House Traps

House Traps

House Traps

11/12/26

“How can we prevent odors from moving from sewers to houses?”

Many houses connect to sewers. Odors can move from sewers to the house without any preventative mechanism. So what if we made the connection a U-shaped component, with the bottom of the U filled with standing water so sewer gases can’t enter? Well, that’s the idea behind House Traps. House traps require maintenance to prevent grease, hair, and soap buildup, as well as tree-root entanglement.

Image credit: www.balkanplumbing.com

Tailwater

Tailwater

Tailwater

11/11/26

“How can we describe the water directly downstream of a hydraulic structure?”

Hydraulic structures like dams and culverts alter water flow for specific purposes. The water directly downstream of hydraulic structures is known as the Tailwater. Tailwater is typically subject to environmental effects from upstream hydraulic structures.

Skim Coating

Skim Coating

Skim Coating

11/10/26

“How can we bring drywall covers back to their original condition?”

Drywall is one of the most widely used building materials in the U.S., and drywall covers often get damaged through everyday wear and tear. People can bring their drywall covers back to their original condition through Skim Coating, applying a thin layer of original drywall compound. Skim coating is a process useful for any drywall building property owner to learn.

Injection Wells

Injection Wells

Injection Wells

11/09/2026

“How can we pump water underground?”

Sometimes it’s useful to put water underground. The reasons range from recharging aquifers to managing wastewater and even controlling stormwater and geothermal energy. We can accomplish this by pumping water into geological formations through an Injection Well. Injection wells can be useful, but they can lead to environmental pollution and groundwater contamination without proper management.

Image credit: https://epa.ohio.gov/

Drywall

Drywall

Drywall

11/08/26

“What’s the secret behind one of the most widely used building materials?”

Buildings are made out of a wide array of materials. People especially like materials that are sustainable, affordable, fire-resistant, and easy to repair. So what if we were to take gypsum, a fire-resistant material and squish it between two sheets of paper? This material, known as Drywall, would not only satisfy our aforementioned needs but also provide a smooth finish to the building interior! Drywall’s advanced properties have led it to become one of the top building materials in the U.S..

Managed Aquifer Recharge

Managed Aquifer Recharge

Managed Aquifer Recharge

11/07/26

“How can we recharge aquifers as part of a water management strategy?”

Communities all over the world rely on groundwater from aquifers for their livelihoods. However, uncontrolled groundwater extraction can endanger these aquifers. So what if we were to create a system that would recharge aquifers during wet periods and discharge them in dry periods? Well, this strategy is known as Managed Aquifer Recharge. Managed aquifer recharge can use many techniques, ranging from recharge basins to injection wells.

Controlled Flow Roof Drains

Controlled Flow Roof Drains

Controlled Flow Roof Drains

11/06/26

“Why might we want to control how much water flows off a roof?”

Roof drains move water off a roof. However, if too much water flowing out at once can overwhelm nearby sewer systems. Controlled Flow Roof Drains solve this problem by restricting the rate of water removal. Controlled flow roof drains can help prevent combined sewer overflows from occurring.

Image credit: https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/

Special Assessments

Special Assessments

Special Assessments

11/05/26

“How can we issue special fees to property owners to cover large unexpected costs?”

It’s common for municipalities, HOAs, and co-op/condo boards to charge regular fees to cover maintenance costs. However, large unexpected events may incur incredibly high costs. Governing entities can cover this deficit by issuing Special Assessments, or one–time fees to collect revenue to cover improvements and maintenance. Special assessments can only be levied on people who will receive the benefits of the improvement in an equal/fair manner commensurate with the expense needed. Projects that can get funded by a special assessment range from sewer improvements to emergency repairs.

Airplane Runways

Airplane Runways

Airplane Runways

11/04/26

“What surface do airplanes use to land and take off?”

Airplanes need a ground surface to accelerate to generate thrust for lift-off and decelerate to stop. One of the most efficient ways to accomplish this is to use an elongated linear surface called an Airplane Runway. People can make airplane runways from artificial materials (such as asphalt or concrete) or natural materials (such as grass, dirt, and even ice). Airport runways are typically designed parallel to the local prevailing wind to avoid complications and give extra thrust for taking off.