The Future of Water in New York: Launching the Environmental Tech Lab
New York City tap water is world-renowned for its quality, and New York Harbor is the cleanest it’s been in 100 years. We want to keep it that way.
From fire hydrants to water mains, New York’s water system is the largest unfiltered water supply in the United States. But as climate change brings new risks to the fore, innovative solutions will be critical to improving utility management, preserving water quality and preparing for future challenges.
That’s why the NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) joined the Partnership Fund for New York City to launch the Environmental Tech Lab (ETL). With the goal of making New York a global leader in water, the ETL is a public-private partnership established to address complex DEP challenges while creating a streamlined testing process for new technologies.
In June, the ETL announced a call for applications for its inaugural challenge competition with two focus areas:
- Data Challenge: How can DEP better utilize data and technology to automate operations and increase staff capacity?
- Operational Efficiency Challenge: How can DEP enhance its management of assets via improved operational efficiencies and predictive maintenance?
Applications are open through August 23 and can be found here. To learn more about applying, interested applicants are invited to a virtual information session on Wednesday, July 26.
About the Program
The Environmental Tech Lab offers startup and growth-stage companies an expedited path to test their technologies, get feedback and mentorship from senior DEP leadership, and gain access to key decision makers from the DEP.
Following a competitive application process, selected companies will participate in an eight-week proof-of-concept phase where DEP will conduct a minimally viable test to evaluate each solution and its value proposition. Afterward, companies with the most compelling solutions will be selected for a yearlong pilot to deploy their solutions at scale.
If you know an emerging company working on a relevant technology solution for this year’s Environmental Tech Lab, let us know via this short nomination form or encourage them to apply directly using this link: https://envirotechlab.nyc/challenges
1 Billion Gallons and 2,000 Square Miles of Opportunity
Water is an everyday yet finite resource primed for innovation, and there’s no better landscape to explore this opportunity than in New York.
The New York City water supply system spans 2,000 square miles in upstate New York and delivers one billion gallons of safe drinking water daily to New York City’s 8.5 million residents. To preserve this extensive network, the DEP is taking important steps to build a resilient future for New York’s water system by tapping the global innovation sector to explore new technologies and accelerate improvements.
As a global tech hub, New York attracts world-class technology across all sectors. Through the Environmental Tech Lab, we are excited to help bring that innovation to the public sector while unlocking opportunities for emerging technology companies looking to solve civic challenges.
Through the leadership of DEP, the Environmental Tech Lab will set the pace for water and wastewater innovation and create a replicable model for other cities in the U.S. and globally as they respond to climate change and tackle pressing environmental needs.
More on the Environmental Tech Lab
- Flooding | By Fred Wilson, AVC
- NYC Environmental Tech Lab issues first challenge: Here’s the problems it’s looking to solve | By Joseph Ostapuik, SI Advance
- NYC invites tech startups to tackle municipal water challenges | By Christian Bonawandt, Water Online
