The Fund has awarded more than $12 million in grants over the past four years for projects ranging from the restoration of Cat Island in Green Bay to the revitalization of Simmons Beach in Kenosha.