The Water Council is inviting applications for its Fall 2025 Tech Challenge, focusing on innovations that improve water quality management and enable smarter, faster decision-making in water systems.
The semi-annual competition is open to researchers, entrepreneurs, startups and established companies. Participants compete for a prize of up to $10,000 and, more importantly, the chance to present their solutions to leading water technology companies, potentially paving the way for partnerships and commercial development.
Challenge sponsors include A. O. Smith Corporation, Badger Meter, Watts Water Technologies, and Xylem. Finalists will present directly to research and development teams from the sponsor companies.
Katie Kollhoff Mouat, director of innovation programs at The Water Council, explained: “We selected a broader topic this session than we typically do. We want to cast a wider net to expose our industry partners to innovative solutions that we might not catch in a more targeted challenge.”
The scope of the Fall 2025 challenge covers technology solutions, systems, processes, or tools that provide decision-making support for water quality at any stage of the water cycle related to human consumption — from drinking water to wastewater treatment, across residential, commercial and utility-scale applications. Eligible solutions should be at technology readiness level (TRL) 3 or higher.
Applications are due by October 10, 2025. Since its launch in 2019, the Tech Challenge has awarded $240,000 in funding to 24 innovators from 11 countries.
