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The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed are those of the Center author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.
Center Overview
The Water Equipment and Policy Center (WEP) focuses on creating new sensors and devices, novel materials, innovative systems, and water policies that will help change the way the world manages its acutely stressed water resources.
WEP focuses its water industry research on point of use and point of entry technologies, emerging contaminants, sustainability, reduced energy consumption, and the 'internet of things' for the consumer, industrial, and municipal markets. Because regulations significantly affect the adoption of new technologies in the water industry, WEP has a policy component as part of its mission.
The growing world population is overwhelming scarce water supplies, and climate change is making the situation worse. WEP is headquartered in southeastern Wisconsin, home to more than 150 companies serving the water industry. These companies collaborate in establishing the region as the Western Hemisphere's leading water technology cluster. Since its founding, WEP's universities have made significant investments in facilities and equipment and added scientists focused on water research. These facilities, labs, and equipment have been instrumental in developing WEP's core strengths.
Center Personnel
Qian Liao
Center Director
+1 414 229 4228
liao@uwm.edu
Deyang Qu
Center Staff
+1 414 229 4853
qud@uwm.edu
Daniel Zitomer
Center Staff
+1 414 288 7200
daniel.zitomer@mu.edu
Research Focus
WEP's data-driven research allows regulators to make informed policy decisions and connects today's water components and systems via the internet of things to build tomorrow's smart water systems. Research in sensors, materials, and environmental systems includes:
- Innovative materials that resist corrosion, reduce friction, and save energy in water treatment and distribution systems, and self-healing materials that automatically repair cracks that develop.
- Nutrient removal, advanced wastewater treatment, anaerobic digestion, and bioenergy generation.
- Real-time sensors that detect contaminants in water and wastewater systems, and remote locations.
Awards
Clean drinking water and sanitation are economic and policy issues that need to be addressed for sustainable growth of the US economy. A collaboration between University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Marquette University, the IUCRC for Water Equipment and Policy (WEP) provides innovative water technologies and processes to promote advancement of the water industry and conducts research to inform water policy makers. During Phase I and II, WEP has completed nearly 100 pre-competitive research projects in four thrust areas: water sensors, novel materials, innovative treatment systems, and water policy research. Through research, the WEP Center has provided innovative products and solutions to address industrial partners’ unmet/underserved needs in point-of-use technologies, emerging contaminants, sustainability, and energy conservation. In Phase III, the WEP Center aims to capitalize on past success, grow center research through new customer discovery, expand the research team through site additions, continuously refine the technology roadmap, explore new frontiers of water science for break-through technologies, and train a talented workforce to meet the nation’s needs in drinking water quality and wastewater management. The Marquette University site of WEP is comprised of researchers and facilities to develop the next generation of technologies to treat and protect drinking water and natural waters. On the shores of Lake Michigan in Milwaukee, WI, Marquette University water researchers work with regulators and industry representatives in equipment manufacturing, municipal utility, and chemical production to advance water technology and protect Great Lakes water. Researchers in civil and environmental engineering, electrical engineering, biological sciences, and law/policy collaborate to address contemporary challenges identified by Center members. WEP also seeks to train the next generation of water technology professionals. Member-driven research to address policy information needs is conducted by the Marquette University Law School's Water Law and Policy Initiative in collaboration with engineers and scientists. Unique resources and capabilities for collaborative research include the Marquette University Water Quality Center, the V. Clayton Lafferty Laboratory for Advanced Microsystems Research, and the Nanoscale Devices Laboratory where work is performed to develop novel processes and sensors for the water industry as well as to train students and postdoctoral researchers.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
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Clean drinking water and sanitation are economic and policy issues that need to be addressed for sustainable growth of the US economy. A collaboration between University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Marquette University, the IUCRC for Water Equipment and Policy (WEP) provides innovative water technologies and processes to promote advancement of the water industry and conducts research to inform water policy makers. During Phase I and II, WEP has completed nearly 100 pre-competitive research projects in four thrust areas: water sensors, novel materials, innovative treatment systems, and water policy research. Through research, the WEP Center has provided innovative products and solutions to address industrial partners’ unmet/underserved needs in point-of-use technologies, emerging contaminants, sustainability, and energy conservation. In Phase III, the WEP Center aims to capitalize on past success, grow center research through new customer discovery, expand the research team through site additions, continuously refine the technology roadmap, explore new frontiers of water science for break-through technologies, and train a talented workforce to meet the nation’s needs in drinking water quality and wastewater management.The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) is the Lead Site of the WEP IUCRC. The UWM site’s research thrust areas include: (1) low-cost, real-time, flow and water quality sensors for smart water infrastructure applications and consumer products that reduces water leaks and prevent contamination; (2) novel materials for water applications, such as non-toxic biocide coatings, anti-fouling and anti-corrosion surfaces, and membrane and absorbent-based water filtration materials; and (3) point-of-use water treatment systems that remove or destroy contaminants in drinking water, such as arsenic, bacteria, and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Research activities at the UWM site will benefit WEP members through improved product performance while also improving STEM education, promoting entrepreneurship, attracting underrepresented students, and training the future workforce for the growing water industry. Unique resources and capabilities for collaborative research include the UWM Water Technology Accelerator which is dedicated to turning research activities into commercial products with advanced fabrication processes; the Laboratory of Nanotechnology for Sustainable Energy and Environment; and the UWM Composites Center for Advanced Materials Manufacturing which creates novel superhydrophobic and self-healing materials.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
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This project supports the second Phase (five years) of the Water Equipment and Policy I/UCRC (WEP) headquartered in Southeastern Wisconsin, which is home to more than 150 local and international companies serving the water industry. Co-located at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (Lead institution) and Marquette University, the WEP research center serves as a catalyst for synergizing regional and global assets to create the next generation of products and processes to advance the water industry. WEP research focuses on creating new sensors and devices, novel materials, innovative water treatment systems, and water policies that will help change the way the world manages its acutely stressed water resources. The new sensing technologies will address major drawbacks of the existing water contaminant detection methods to provide early warning of water contamination and avoid catastrophes. New materials and processes are proposed for water conveyance systems which could reduce energy and water loss due to corrosion and leakage from water pipes. Projects focusing on water treatment systems will lead to new water filtration and reuse technologies through efficient and low-cost removal of contaminants. The water policy-related projects will develop policy components to assess risks, promote benefits, and identify opportunities to advance water technology. The envisioned projects will benefit potential and current WEP I/UCRC industry companies by enabling new or additional capabilities for their water equipment to increase product performance, market share, profits, and job creation. The proposed program aims to train the current and future workforce at the frontier of water equipment and policy. The proposed education plan also features proactive efforts to improve entrepreneurial engineering education; to attract underrepresented students, including women and minorities, into Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics fields; to integrate research and education; and to broadly disseminate water research and educational findings.Envisioned WEP projects can potentially lead to game-changing water technologies and policies to safeguard our water quality with sustainable approaches. WEP PIs will carry out research to advance water technologies in real-time sensors for detection of water contaminants, self-cleaning and self-healing materials that can reduce energy consumption and water leakage in water equipment and distribution systems, innovative water treatment systems that can address emerging contaminants while reducing energy and cost, and water policy that can inform policy makers. A portfolio of real-time sensing technologies has been proposed which includes optical fiber technology, single live cell technology, electrochemical technology, acoustic wave technology, and field-effect transistor technology. Novel surface microstructures and high-performance superhydrophobic concrete and coatings are proposed to minimize maintenance cost and pumping energy for water components. Self-healing and wear-resistant coatings are proposed to reduce water leakage. Novel photocatalytic nanomaterials are proposed for water treatment. Several technologies are proposed to address emerging contaminants such as pathogens and micropollutants and an advanced, rapid wet-weather treatment process is proposed to safely treat stormwater. A localized model will be developed to predict nutrient transport in Lake Michigan and inform decision making to minimize algal blooms, beach closures, and clogging of water intakes. Research also will be carried out to identify and analyze policy obstacles and opportunities to develop, commercialize, and expand emerging water technologies and intensive urban aquaculture projects.
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This project supports the second Phase (five years) of the Water Equipment and Policy I/UCRC (WEP) headquartered in Southeastern Wisconsin, which is home to more than 150 local and international companies serving the water industry. Co-located at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (Lead institution) and Marquette University, the WEP research center serves as a catalyst for synergizing regional and global assets to create the next generation of products and processes to advance the water industry. WEP research focuses on creating new sensors and devices, novel materials, innovative water treatment systems, and water policies that will help change the way the world manages its acutely stressed water resources. The new sensing technologies will address major drawbacks of the existing water contaminant detection methods to provide early warning of water contamination and avoid catastrophes. New materials and processes are proposed for water conveyance systems which could reduce energy and water loss due to corrosion and leakage from water pipes. Projects focusing on water treatment systems will lead to new water filtration and reuse technologies through efficient and low-cost removal of contaminants. The water policy-related projects will develop policy components to assess risks, promote benefits, and identify opportunities to advance water technology. The envisioned projects will benefit potential and current WEP I/UCRC industry companies by enabling new or additional capabilities for their water equipment to increase product performance, market share, profits, and job creation. The proposed program aims to train the current and future workforce at the frontier of water equipment and policy. The proposed education plan also features proactive efforts to improve entrepreneurial engineering education; to attract underrepresented students, including women and minorities, into Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics fields; to integrate research and education; and to broadly disseminate water research and educational findings.Envisioned WEP projects can potentially lead to game-changing water technologies and policies to safeguard our water quality with sustainable approaches. WEP PIs will carry out research to advance water technologies in real-time sensors for detection of water contaminants, self-cleaning and self-healing materials that can reduce energy consumption and water leakage in water equipment and distribution systems, innovative water treatment systems that can address emerging contaminants while reducing energy and cost, and water policy that can inform policy makers. A portfolio of real-time sensing technologies has been proposed which includes optical fiber technology, single live cell technology, electrochemical technology, acoustic wave technology, and field-effect transistor technology. Novel surface microstructures and high-performance superhydrophobic concrete and coatings are proposed to minimize maintenance cost and pumping energy for water components. Self-healing and wear-resistant coatings are proposed to reduce water leakage. Novel photocatalytic nanomaterials are proposed for water treatment. Several technologies are proposed to address emerging contaminants such as pathogens and micropollutants and an advanced, rapid wet-weather treatment process is proposed to safely treat stormwater. A localized model will be developed to predict nutrient transport in Lake Michigan and inform decision making to minimize algal blooms, beach closures, and clogging of water intakes. Research also will be carried out to identify and analyze policy obstacles and opportunities to develop, commercialize, and expand emerging water technologies and intensive urban aquaculture projects.
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Member Organizations
IUCRC affiliated member organizations are displayed as submitted by the Center. Non-federal organizations are not selected, approved, or otherwise endorsed by the National Science Foundation.- A O Smith
- Badger Meter
- GE Appliances
- Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District
- New Water
- Pentair Water
- Sentry Equipment
- Sloan
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- Watts Water
- Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources