University of North Georgia student Emma Vail was part of the winning team in Georgia Tech’s Sustainable-X Entrepreneurship program with a water management project.

Emma Vail, a senior from University of North Georgia (UNG), was part of the winning team in Georgia Tech’s Sustainable-X Entrepreneurship program. The program supports student entrepreneurship with a focus on climate tech, environmental, and social impact. Vail and her team pitched a project that focuses on water management, targeting golf course water management as most courses use about 100 million gallons of water a year on average. Their solution involved collecting and harvesting rainwater through drains and pipes made from sustainable materials, storing it in a tank, and redistributing it on the course. They also investigated the potential of smart sensors implemented in sprinklers that will only water areas of the course without detected soil moisture and drone application to increase precision watering/fertilizing. The team is continuing to develop this idea with mentors and hopes to further the sustainability of future irrigation methods.