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. This issue affects a wide range of communities and industries, including large cities, small communities, tortilla factories, tile manufacturers, etc.
Task 1 Overview: Coming in Late June
Task 1 Full Problem Statement: Coming in Mid-July
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
The El Paso Electric Company, in El Paso, Texas, is the largest user of water in this desert area. Their cooling towers emit large volumes of water vapor - up to 2000 gallons/day per cooling tower site - through their stacks. Condensing this water would provide an ideal, clean source of water for future cooling. However, in the high- heat area, the usual condensation techniques that are successful in cooler climates are not as effective in the desert southwest. Teams are challenged to devise ways of recovering water from the water vapor.
Task 2 Overview: Coming in Late June
Task 2 Full Problem Statement: Coming in Mid-July
Task 3: Targeted Bioremediation of Mining Waters
Platinum Task Sponsor and Developer: Freeport-McMoRan
Demonstrate the use of bioreactors to mitigate metals in mining-influenced water.
Task 3 Overview: Coming in Late June
Task 3 Full Problem Statement: Coming in Mid-July
Task 4. Life Support Systems: Radiator Design
Diamond Sponsor: New Mexico Space Grant Consortium
Task Developers: NASA MSFC, JSC
Demonstrate a radiator design that can tolerate the harsh lunar conditions, with consideration to high-energy UV radiation, lunar dust, and extreme temperature variations.
Task 4 Overview: Coming in Late June
Task 4 Full Problem Statement: Coming in Mid-July
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 impoundment ponds. 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 Overview: Coming in Late June
Task 5 Full Problem Statement: Coming in Mid-July
Task 6. Open-Source wearable sensors
Sponsors and Task Developers: HF Sinclair, NAVFAC EXWC
Your team is challenged to design your choice of open-source sensors 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.
Task 6 Overview: Coming in Late June
Task 6 Full Problem Statement: Coming in Mid-July
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.
Task 7 Full Problem Statement: Coming in Late June.
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.”