The Water Council's Fall 2026 Tech Challenge, focused on chemical-free, low-cost aqueous sensing, is open NOW for global applications. Learn mor...
Published by Karen Frost, Executive Director - The Water Council
The Water Council's Fall 2026 Tech Challenge, focused on chemical-free, low-cost aqueous sensing, is open NOW for global applications. Learn more or apply https://thewatercouncil.com/open-innovation-programs/
This great opportunity, sponsored by Badger Meter, Watts Water, and Xylem, focuses on innovative sensing technologies that can move water quality monitoring from centralized lab testing to continuous, distributed sensing — without the cost, waste, and calibration headaches of reagent-based instruments.
We're looking for technologies (TRL 3+) that are:
Chemical-free or reagent-free — electrochemical, optical/spectral, chemiresistive, or photonic approaches all welcome
Low-cost and designed for multi-point, distributed deployment
Aqueous — validated (or on a credible path to validation) in real water, not just buffer or synthetic solutions.
Parameters of interest include disinfection residuals, nitrate/nitrite, heavy metals (lead, copper, cadmium), PFAS or PFAS surrogates, microbial indicators, and general water quality parameters where the innovation is in cost or reagent elimination. Applications spanning drinking water, premise plumbing, and wastewater/sewer-side monitoring are all welcome.
Who Should Apply
Startups, academic research teams, national labs, and independent inventors — a formal company isn't required, but applicants should be able to speak to a realistic commercialization path.
What Applicants Receive
Top cash prizes up to $10,000
Direct access to sponsor R&D teams for finalists
Key Dates
Information session September 15, 2026
Submission Deadline October 2, 2026
Finalist virtual pitches November 10-18, 2026
Winner announced January 2027
This great opportunity, sponsored by Badger Meter, Watts Water, and Xylem, focuses on innovative sensing technologies that can move water quality monitoring from centralized lab testing to continuous, distributed sensing — without the cost, waste, and calibration headaches of reagent-based instruments.
We're looking for technologies (TRL 3+) that are:
Chemical-free or reagent-free — electrochemical, optical/spectral, chemiresistive, or photonic approaches all welcome
Low-cost and designed for multi-point, distributed deployment
Aqueous — validated (or on a credible path to validation) in real water, not just buffer or synthetic solutions.
Parameters of interest include disinfection residuals, nitrate/nitrite, heavy metals (lead, copper, cadmium), PFAS or PFAS surrogates, microbial indicators, and general water quality parameters where the innovation is in cost or reagent elimination. Applications spanning drinking water, premise plumbing, and wastewater/sewer-side monitoring are all welcome.
Who Should Apply
Startups, academic research teams, national labs, and independent inventors — a formal company isn't required, but applicants should be able to speak to a realistic commercialization path.
What Applicants Receive
Top cash prizes up to $10,000
Direct access to sponsor R&D teams for finalists
Key Dates
Information session September 15, 2026
Submission Deadline October 2, 2026
Finalist virtual pitches November 10-18, 2026
Winner announced January 2027
Tags
- Sensor Systems
- Sensors
- Water Quality Monitoring Sensor