April 8, 2016 | By Barbara Vergetis Lundin

As the United States faces prolonged, unprecedented droughts and potential water shortages, innovation in the water space is an ongoing priority.

As such, the U.S. Water Alliance, an organization dedicated to promoting policies and programs to advance a sustainable water future, has named three organizations as winners of the 2016 U.S. Water Prize.

"While the challenges facing the water sector are great, our capacity of innovation and positive solutions is greater," said Radhika Fox, CEO of U.S. Water Alliance. "That's why the U.S. Water Alliance created the U.S. Water Prize -- the first of its kind recognition program that celebrates outstanding achievement in driving towards a sustainable water future."

Fox called the winners -- DC Water, Dow, and Emory University -- "true visionaries in the one water movement."

DC Water is utilizing novel technologies to change biosolids into energy and was named for its Walter F. Bailey Bioenergy Facility, which exemplifies a shift from treating used water as waste to leveraging it as a resource.

"This innovative facility is one water at work -- generating renewable power, producing exceptional quality biosolids, reducing our carbon footprint, increasing plant efficiency, and ultimately saving ratepayer dollars," said George Hawkins, general manager and CEO of DC Water.

Dow's Minimal Liquid Discharge model, based on proven water filtration technologies, is a sustainable and cost-effective way for companies to improve their water footprint -- enabling recovery of up to 95 percent of liquid discharges.

"Dow has a company-wide commitment to the circular economy model -- one that emphasizes the need to reduce, reuse, and reclaim our limited water resources," said Snehal Desai, global business director of Dow Water & Process Solutions.

The campus-scale water reclamation system at Emory University, WaterHub, is an on-site water recycling system on campus that utilizes eco-engineering processes to clean waste water for future non-potable uses -- and the first system of its kind to be installed in the United States. It is capable of recycling up to 400,000 gallons-per-day -- nearly 40 percent of Emory's total campus water needs.

"Through this project, we've shown how universities can play an important role in advancing sustainability nationwide," said Matthew Early, Emory's vice president for Campus Services. "Not only has the WaterHub had tremendous impact on how we think about water and how it is utilized on campus, it has also become a national model for those seeking innovative technology to address the global need for water conservation and sustainable solutions."

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