Water Systems
Description: Climate change and pollution hamper society’s needs for abundant, clean drinking water and flood-safe living conditions. Research to address water quality, flooding, and circular water systems that recover valuable components of wastewater is an existing and growing strength at Northwestern.
Rationale: Northwestern has multiple high-profile water quality, treatment, and supply projects including the ReNEW NSF Engine, the STRONG Manoomin project, and interactions with international universities covering technologies to reduce water scarcity.
Landscape: McCormick is unique in its role as an R1 engineering school on the shores of the largest source of surface freshwater in the world (the Great Lakes).
Vision: Cement and grow Northwestern’s leadership position in the timeless challenges of improving water quality, recovering nutrients and energy from wastewater, and reducing flooding in Great Lakes urban environments.