Siemens entered into an agreement with The Water Tower, Gwinnett County’s new water innovation center, to be an active founding partner on campus. Siemens, known internationally as a technology powerhouse in the water sector, joins a small group of founding partners who will work to ensure a successful start to the water innovation center.
The Water Tower, which launched in September 2019, is built upon a network of water industry partners comprised of startups, established companies, and utilities. The state-of-the-art campus is adjacent to the F. Wayne Hill Water Resources Center and will offer a mix of research, technology demonstration, training and public outreach facilities. The Water Tower has set out to solve regional and industry-wide problems via relevant applied research and development by providing access to assets in Gwinnett County including labs, pump stations, treatment plants, and distribution and collection systems.
“The Water Tower’s mission to make a positive impact on the water industry fits perfectly with Siemens' goals. We look forward to helping the center’s team with their R&D efforts and providing critical industry feedback to help them succeed,” said Raj Batra, President of Siemens Digital Industries US Operating Company. “Not only will Siemens utilize the center as a technology showcase and a supportive environment for our R&D activities, but the center will also be a connection to new ideas and innovations, as well as a focal training point where we can help address the workforce needs of tomorrow.”
“As we target new startups, having a company like Siemens onboard will provide excellent resources and support, allowing ideas to become solutions to today’s critical water challenges,” said Melissa Meeker, CEO of The Water Tower. She continued, “Siemens is helping us to hit the ground running with state-of-the-art technologies for testing and training. This is a major plus for Gwinnett County and our campus.”
The Water Tower is a new breed of innovation center providing answers to a multitude of complex challenges facing the water industry through an integrated approach to applied research, technology innovation, workforce development, and stakeholder engagement. With its mission of global education and information on new water technology and best practices, The Water Tower is especially invested in helping utilities devise strategies to benefit from digital advancements in water supply and quality. Ongoing construction at The Water Tower will feature wet and dry laboratory spaces, classrooms, and a demonstration bay fed by multiple streams to enable water treatment and monitoring experimentation. It also incorporates urban water distribution infrastructure and enables collaborating utilities to experiment and assess new monitoring equipment, such as in-flow sensors and meters, and devices such as pumps and valves. For more information visit www.theh2otower.org.
