The Intelligent Water Systems Challenge is back for a second year to encourage participants to use innovation and data to help solve some of the most difficult issues facing water and wastewater utilities.
The 2019 Intelligent Water Systems Challenge, will run from Feb. 11 to Sept. 23, 2019. The challenege has three distinct portions:
- team registration (closes March 25)
- challenge plan submission (closes April 22)
- challenge solution submission (closes August 2)
The challenge will make general problem statements and example datasets available to participants, supplemented by webinars to introduce participants to each scenario's conditions and underlying systems. Scenarios will focus on collection systems, wastewater treatment systems, drinking water treatment systems, source waters/watersheds, and distribution networks.
Teams with innovative solutions will be invited to present their results in person at WEFTEC 2019 in Chicago for final judging. Winning teams will receive cash awards with the top team receiving $10,000.
“As we continue to support and promote innovation in the water sector, we are also looking for ways to integrate practical applications,” WEF Executive Director Eileen O’Neill said. “Our hope is that the Intelligent Water Challenge will demonstrate the value of intelligent water systems to utilities and help foster the adoption of smart water technologies.”
2018 Winners
In 2018, the team Open-Storm Detroit Dynamics earned the top prize. The team included two members from Great Lakes Water Authority in Detroit – Wendy Barrott and Christopher Nastally – and four members from the University of Michigan – Branko Kerkez, Sara Troutman, Abhiram Mullapudi, and Gregory Ewing.
The challenge — hosted by LIFT, a joint effort by The Water Research Foundation and the Water Environment Federation — is also supported by the American Water Works Association, Cleveland Water Alliance, International Society on Automation, Smart Water Networks Forum, The Water Council, and WaterTAP.
