Technology Development Cluster
Overview
Often similar types of end-users face common water management challenges. For example, many municipalities are faced with nutrient reduction challenges or extending the life of existing infrastructure. Industries may have competing products in the marketplace but face similar types of water management challenges in their production processes. Where there is a common and costly water management challenge, end-users along with technology vendors and other stakeholders could collaboratively partner de-risk new technology to solve their water management pain point. Technology Development Clusters form around solving end-user problems with developing or late-stage pre-commercial novel technology.
Previous Technology Development Cluster
Net Zero Wastewater Treatment Plants in Ontario
Through strategic collaboration OWC facilitated a cluster that has fueled technology development and validation, end-user interest, and influenced key policy drivers for this opportunity. This has not only helped to enable the construction of Canada’s first net-zero energy wastewater treatment plant in Stratford, Ontario (that will use advanced anaerobic digestion technology to maximize biogas production by co-digesting municipal organic waste and wastewater treatment plant sludge) but created opportunity and interest among other Ontario municipalities to proceed with similar initiatives.
"Under Construction" Technology Development Clusters
Collection System of the Future
The Collection System of the Future Technology Development Cluster will focus on improving the efficiency, sustainability, and management of wastewater and/or combined sewer collection systems, while potentially extending asset life and optimizing asset management. Innovative technology solutions may be for any physical, chemical, or biological aspects of an urban sewershed – from conveyance and pumping to biological and chemical processes and treatments.