Cleveland Water Alliance

On this World Environment Day, we’re highlighting the power of collaboration and technology in environmental stewardship. 🌊🌱

Through our various programming, like the Lake Erie Volunteer Science Network (LEVSN), we empower communities with vital data to safeguard our water. Together, we are building a more resilient future for the Great Lakes ecosystem!

CWA's Ebie Holst recently spoke on the "From Water to Air to Orbit: The Future of Connectivity Is Here" panel at the “On The Edge” Annual Meeting! 💡

It was a great opportunity to connect with manufacturers, tech leaders, researchers, and innovators. It’s exciting to see the momentum and cross-sector innovation happening across Ohio. 🚀

The 2026 Testbed Season is officially underway!

From AI-powered HABs toxicity detection to non-invasive Lead Service Line locating, Cleveland Water Alliance is advancing the next generation of water technology to meet critical market needs.

CWA helps bridge the gap between initial development and market entry. By utilizing a robust network of diverse environments, including lakes, streams, utilities, and lab settings, we provide the real-world validation and business support necessary to advance innovation.

Learn more about some of the innovative tech we’re trialing this year: https://www.clevelandwateralliance.org/blog/a-first-look-at-the-2026-testbed-technologies

CWA’s Emily Hamilton will be speaking at American Water Works Association ACE26 in Washington, D.C.!

🎤 Session: Water Accelerator Testbeds - Driving Innovation in the Great Lakes

🗓️ Wednesday, June 24th | 2:15 PM EDT

In this session, Emily will explore how Cleveland Water Alliance is tackling the industry's inherent risk aversion by turning Lake Erie into the world's largest digitally connected freshwater body. She’ll share how our $5M+ investment in technical and entrepreneurial infrastructure provides a powerful testbed for trialing, commercializing, and promoting water innovations.

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

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!

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.

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. 🇺🇸 🌊

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