Water quality is determined by factors such as:

• Precipitation and water runoff
• Local agriculture practices / proximity
• Surrounding soil quality and type
• Water inflow/outflow
• Public use
• Local industries

Design new solutions while incorporating cutting edge technology such as predictive data, IOT sensors, Low Power Wide Area Networks, and natural / organic processes. In particular, how might we incorporate material, information, and biological technologies that can help agricultural and water systems bear the stresses of climate volatility - water excess, runoff, pooling, infiltration, erosion, scarcity - without disrupting the health of watershed systems as a whole. Ideas that can address these concerns with greater efficiency, lower cost, and in a commercially sustainable model will excel in this Challenge. 

We see two major areas ripe for innovation:

• Stormwater Management: Stormwater carries more pollutants to waterbodies than almost any other source. It occurs when more rain falls than the land can absorb. The result is a flow of water across land surfaces that runs off into drains and waterbodies.  Poorly managed stormwater transports pollutants and contributes to flooding and erosion.
• Agriculture Systems and Processes: Agriculture plays two distinct roles in watershed health. It acts as a buffer against (sub)urban sprawl and development pressure. It also impairs water quality by discharging bacteria and various chemical pollutants.

Solutions should:

• Focus on Watershed Protection 
• Be Innovative 
• Consider Scale (transferable to a larger geographic region beyond local setting)
• Be Human Centered (empathy)