Cleveland Water Alliance

05/28/2026

We’re celebrating Diane Quimper-Balliett’s 4-year anniversary at Cleveland Water Alliance! 🎉

As our Office and Internal Operations Manager, Diane is the engine behind our daily operations. She ensures a welcoming experience for our team and contractors, managing everything from end-to-end onboarding to building the processes that allow our organization to scale.

Join us in congratulating Diane on this milestone!

05/27/2026

Putting New Technology to the Test 🚀

Zach Gordon of Freeboard Technology shares that he’s excited to test new technology and watch those innovations mature while working with our network of CWA partner host sites to deploy across the lake this season.

05/26/2026

CWA’s Max Herzog recently joined our partners at the Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati - MSD and Hamilton County Soil and Water Conservation District for their Regional Water Quality Forum! 🌊📈

Max highlighted how we are expanding our Smart Lake Erie Watershed infrastructure downstate with partners at Cincinnati MSD, Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO), and Thomas More University. He also discussed our Lake Erie Volunteer Science Network as a model for how regional collaboration can amplify the impact of local water monitoring.

05/25/2026

As we enjoy the start of the recreation season on Lake Erie and across the Great Lakes, we honor the courage and service of those who gave their lives for our country. We wish you a safe and meaningful Memorial Day. 🇺🇸 🌊

05/21/2026

Water monitoring has historically been limited in winter conditions, creating a critical gap in year-round data. Cleveland Water Alliance is working to bridge this gap by advancing resilient technology capable of performing in the most extreme environments. ❄️📊

From November through April, we tested CSignum’s underwater telemetry at Old Woman Creek National Estuarine Research Reserve. Their device uses electromagnetic field signaling to transmit data through ice and water.

This technology ensures a continuous stream of data throughout the winter, enabling the real-time detection of environmental threats like oil spills or chemical runoff even when the lake is frozen over. Through our testbed, we helped CSignum trial and validate their solution in real-world conditions, scaling the innovations that fill vital needs in the water tech market.

Learn more about their deployment: https://www.clevelandwateralliance.org/blog/filling-critical-data-gaps-with-winter-water-tech

05/21/2026

‼️ Funding and Support Opportunity ‼️

Applications for the Great Lakes Innovation Accelerator’s Summer Cohort close May 31st!

Supported by the U.S. Department of Commerce and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), program lead gener8tor provides participating founders with extensive mentoring, investment coaching, and $100,000 in non-dilutive funding. In 2025, this initiative drove nearly $1M in investment to Great Lakes water technology.

Cleveland Water Alliance is proud to support GLIA through access to our testbed infrastructure, entrepreneurial mentoring, and custom commercialization support - connecting these companies with trial sites, strategic partnerships, and market insights to accelerate commercialization.

Learn more and apply by May 31st:

The gener8tor Great Lakes Innovation Accelerator helps founders working on innovative water technology build lasting companies that enhance the Great Lakes region's economic and environmental resilience.

05/20/2026

Cleveland Water Alliance is heading to Singapore International Water Week (SIWW) 2026! 🇸🇬

As one of the world’s premier global platforms for water innovation, SIWW gathers thousands of leaders and experts from across the globe to share the latest in water technology and management.

Our Deputy Director of Programs and Partnerships, Max Herzog, will be featured in the program:

Presentation: "Water Accelerator Testbeds: Demonstrating the Next Generation of Innovative Technology" (Session TS 1.6: Walking through the Digital Door to AI-doption | Weds. June 17, 16:00-17:30 SGT)

Poster: "Smart Lake Erie Watershed Initiative: Enabling Data-Driven Water Management and Innovation Across a Great Lake."

If you’re attending SIWW and would like to meet with CWA, reach out to our team!

05/19/2026

Our team had a great time at Chicago Water Week! 🌊🏙️

It was great to catch up with partners from Current, Great Lakes RENEW, and gener8tor, and to attend the Great Lakes Innovation Accelerator's Startup Showcase. It was interesting to hear pitches from the Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 cohorts as they presented their technologies designed to address our region’s most pressing water challenges.

As a partner in the Great Lakes Innovation Accelerator (GLIA), we’re proud to support these innovators by providing the resources and expertise they need to scale their technologies and drive real impact across the Great Lakes. We also enjoyed joining the kickoff meeting for GLIA’s Cohort 4 and can't wait to see what’s next!

05/18/2026

Last chance to register! ⏳

Don’t miss our deep dive into Innovations in HABs Mitigation, happening tomorrow, Tuesday, May 19th at 12 PM ET.

As Harmful Algal Blooms continue to impact the Great Lakes and beyond, we are moving past traditional methods to explore a new generation of technology. Join Cleveland Water Alliance and the Great Lakes Commission HABs Collaborative to see how these advancements are reshaping water quality management.

What you’ll learn:
-Recent technological advancements in HAB mitigation.
-How industry leaders are navigating the shift toward next-generation solutions.
-Collaborative strategies to protect our most critical water resources.

Register now to secure your spot: https://www.clevelandwateralliance.org/event/innovations-in-habs-mitigation-2026

05/14/2026

CWA had a great time tabling at Cleveland Water's Drinking Water Week Open House this past weekend! 🌊🚰

It was wonderful to join the community and other water professionals at the Crown Water Treatment Plant to celebrate the vital role water plays in our lives. Visitors enjoyed guided tours of the facility and interactive exhibits that highlighted what it takes to keep our water safe and clean.