Background:
Water resources are under increasing human pressures and water
sustainability is recognized as one of ultimate challenges for the 21 st Century
(i.e. ‘blue’ is the new gold). In particular, escalating land use changes over
the last 50 years have created ‘paved’ landscapes that block water from being
absorbed and filtered by the earth. As a result, the water that runs off our
homes, streets, businesses and farms is one of the leading causes of
pollution to our waterways and threatens our food and water supplies. This is
a global multi-billion dollar environmental crisis that must be addressed.
Statement of Problem:
Recently the use of low-impact ‘green’ infrastructure such as rain gardens and
bioswales has been gaining wide attention as a cost-effective approach for
managing this runoff and protecting our water resources. These systems
provide on-site management of water runoff, thereby reducing financial
burdens on municipalities and regulatory agencies. Unlike conventional ‘grey’
infrastructure (i.e. pipes and pumps), retention ponds, and constructed
wetlands these systems do not require a large land footprint. But, in their
current design, these green infrastructure approaches are passive and their
effectiveness for water interception and pollutant removal is variable and
inconsistent. Their potential to adequately address water management needs
is therefore compromised.
Potential Solution:
FAMU researchers have developed a novel ecosystem-based water retention
and re-use system (“eco-WARES”; patent pending) technology that gives
these green infrastructure approaches a needed boost to significantly and
consistently improve their effectiveness. When incorporated into the design of
rain gardens and bioswales, eco-WARES ‘activates’ these systems to control
water retention times and soil conditions and thus maximizes pollutant
removal efficiencies as well as allows for water storage and reuse. eco-
WARES can be used for small scale residential applications to larger
municipal, agricultural, and industrial installations. It is a simple, cost effective
augmentation solution to green infrastructure approaches that effectively
addresses water management needs.
Commercialization Status:
eco-WARES technology has been tested both in the laboratory and in the
field and, while environmental and socioeconomic assessments of the system
in different geographical and climactic settings continues (funded by NOAA), it
is ready for commercialization. We are seeking investors, collaborators, and
potential channel partners to help bring this technology to market.
Brochure
