Stormwater Symposium

Water TAP Open House (2026)

Posted by Sarah Millonig
January 29, 2026 7:47 pm

Water TAP Open House

February 26, 2026- CSU Spur Campus: Hydro Building

Unveiling the nation’s first plug-and-play testbed advancing fit-for-purpose water.

Join Colorado State University’s One Water Solutions Institute (OWSI) for an inside look at Water TAP – a unique, real-world testing environment designed to accelerate safe, reliable, and efficient water technologies.

Thursday February 26, 2026

1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. MT.

CSU Spur Campus - Hydro Green River Room

4777 National Western Drive Denver, CO 80216

Event Schedule

1:30 PM – Tour Water TAP (In-Person)
Meet in the Hydro Building lobby for a guided tour of the Water TAP laboratory, where you’ll see scalable, modular infrastructure designed to support rapid pilot deployment and integration across multiple real-world water sources.

2:30 PM – Informational Session (Hybrid)
Join us for an overview of Water TAP’s mission, facilities, and partnership model, including how organizations can engage through projects, membership, and collaborative initiatives. This session will be offered both in person and virtually for those unable to attend onsite.
Location: Hydro Green River Room (4th Floor)

3:30 PM – Water TAP Member Forum (Members Only | Hybrid)
Current Water TAP members are invited to participate in a facilitated forum focused on program updates, early priorities, and opportunities to help shape the next phase of Water TAP activities. This session will be offered both in person and virtually to support broad participation.
Location: Hydro Green River Room (4th Floor)

Watch Recording

What Is Water TAP?

Water TAP accelerates real-world water innovation by providing scalable infrastructure, applied expertise, and a collaborative environment where utilities, industry, startups, and researchers can pilot and validate solutions for fit-for-purpose water use.

Designed to reduce barriers to demonstration and deployment, Water TAP supports partners looking to move technologies from concept to field readiness through structured, real-world testing.

Water TAP offers:

  • Scalable, modular infrastructure designed to support rapid pilot deployment and integration across multiple real-world water sources

  • Five real-world water sources to enable testing across fit-for-purpose reuse and related applications

  • A hub for Colorado’s One Water innovation ecosystem, enabling partnerships, collaboration, and pathways to funding opportunities

  • Applied expertise and workforce pathways, connecting industry and utilities with next-generation talent through CSU

Learn More

Why Attend?

The Water TAP Open House offers a unique opportunity for utilities, technology developers, engineering and consulting firms, industry partners, agencies, funders, and CSU collaborators to explore a first-of-its-kind testbed designed to accelerate real-world water innovation. Attendees will gain insight into how Water TAP supports the piloting, validation, and deployment of fit-for-purpose water technologies in a neutral, university-managed environment.

During the Open House, you will have the opportunity to:

  • Tour the Water TAP laboratory and see scalable, modular infrastructure in operation

  • Learn how Water TAP enables pilot testing, demonstration, and applied collaboration

  • Understand pathways for engaging through projects, partnerships, and membership

  • Connect with utilities, industry, technology developers, and CSU researchers working across Colorado’s One Water ecosystem

In-person tour capacity is limited to ensure a high-quality experience. so early registration is encouraged to secure an in-person spot! Virtual participation is available for the informational session.

Engagement Pathways

Water TAP offers multiple pathways for organizations to engage, with membership serving as the primary mechanism for sustained collaboration, access, and participation in the testbed.

Through membership, partners gain structured access to Water TAP facilities and expertise, opportunities to participate in pilot projects and collaborative initiatives, and a seat at the table as the program evolves. Membership also connects organizations to Colorado’s growing One Water innovation ecosystem and to workforce development opportunities through CSU.

For organizations exploring fit-for-purpose water solutions, technology validation, or strategic partnerships, Water TAP membership provides a flexible, scalable way to engage over time.

Learn more about Water TAP membership and engagement options here.

Memberships
A CSU student in a green knitted hat works on their tablet at the library. Their table has a water bottle, sweater, and notebook scattered on it.

Education

Learn more about our water-focused academic programs available at Colorado State University.

Building scale graywater and roof runoff collection system with tanks, plumbing and pumps at CSU Spur Hydro Water TAP - 2023

Research

Find out how we are contributing world-class research to solve real-world problems.

A person working on a laptop. The laptop is showing data analytic graphs..

Software

We develop advanced decision-support software to improve sustainable resource management.

Colorado Stormwater Symposium

Posted by Morgan Stout
October 14, 2025 8:13 pm

Colorado Stormwater Symposium

Colorado Stormwater Symposium presentation by Judah Gaioni. December 13, 2024.

December 12, 2025 - CSU Spur Campus: Hydro Confluence Theater

Join Colorado’s leading stormwater professionals for a dynamic symposium focused on real-world solutions. This event equips practitioners with practical tools, data-driven strategies, and collaborative frameworks to improve stormwater management in a rapidly changing regulatory and environmental landscape.

Register Here

Friday December 12th, 2025

9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. MT.

CSU Spur Campus - Hydro Confluence Theater

4777 National Western Drive Denver, CO 80521

Symposium Focus Areas

This symposium is designed to empower Colorado’s stormwater professionals by increasing their efficiency and effectiveness. Each session provides practical tools for improved stormwater management, focusing on key areas such as fostering collaboration through partnerships, leveraging data for proactive decision-making, and addressing complex contaminants like nutrients and salinity. The event will also provide strategies for navigating the new regulatory landscape after the Sackett v. EPA decision by promoting local ordinances and advocacy. To ensure a practical and interdisciplinary discussion, we are soliciting a diverse range of expert panelists from government, academia, and private industry.

SESSIONS

  • 9:00-9:30 AM- Opening Remarks
  • 9:30-10:30 AM- Regulating Dredge & Fill Activities in State Waters
    This session, timed just after the Colorado Water Quality Control Commission’s (WQCC’s) final hearing, focuses on the immediate legal and practical impacts of Colorado’s new Regulation 87 (Dredge & Fill Program) for stormwater professionals.
  • 10:45-11:45 AM- The E. coli Toolbox This session explores practical strategies for managing E. coli, a persistent pollutant driving complex Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) for MS4s. Using the newly updated Mile High Flood District (MHFD) ‘E. coli Toolbox’ as a central case study, the panel will discuss its implementation. Topics include the challenges of source identification (human vs. non-human), developing effective control strategies, and navigating the associated regulatory landscape.
  • 11:45 AM-1:00 PM- Lunch
  • 1:00-2:00 PM- Improving Stormwater Management Through Data & Technology
    This session will explore the practical applications of data systems engineering for stormwater management. The panel will discuss field data collection and building effective data schemas to leveraging integrated data for asset management and MS4 compliance. Panelists will share real-world examples and look ahead to the future of stormwater data systems, focusing on how these tools help justify critical investments and improve long-term maintenance and system function.
  • 2:00-2:30 PM One Water Solutions Institute (OWSI) eRAMS Platform
  • 2:45-3:30 PM- Improving Stormwater Management Through Interagency Collaboration
    This session will explore specific models of interagency collaboration that directly improve water quality and manage flood risk. The discussion will show how different partnerships are structured to achieve specific goals: from regional districts and authorities that manage shared watersheds, fund capital projects, and provide critical technical services (like the Mile High Flood District and SEMSWA); to public-facing partnerships that coordinate education and outreach (like the Keep It Clean Partnership); and member-driven councils that provide resources and navigate complex regulatory issues (like the Colorado Stormwater Council).
  • 3:30-5:00 PM-Closing Remarks and Informal Happy Hour
     
See the full agenda
A CSU student in a green knitted hat works on their tablet at the library. Their table has a water bottle, sweater, and notebook scattered on it.

Training & Certification

Learn more about our water-focused academic programs available at Colorado State University.

Building scale graywater and roof runoff collection system with tanks, plumbing and pumps at CSU Spur Hydro Water TAP - 2023

Stormwater Research

Find out how we are contributing world-class research to solve real-world problems.

Colorado Stormwater Symposium presentation of key elements of a One Water approach by Judah Gaioni. December 13, 2024.

Other Events

View the schedule of upcoming training opportunities and events at One Water Solutions Institute.

Water TAP Memberships

Posted by Sarah Millonig
July 22, 2025 1:26 pm

Join the Water TAP Membership Program

Building scale graywater and roof runoff collection system with tanks, plumbing and pumps at CSU Spur Hydro Water TAP

Shaping next-generation water solutions through partnership and purpose

Water is changing—so are the solutions. At the Water Technology Acceleration Platform (Water TAP), we bring together utilities, industry, technology developers, regulators, and researchers to co-create the next generation of sustainable, fit-for-purpose water solutions.

Our membership program offers a unique opportunity to engage with a nationally recognized platform dedicated to advancing applied research, workforce development, and cross-sector collaboration. Whether you’re a startup, municipality, or global firm, Water TAP provides a flexible pathway to connect, contribute, and shape the future of water innovation.

Why Become a Member?

Discover the benefits of joining a national innovation hub—where your organization can shape research, access talent, and accelerate real-world water solutions.

Real-World Testbeds

Water TAP provides plug-and-play lab space, access to multiple real water sources, and a high-bay facility for pilot projects and validation studies—creating a living laboratory for innovation.

Strategic Collaboration

Members contribute to advisory committees and strategic forums that help shape Water TAP’s applied research agenda, workforce initiatives, and sector-specific priorities.

Workforce & Talent Pipeline

Engage directly with CSU students and faculty through internships, capstone projects, mentoring, and customized training aligned with One Water and reuse practices.

Recognition & Visibility

Water TAP members are recognized as thought leaders through brand visibility in lab spaces, communications, and events at CSU Spur—Colorado’s public-facing innovation campus.

Shared Investment, Shared Impact

Membership contributions help sustain core operations, build shared infrastructure, and unlock additional funding through cost-share opportunities and federal partnerships.

Insight & Influence

Stay ahead of industry trends with early access to research briefings, technology disclosures, and policy insights—while helping shape the future of fit-for-purpose water innovation.

How it Works

Water TAP membership is organized under a flexible, tiered structure designed to meet a range of partner needs and levels of engagement. Members are grouped into strategic advisory or sector-based committees and have the opportunity to participate in annual convenings, research showcases, and project co-development.

Benefits include:

  • Invitations to Water TAP events and early access to research insights
  • Engagement in collaborative research and student-led initiatives
  • Consultations with CSU experts and access to workforce training opportunities
  • Enhanced visibility at the CSU Spur campus and across the Water TAP network

Water TAP maintains a mission-aligned governance model where members provide strategic input—while operational authority remains with CSU to ensure academic integrity and balanced representation across sectors.

Interested in Becoming a Member?

Ready to make waves in water innovation? Join the growing network of utilities, tech developers, and research leaders shaping the future of fit-for-purpose water solutions. Whether you’re exploring strategic partnerships, pilot opportunities, or talent pipelines, we’ll tailor a membership path that aligns with your goals.

Reach out today at owsi@colostate.edu to schedule a conversation and recieve more information on Water TAP membership opportunities, tier options, or upcoming convenings.

We’d be glad to share a personalized overview and explore how your organization can engage!

Building scale graywater and roof runoff collection system with tanks, plumbing and pumps at CSU Spur Hydro Water TAP

Our Members: Pioneers in Water Innovation

Water TAP’s founding members are leading the charge toward a more resilient, data-driven, and sustainable water future. As early adopters, these organizations have helped shape the vision, priorities, and collaborative spirit of the Water TAP platform from day one.

Their early commitment has laid the foundation for a nationally recognized hub that bridges applied research, workforce development, and real-world technology deployment. We’re proud to recognize these founding members for their vision, leadership, and partnership.

Founding Members

Metro Water Recovery is the first to join Water TAP’s membership network—helping shape research priorities, workforce programs, and cross-sector innovation. Their early support exemplifies the kind of leadership and vision Water TAP was built to amplify.

Now is the time to shape what’s next. Water TAP is actively welcoming new members across all levels—Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze. Each tier offers unique opportunities to influence research priorities, access CSU expertise, and be part of a growing innovation ecosystem.

Contact us at owsi@colostate.edu to reserve your spot and receive a personalized membership overview.

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Backyard Science: Demonstrating Green Infrastructure in the Hydro Backyard

Posted by Sarah Millonig
May 13, 2025 3:58 pm

Backyard Science: Demonstrating Green Infrastructure in the Hydro Backyard

CSU Spur Hydro Backyard with plants and green stormwater infrastructure

Turning landscapes into learning labs to study water, plants, and place-based sustainability

Purpose

To demonstrate and study nature-based stormwater infrastructure in a real-world educational setting, using Colorado-specific watershed design and native landscaping to explore water movement, plant performance, and sustainable landscape strategies.

Description

The Hydro Backyard at CSU Spur serves as a living laboratory where scientists and visitors alike explore the connections between water, plants, and sustainable urban design. Designed to represent Colorado’s four major watersheds—South Platte, Arkansas, Rio Grande, and Colorado River—the space features educational exhibits, native and xeric landscaping, and bioswales that demonstrate nature-based stormwater management. Built through collaboration between engineers and landscape architects, the bioswales mimic oversized rain gardens, helping prevent erosion, support plant health, and absorb stormwater more efficiently. The space also supports ongoing Water TAP research on plant performance, irrigation strategies, and green infrastructure design.

Impact

By blending education, landscape design, and applied research, the Hydro Backyard provides a hands-on model of how urban outdoor spaces can support sustainability, engage the public, and inform future green infrastructure solutions tailored to Colorado’s climate.

Partners

This collaborative demonstration space reflects cross-disciplinary planning and environmental stewardship:

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Project Photo Gallery

From Roof to Roots: Harnessing Rooftop Runoff for Research and Irrigation

Posted by Sarah Millonig
May 13, 2025 3:53 pm

From Roof to Roots: Harnessing Rooftop Runoff for Research and Irrigation

Rainwater harvesting tank with green plants at CSU Spur Backyard.

Capturing rainwater for testing, treatment, and sustainable reuse

Purpose

To demonstrate building-scale rainwater harvesting for non-potable use and evaluate treatment strategies that could enable broader commercial applications of fit-for-purpose water reuse in urban settings.

Description

At CSU Spur, precipitation collected from the Hydro building rooftop is stored in an outdoor metal tank and used to irrigate select areas of the Hydro Backyard. In these zones, underground monitoring equipment tracks flow rates and water quality to support research on sustainable irrigation practices in semi-arid urban environments. In parallel, the same roof runoff is brought into the Water TAP lab, where researchers test various treatment methods—such as membrane filtration, microbial processes, and UV disinfection—to evaluate how this water could be safely used for other fit-for-purpose applications.

Impact

This project demonstrates how harvested rainwater can support urban green infrastructure while advancing research on water reuse strategies. CSU partners with Denver Water to ensure that the volume of water collected from the roof is returned to the South Platte River, maintaining ecological balance and flow conditions.

Partners

This integrated rainwater reuse system highlights collaboration across research, infrastructure, and watershed stewardship:

Project Photo Gallery

Smart Filtration, Naturally: eco-WEIR™ Demonstration at Water TAP

Posted by Sarah Millonig
May 13, 2025 3:41 pm

Smart Filtration, Naturally: eco-WEIR™ Demonstration at Water TAP

Photo of eco- WEIR technology with a smart-sensor pipe and valve combination

Blending nature-based solutions with smart controls for better water management

Purpose

To evaluate the performance of the eco-WEIR™ system as a smart, nature-based pretreatment technology for stormwater, enhancing pollutant removal and supporting environmental recharge through improved flow control and filtration.

Description

The eco-WEIR™ system—developed by Dr. Jennifer Cherrier of The City University of New York and patented by Waterway Ecologics—brings together green infrastructure and smart sensor technology to enhance stormwater treatment and reuse. Installed at Water TAP, this modular, vegetated sand filter includes a smart weir that actively manages water retention to improve pollutant removal and support water reuse. The system’s two-layer design promotes both aerobic and anaerobic treatment, enabling robust removal of nutrients and contaminants. At CSU Spur, it’s deployed in tandem with the Minus ultrafiltration system to study its effectiveness as a pretreatment stage for various water sources onsite.

Impact

By combining nature-based design with active flow control, eco-WEIR™ demonstrates how smart green infrastructure can improve water quality and support circular water strategies. Its modular form makes it adaptable to urban settings while offering a scalable, sustainable treatment option.

Partners

This demonstration project combines academic innovation with field application:

Flowing Forward: Industry and Academia Explore Produced Water for Restoration

Posted by Sarah Millonig
May 6, 2025 4:10 pm

Flowing Forward: Industry and Academia Explore Produced Water for Restoration

Experimental hydroponic station with plants growing inside greenhouse at CSU Spur campus

Evaluating how treated water from energy production can safely support ecological restoration

Purpose

To explore the potential for treated produced water from energy production to support ecological restoration, using greenhouse and laboratory-scale studies to assess water quality, plant health, and contaminant behavior.

Description

Through a unique partnership with an energy industry leader, this project explores the potential for using treated produced water to support native vegetation and replenish constructed wetlands in Colorado. Produced water—generated during oil and gas extraction—can be treated using advanced methods such as reverse osmosis to remove contaminants. At Water TAP, researchers are conducting controlled greenhouse experiments and laboratory-scale wetland demonstrations to evaluate how different treatment levels affect water quality, plant health, and contaminant behavior. These studies aim to determine whether produced water can safely and effectively support ecological restoration in the future.

Impact

By rigorously testing produced water in a research setting, this project provides critical data to inform future reuse strategies. Findings will help define best practices, reduce reliance on freshwater sources, and lay the groundwork for sustainable restoration approaches—if and when field-scale implementation becomes viable.

Partners

This research is supported through collaboration between Colorado State University and a private sector partner in the energy industry.

What’s in the Mix? Evaluating Media for Pollutant Removal in Nature-Based Water Systems

Posted by Sarah Millonig
May 6, 2025 2:25 pm

What’s in the Mix? Evaluating Media for Pollutant Removal in Nature-Based Water Treatment

Experimental bioretention cells at CSU Spur Hydro Backyard with plants and soil media for testing stormwater quality

Building better biofilters by testing how engineered media perform in real-world systems to improve the reliability of nature-based water treatment

Purpose

To evaluate the long-term performance of natural and engineered media used in nature-based systems, focusing on their effectiveness in removing pollutants—including nutrients, metals, and PFAS—and supporting informed, sustainable decision-making for utilities and designers.

Description

Funded by the Water Research Foundation (WRF #5257), this project evaluates natural and engineered filter media to enhance the performance of Nature-Based Systems (NbS) for water quality treatment. Researchers are assessing how well various materials remove pollutants like nutrients, metals, and PFAS, while also weighing factors like cost, maintenance, longevity, and environmental risks. Testing is conducted at Water TAP using urban stormwater, recycled water, and graywater, along with pilot-scale bioretention test plots in the Hydro Backyard. The research includes both lab-scale and field-scale experiments, culminating in a practical guidance document for utilities.

Impact

The findings will help utilities select media that balance performance with affordability and sustainability. By simplifying media comparison and supporting more informed design decisions, this project will lead to more effective and resilient green infrastructure solutions across the country.

Partners

This utility-focused research is supported by collaborative expertise in water quality and sustainable design:

Project Photo Gallery

Farming the Rooftop: Energy, Edible Crops, and Urban Innovation

Posted by Sarah Millonig
May 6, 2025 2:06 pm

Farming the Rooftop: Energy, Edible Crops, and Urban Innovation

Hydro green roof with yellow sedum - 2023

Exploring the intersection of solar energy, plant production, and sustainable design through hands-on research and innovation

Purpose

To investigate how green roofs and agrivoltaic systems can support sustainable urban agriculture, energy generation, and water-efficient plant growth, using rooftop spaces at CSU Spur as research and demonstration platforms

Description

At CSU Spur, researchers are turning rooftops into research spaces to explore how urban infrastructure can support food production, biodiversity, and energy generation. The green roof atop the Terra building serves as a public-facing living lab to study plant-pollinator interactions, irrigation strategies, native seed establishment, and edible crop production. On the Hydro building, a non-public rooftop supports a pilot agrivoltaic system—solar panels paired with planters beneath them—to investigate how sunlight can be shared between energy generation and plant growth. In future phases, the Hydro rooftop will be integrated with diverse water sources supplied by the Water TAP lab, enabling controlled irrigation research using stormwater, graywater, and other fit-for-purpose supplies. These integrated systems help advance urban sustainability through applied, interdisciplinary research.

Impact

This project demonstrates how underutilized urban spaces can support sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, and ecological function. Insights from CSU Spur’s rooftop research will inform greener building design and urban food systems in cities across the world.

Partners

This initiative builds on a foundation of research and innovation at CSU Spur:

Project Photo Gallery

Minus Ultrafiltration Membrane Pilot System

Posted by Sarah Millonig
May 6, 2025 1:27 pm

Ultrafiltration Meets Innovation: Piloting the Minus System at Water TAP

Researchers standing in front of pilot scale Minus water treatment system with ultrafiltration membranes at CSU Spur Hydro Water TAP.

Optimizing membrane performance with AI-driven controls

Purpose

To test the performance of ultrafiltration technology on diverse alternative water sources—including stormwater, graywater, rainwater, and industrial flows—while advancing AI and machine learning models for autonomous system control and optimized fit-for-purpose water reuse

Description

Developed by researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology, the Minus ultrafiltration (UF) membrane pilot system is housed inside a 20-foot container at Water TAP. Originally designed to produce potable water from spent filter backwash at drinking water plants, the system is now being tested using urban stormwater collected onsite. The pilot features five hollow-fiber membrane modules, automated control systems, and real-time monitoring equipment, all integrated with programmable logic controllers and online data access. Future testing will expand to include a variety of alternative water sources available at Water TAP—including graywater, rainwater, and industrial sources—allowing researchers to evaluate performance across a range of real-world conditions.

Impact

This project advances sustainable water reuse by exploring how membrane treatment can reliably purify diverse water sources with minimal energy or chemical input. AI-assisted control models aim to improve system performance while supporting future applications like irrigation, green infrastructure, and even edible crop production.

Partners

This collaborative pilot bridges academic innovation and field deployment: