Cleveland Water Alliance

This month, we launched a fleet of Smart Buoys, expanded our telecommunications network coverage, partnered with local CMSD students through Argonaut, grew the Innovation Team, and more! An impressive kickoff to the 2024 Smart Lake Erie Watershed (SLEW) season! Read about all of our SLEW updates here: https://buff.ly/3yFPJD1

Bryan and Ebie enjoyed a trip to Ann Arbor to visit our partners at LimnoTech / Freeboard Technology as we prepare to launch a new smart buoy specifically outfitted for our Water Accelerator Testbed! This buoy, deploying today, will host a number of technologies from innovators across the world throughout our testbed season.

#ICYMI: Great Lakes Now had an inspiring conversation with Current Executive Director Alaina Harkness about the importance of partnership and innovation in protecting the #GreatLakes. Dialogues like these highlight the crucial and collaborative work groups like #GreatLakesReNEW are doing to secure our water sources. Check out the conversation via Great Lakes Now here:

What does a changing climate mean for Ohio? Join our friends at Midstory for a special event celebrating their “Colors of Climate Change” public exhibition highlighting many of our local Cleveland partners. The event will feature an interactive exhibit, booths from local and statewide stakeholders, a keynote speaker, and a panel discussion on climate storytelling. The event is free and open to all ages. RSVP here: https://lnkd.in/eJW8FEC4

Ebie recently visited partners throughout Ohio to check out potential sites for expanding our smart water work. We are excited to strengthen our footprint in the Ohio River Valley and participate in the urgent and necessary work around oil and chemical spills. Stay tuned for more developments and updates. Thanks to friends at Greater Cincinnati Water Works, ORSANCO, and Thomas More Biology Field Station for hosting us.

#ICYMI: Researchers are developing and testing magnetic mini robots to capture and remove microplastics and bacteria from water. CWA is continually seeking opportunities to accelerate groundbreaking solutions that remove hazardous materials from our water. Read more about this exciting and promising water technology via Water Online here: https://buff.ly/3WeYxIf

CWA is accelerating cutting-edge solutions for utilities and communities right here along Lake Erie, and the impact is making waves globally. Our pilot project with Avon Lake Regional Water is trialing a technology that allows for a safer, more reliable way to generate EPA-mandated water treating chemicals onsite, and aims to keep costs low for utilities and rate payers alike. This pilot marks the first time this technology is being used throughout North America. Check out this segment from WKYC Studios to learn more! https://lnkd.in/eSAQ-N6m

#ICYMI - Exciting News:  A team of researchers has developed a handheld device that accurately detects lead and other compounds in water. The promising technology offers a cost-effective and convenient rapid-testing method without requiring laboratory analysis. “There’s this problem that people don’t measure their water enough, especially in the developing countries…because they need to collect the water, prepare the sample, and bring it to these huge instruments that are extremely expensive. Having this handheld device, something compact that even untrained personnel can just bring to the source for on-site monitoring, at low costs [is revolutionary],” explains Luigi Ranno, MIT student and lead author of the study. Collaboration around innovative solutions like this is crucial to solve major water challenges. Read more via Technology Networks here:

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has warned that US drinking and wastewater facilities are seeing increasing cyberattacks. Systematic protocols, protections, and collaborative and innovative approaches are needed to secure our water resources. Read more about cybersecurity concerns via the Government Technology here:

The ability to detect lead service lines continues to be a pressing concern, especially amid upcoming EPA regulations requiring utilities to map their infrastructure. Cleveland Water Alliance is working to address public health and environmental safety concerns through our Open Innovation Challenge and our commitment to creating an environment that supports collaboration and innovation. Learn more about ways we're working to accelerate solutions here: