One Water Solutions Institute
Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering
The Water Technology Accelerator Platform (Water TAP) is the nation’s first plug-and-play testbed dedicated to advancing fit-for-purpose water. Designed to bridge the gap between research and implementation, Water TAP engages partners through four interconnected pillars: technological innovation, training and technical assistance, workforce development, and community of practice.
University-run, public-facing, and sector-balanced, Water TAP offers a trusted environment for applied research, stakeholder engagement, and talent development. With scalable, modular infrastructure and expertise spanning fit-for-purpose water, reuse and resource recovery, monitoring, regulatory readiness, stormwater innovation, and pilot integration, Water TAP transforms promising ideas into practical solutions that strengthen resilience, efficiency, and water security.
The 1,850 square-foot Water TAP laboratory includes onsite access to real urban stormwater, graywater, and roof runoff. The lab is also equipped with a flexible 10,000-gallon storage tank that can accept water trucked in from a variety of sources and offsite locations (e.g., produced water from oil and gas, industrial wastewater, treated wastewater).
Water TAP is equipped with an indoor high bay space as well as the adjacent “Backyard” – a 33,500 sq ft outdoor research and educational space with pilot-scale bioretention test plots and green stormwater infrastructure.
This page provides a high-level overview of Water TAP’s core infrastructure and equipment, organized by water source and demonstration projects. It highlights functionality, daily flow rates, maximum storage capacity, and how project sponsors can engage with these resources.
Pilot-scale treatment and use of graywater collected in Hydro for toilet flushing, equipped with biological treatment, storage, disinfection, and monitoring.
Capture, storage, filtration, and use of rooftop runoff (precipitation) for irrigation and pilot projects.
Water TAP provides controlled access to diverse, real-world water sources that reflect the full spectrum of urban, industrial, and natural systems. Each source is independently plumbed and monitored, allowing partners to evaluate treatment performance, monitoring technologies, and reuse applications under realistic operating conditions.
Description: Urban stormwater diversion for collection in a storage tank that feeds green infrastructure in Hydro backyard (outdoor) and pilot scale systems inside the Water TAP lab (indoor).
Highlights
Key Components: Storage vaults, submersible pump (Weil Model 1451) to supply water for indoor and outdoor use (17 gpm), level sensor (In-Situ Troll 700h), experimental feed water distribution system containing, (a) 1,000-gal storage, (b) automated ultrafiltration feed supply, and, (c) five (5) v-port flow control ball valves, enabling side-by-side performance evaluation of up to six different technologies fed by a single water supply source..
Maximum Storage Capacity:
Continuous Monitoring Technology:
Description: Water from handwashing and showers collected to supply graywater for treatment and monitoring studies.
Highlights
Key Components: Collection tanks with a valve for diversion to supply pilot treatment and monitoring systems.
Maximum Storage Capacity: 240 gallons (collection tank)
Description: Runoff from Hydro building roof collected for treatment and monitoring studies.
Highlights
Key Components: Indoor and outdoor storage of collected rainwater to supply treatment and monitoring systems.
Maximum Storage Capacity: One 1000-gallon indoor storage tanks and one 3,400-gallon outdoor storage tank (total combined indoor/outdoor storage = 4,400 gallon)
Continuous Monitoring Technology:
Description: Storage and supply of offsite water sources (e.g., produced water, treated wastewater, food processing wastewater) for treatment and monitoring studies.
Highlights
Key Components: Outdoor storage tank (10,000 gallons) connected to experimental feed water distribution system containing (a) 1,000-gal storage, (b) automated ultrafiltration feed supply, and, (c) five (5) v-port flow control ball valves, enabling side-by-side performance evaluation of up to six different technologies fed by a single water supply source.
Maximum Storage Capacity:
Continuous Monitoring Technology:
Description: Ready access to South Platte River with ability to pump this raw surface water into Water TAP.
The CSU Spur Hydro Backyard functions as a living laboratory where scientists study plant health, water quality, green infrastructure, urban agriculture, and more.
The outdoor space features landscape architecture representing the state’s major watersheds and allows visitors to enjoy the Colorado sunshine while connecting with educational opportunities and interactive, rotating programming.
The Water TAP is equipped with two outdoor pilot-scale test plots specifically designed to assess performance of different nature-based solution media. A 10,000-gallon storage tank collects urban stormwater which can be pumped into the test plots to simulate storm events.
Each test plot contains the same five bioretention species common to Colorado’s Front Range—sunset hyssop, Rocky Mountain gayfeather, leadplant, prairie coneflower, and little bluestem—planted in identical locations across plots.
Media Mix #1
Media Mix #2 – MHFD recommended + 5% Compost
Key Components: Outdoor storage tank (10,000 gallons) with submersible pump (Weil Model 1451) connected to bioretention cells, 3-30 gpm in-line water flow meter (model FR5L78SI) to control flow, Agridrain Water Level Control StructuresTM to measure outflow, and ISCO autosamplers for automated sample collection.
Size: Two 5 ft x 2.5 ft x 10 ft bioretention cells
Continuous Monitoring Technology:
In addition to Water TAP’s core systems, members and project sponsors benefit from access to complementary facilities at CSU Spur as well as the CSU Fort Collins campus. These resources expand the range of pilot testing, analysis, and workforce training opportunities, and include:
Members and project sponsors can work with Water TAP staff to coordinate access and integrate these resources into their projects. Detailed specifications are available on request.
Join a growing network of innovators advancing the future of water. Water TAP memberships connect you with exclusive access to our CSU Spur facilities, expert consulting, student talent pipelines, and high-visibility engagement opportunities. Explore the tier that best fits your organization and start shaping the next wave of water innovation