The Results
Learn more about the Winner and other top-scoring solutions.
Finalists
Finalists were awarded $115,000 each to build a functioning prototype. The remaining $100,000 prize purse was split between the remaining four finalists based on demonstration testing performance, innovation, and potential for full-scale implementation.
Pacifica Water Solutions, LLC
Groundwater Desalination Using Electrically Conducting Reverse Osmosis (ECRO) Anti-Scaling Membranes
Northridge, CA
The ECRO membrane technology minimizes the scaling and fouling potential of challenging feed waters resulting in enhanced water recovery, and reduced brine generation, reduced footprint.
Learn MoreAIL Research
BrineZero: Opening new water resources through cost-effective waste-brine disposal
Hopewell, NJ
BrineZero can achieve the aggressive goal of concentrating brine at under $3.50 per cubic meter through an innovative, highly efficient thermal distillation process.
Learn MoreMembrion, Inc.
Ceramic ion exchange membranes towards scaling resistant electrodialysis reversal
Seattle, WA
Electrodialysis reversal (EDR), enhanced by scaling resistant ceramic ion exchange membranes, can lead to as much as 99.2% water recovery at < 4 kW/m3 when combined with RO.
Learn MoreUniversity of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) Center for Inland Desalination Systems (CIDS)
Double-bonus: high-recovery concentrate treatment with salt-free electrodialysis metathesis (EDM)
El Paso, TX
Salt-free EDM produces two very high salinity concentrate streams (enabling >98% system recovery), and the EDM product can be blended with RO product.
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