A Circular Water Economy

If you are concerned about water on our planet, you might take heart from a recent gathering of over 100 experts and interested parties who are looking for ways to protect this precious resource. The Advancing a Circular Water Economy Symposium was held June 10 at the University of Minnesota. Representatives from academia, industry, government, and the public gathered to discuss our planet’s increasing water stress and the challenges and opportunities associated with reuse, recovery and recharge of water – especially related to industrial, municipal, and urban infrastructure. This symposium, supported by NSF, is part of an ongoing effort by UMN researchers to create knowledge and awareness, test and apply technology platforms, and ensure equitable use of and access to water resources. The University of Minnesota team leading this effort includes Bill Arnold (Lead Principal Investigator), Al Aksan, Marc Hillmyer, Paige Novak, Tim Smith, and Jeff Standish. The interdisciplinary group of stakeholders is tasked with identifying a path forward and establishing a center of innovative engineering that would enable and accelerate a transition to a circular water economy: reuse, recovery and recharge of Earth’s water. Each of those phases need to address technology, systems thinking, and water equity.

Participants of the event expressed their satisfaction:

“As a non engineer, I found the talks still quite relatable, and they all told me “why” in addition to “what”. Great job!.”
- Amy Skoczlas Cole, The Water Main - America Public Media

“The Symposium certainly broadened my perspective and I left optimistic about opportunities.”
- Tim Gieseke, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

“The conference that you presented this past Monday was excellent. It was amazing the level and caliber of people that you were able to assemble. Very much state of the art lectures and high marks for real world relevance.”
- Rick Carlson, Creative Water Solutions