Boost Your Water Technology
Spring 2026 Tech Challenge
We are seeking AI-native technologies that form the building blocks of a cognitive water ecosystem. These AI-native tools and systems should improve how water is sensed, treated, moved, recovered and managed—shifting systems from reactive and fragmented to more reliable, efficient and sustainable. Every submission must include a clear AI element that strengthens prediction, automation, optimization or decision-making.Â
DEADLINE: April 3, 2026
Building the future of water with AI-native technologies
This challenge is geared toward innovators building modular, AI-native components at or above TRL 3 that can plug into a cognitive water ecosystem. We are seeking:
- Prototype-ready technologies or beyond
- Demonstrable performance in relevant environments
- Clear integration pathways with utilities or industrial applications AI as a foundational design principle
Eligible and Ineligible Solution Areas
Solutions related to data center cooling, digital water platforms and foam fractionation are NOT of interest.
Eligible concepts may include, but are not limited to, the areas below.
Molecular Intelligence & Green Synthesis
Technologies that include AI to improve water testing and treatment by:
- Identifying chemicals in water quickly without using traditional chemical reagents
- Forecasting when new contaminants may appear or when treatment processes drift off target
- Exploring cleaner, low-chemical approaches to disinfection and water treatment chemical approaches to disinfection and water treatment
Autonomous Infrastructure & Self-Healing Networks
AI-powered tools that enable autonomous monitoring and network resilience, such as:
- Edge-AI devices using acoustic, pressure or thermal signatures for leak and anomaly detection
- Dynamic digital twins that continuously update from sensor data
- Predictive maintenance models that identify failures before they occur
Resource Stewardship
AI-supported approaches that help water facilities recover useful materials and operate more sustainably by:
- Capturing nutrients, minerals, biosolids, heat or energy that would otherwise be wasted
- Improving processes like nutrient recovery, biogas production, water reuse or electrochemical treatment
- Using models to measure environmental impacts and understand how water systems connect with other sectors
Cognitive Conservation & Economic Optimization
AI-based tools that help utilities run more efficiently and reduce waste by:
- Combining and analyzing data from multiple sources to detect unusual patterns
- Optimizing energy use, chemical dosing, pumping schedules and asset lifecycles
- Identifying where water, energy and money are being wasted—and how to reduce those losses
Technological Readiness
We seek solutions at or above TRL 3. At a minimum, the technology should have a functional prototype or lab-validated process, trained/verified AI components, and evidence of early-stage integration or pilot-scale viability.
Sponsors
