Cincinnati Innovates Announces the Winners of Its First Water Sensor Challenge
Cincinnati Innovates has announced the winners of its first $10,000 Water Sensor Challenge. The challenge solicited ideas for a new generation of low-cost, low-maintenance, wireless water level sensors to help utilities meet sanitary and combined sewer overflow requirements set by the Clean Water Act.
• Krishna Priya of India won a first prize award of $6,000 for a sensor solution that combines two types of sensors to generate more accurate detection of overflow incidents. A prototype exists and is ready to be tested.
• Tamus Szalay of the United States and Andre Villemaire of Canada will receive $2,000 for their technologies that connect low-cost sensors with well-established communications systems to provide real time monitoring.
The Water Challenge was a collaboration between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati Innovates, InnoCentive, Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati (MSD) and Sanitation District No. 1 of Northern Kentucky (SD1), Stantec, and Confluence.
Judges chose the winners from 56 entries. Submissions came from countries including Afghanistan, Denmark, India, China and Uganda.
The Cincinnati Innovates competition has provided more than $350,000 in grant awards to date.
“The goal of Cincinnati Innovates is to highlight the incredible commitment to innovation and collaboration we have right here in Cincinnati,” said Cincinnati Innovates founder Elizabeth Edwards.
“With the one of the largest water research labs in the country, this region is a driver of water innovation – and this award is just one example.”
