2026 WERC TASKS
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Find non task-specific FAQs here.
2026 Tasks & Task FAQs
Task 1. After RO: Brine Management in the Desert
Silver Sponsor: EPA ORD, Hazen & Sawyer
Iron Sponsors: Souder, Miller & Associates; Los Alamos Nat'l Labs
RO has become the "Go-to" for treating water, but what happens to the brine concentrate after RO treatment? In water-scarce areas, such as the arid desert southwestern US, disposing of the waste is a significant issue that often causes engineers to avoid RO. Small communities and manufacturers are most affected.
Task 1 Full Problem Statement: Coming soon.
Task 2. Power Plants in the Desert: Recovering Water from Cooling Towers
Diamond Sponsor: El Paso Electric Co.
Platinum Sponsor: Las Cruces Utilities
Task Developers: El Paso Electric Co., Plug Power
Teams are challenged to devise ways of recovering water vapor from inland power plant cooling towers, where water is scarce. Your solution could save millions of gallons of water every year! The greatest challenge is how to condense this water vapor in the hot summer months.
Task 2 Full Problem Statement: Coming soon.
Task 3: Bio-inspired Critical Mineral Recovery
Platinum Task Sponsor and Developer: Freeport-McMoRan
Freeport-McMoRan is inviting you to explore innovative bio-inspired solutions to recover critical minerals from mining-influenced water. Your team may select from three scenarios: Acid Mine Drainage (ARD), Minteral Processing Waters, or Pit Waters.
Full task problem statement (below) uploaded on 8/1/25.
Task 4. Survive the Night - Lifecycle Logistics Supply Chain
Diamond Sponsor: New Mexico Space Grant Consortium
Task Developers: NASA MSFC, JSC
NASA is seeking innovative concepts for the Artemis program to deliver pressurized logistics (food, supplies, water, repair items, tools, etc) to the surface of the moon. Teams are challenged to design cargo containers that will maintain temperature and pressures through harsh lunar conditions.
Task 4 Full Problem Statement: Coming soon.
Task 5: Produced Water: Enhanced Evaporation
Sponsors: Chevron, NGL Water Solutions
Task Developers: Chevron, NGL, and Coterra Energy
Your team is challenged to design innovative ways to accelerate evaporation in PW impoundments. Solutions must scale to a 500,000 bbl/day flow rate. In addition to enhanced evaporation, teams may include innovative ways of storing water, rather than the traditional impoundment ponds.
Task 5 Full Problem Statement: Coming soon.
Task 6. Open-Source Environmental Monitors
Sponsors and Task Developers: HF Sinclair, NAVFAC EXWC
Your team is challenged to design your choice of open-source environmental monitors to answer a community need. Teams are encouraged to consider the needs of economically challenged communities that may be exposed to health and/or environmental hazards. The sensors should be easily reproducable at low cost.
Full task updated on 8/15/25. Updates: Added NAVFACS EXWC as a sponsor, reorganized list of sample monitor categories, clarified the Safety Pre-Approval Request requirement.
Task 7. Open Task
Sponsor: Jacobs Engineering Group
Task Developers: Your team.
Propose your own environmental challenge. The tasks require innovation and a bench-scale demo. Teams are encouraged to identify needs of economically challenged communities in their region.
Make sure your Open Task is competitive. Not sure? Email werc@nmsu.edu and our judges will review your plans.
Full task problem statement (below) uploaded on 7/28/25.
Q: What should we put in the social media post? (Posted 4/9/25)
A: Send out something friendly and exciting that thanks the sponsors and tells people what you are doing, like this: We are excited to be solving xxxx at the WERC Environmental Design Contest in Las Cruces, NM. We send a big "Thank you" to our sponsors: @XXX, @XXX. (But put it in your own words--you don't want everyone to use the same phrasing that you did.)
Include a photo of your team having fun working on the project.
Q: What is the deadline for submitting the technical report draft to our auditors? (Updated 2/26/25)
A: We suggest that you submit your draft to your auditors 3 weeks prior to the report due date. The date is a suggestion, not a requirement. See your Team Manual for more information.
Q: Registration says "Gender for Style." What does that mean? (Posted 10/15/25)
A: Faculty and judges receive a gift of a jacket or vest. The Ladies versions are narrower in the waist and larger in chest and hips than the men’s versions. If you prefer it larger in the waist, select “Male.” If you prefer it narrower in the waist, select “Female.”