A Catalyst for
Better, Cleaner Water
What did we accomplish this year? Read our 2023 Impact Report.
Where Innovation Flows
Our mission is to grow an inclusive, circular blue economy, accelerate water innovation, and solve pressing water challenges caused by climate change and pollution.
Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Chicago, Current collaborates with corporations, universities, nonprofits and governments to develop climate solutions that would be too risky or even impossible to undertake alone. The need for our work is greater than ever because water is no longer just an issue; it’s a crisis.
More healthy water for our homes; less floodwater in our basements
Water quality is threatened by contamination from urban and agricultural runoff, plastic fragments known as “microplastics,” lead and other chemicals that harm the health of people and animals.
Climate shifts are bringing more damaging rains and droughts. This means washed-away beaches, persistent erosion, flooded homes, and more polluted water reaching sources of drinking water. Lake Michigan is up 6 feet since 2013; it’s expected to rise 3 more feet in the next decade.
Water scarcity already affects the well-being of people on every continent; by 2025, two-thirds of the world’s population may be facing water shortages.
Our Impact
30+ TECHNOLOGIES COMMERCIALIZED
670+ TECHNOLOGIES IN PRIVATE DATABASE
10 SOLUTIONS PILOTED
$28M FUNDING SECURED OR LEVERAGED
Our Impact
30+ TECHNOLOGIES COMMERCIALIZED
670+ TECHNOLOGIES IN PRIVATE DATABASE
10 SOLUTIONS PILOTED
$28M FUNDING SECURED OR LEVERAGED
30+ TECHNOLOGIES COMMERCIALIZED
670+ TECHNOLOGIES IN PRIVATE DATABASE
10 SOLUTIONS PILOTED
$28M FUNDING SECURED OR LEVERAGED
30+ TECHNOLOGIES COMMERCIALIZED
670+ TECHNOLOGIES IN PRIVATE DATABASE
10 SOLUTIONS PILOTED
$28M FUNDING SECURED OR LEVERAGED
Our Actions
By 2030, Illinois will be home to a thriving and inclusive blue economy where water companies, corporate water users, utilities and researchers collaborate to develop, manufacture, and distribute nation-leading treatment and monitoring technology. Here are two of our biggest wins.
Current-led partnership wins $160 million federal grant
Turning Waste Into Wealth
The National Science Foundation has awarded Great Lakes ReNEW a $160 million regional innovation engine. Our mission: To invent new ways to extract valuable minerals and toxic forever chemicals from our wastewater.
H2NOW Wins the Chicago Innovation Award
First real-time monitoring tool for river water quality
During warm months, sensing probes, installed in the Chicago and Calumet rivers, estimate fecal coliform levels every 15 minutes. The data is continuously published on the H2NOW Chicago Water Monitoring website or via a QR code. Kayakers and other river users now have the most up-to-date information about water conditions.
