Texas Border Business
WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) announced $24,875 in federal funding for the University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV). The grant will help fund the Biochar-Geomedia Water Filter project that will create a low-cost prototype water filter to treat lead and other chemicals in drinking water.
The award comes as part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) National Student Design Competition for Sustainability.
“Clean drinking water should be available to every American,” said Congressman Gonzalez. “It is my hope that these funds will help our students create a low-cost alternative option for communities in the Rio Grande Valley who lack water and sewage services. I look forward to seeing the prototype in action and am proud of the students working on this critical project.”
“This award will be an excellent opportunity for the UTRGV students and faculty to address local water quality issues in colonias near the Donna Reservoir by developing low-cost water filter media,” said UTRGV Professor Dr. James Jihoon Kang. “I am very excited to work with this student team and community members on this project and see the impacts it will have on our Rio Grande Valley community.”
The new filter is proposed to filter and treat lead and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB’s) in drinking water through a point-of-use (POU) pour-through treatment system.
Congressman Gonzalez remains a fierce advocate for educational resources in the Rio Grande Valley and continues fighting to provide teachers and students with new opportunities. More information on the Congressman’s education policies is available here.
