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Current Launches Chicago Water Week to Explore Regional Challenges and Solutions

Chicago Water Week

Chicago Water Week will highlight the city’s innovative, cross-sector water leaders from September 28 to October 2. Current, Chicago’s nonprofit water innovation hub, will provide five days of events and programming to educate participants about water-related challenges in the Chicago region and highlight leaders working to solve them. Presentations will cover artificial intelligence in water research, jobs in the blue economy, Lake Michigan water quality monitoring, investment trends, emerging technologies, and more.

“Chicago’s water assets stretch well beyond Lake Michigan and our rivers, meaning our water challenges can’t be addressed by any one sector alone,” said Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot. “By collaborating with our industry leaders, researchers, environmental advocates, start-ups, and utilities, we will further develop the economic strength and environmental resiliency we need to tackle these challenges head-on.”

Chicago Water Week, presented by Greeley and Hansen, is made possible by Current’s program partners and supporters, including the City of Chicago, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, Argonne National Laboratory, Center for Neighborhood Technology, Faith in Place, Fermilab, Illinois Environmental Council, Metropolitan Planning Council, Northwestern University, University of Chicago, University of Illinois at Chicago, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Water Environment Federation's Technical Exhibition and Conference (WEFTEC), Illinois Section American Water Works Association, Sierra Club Illinois Chapter, Halo, Chi Hack Night, Flow, Third Coast Disrupted, Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University of Chicago, Surge for Water, Shedd Aquarium, Consulate General of Denmark Trade Council, LIFT Committee of Illinois Water Environment Association, and World Business Chicago.

Current’s mission is to grow Chicago’s and Illinois' blue economy – the companies developing innovative water technologies and industries that use them – to build solutions that will solve the world’s water challenges. Launched in 2016 as a nonprofit water innovation hub, Current is headquartered in Chicago, IL. They are a collaborative that leverages partnerships with the state’s world-class utilities, research institutions, industries, and innovation community for global environmental and economic impacts. As a cross-sector connector of local and global water sector stakeholders, they build networks, organize events and convenings, and help develop pilot projects in real-world settings to solve persistent local water challenges.

For more information, visit CurrentWater.org/chicago-water-week.