In this course, students collaboratively design and implement community-based urban water projects, integrating not only their discipline-specific knowledge, but also community partner and local stakeholder knowledge as well. As they manage a project from inception to implementation throughout the semester, students gain professional engineering and sustainability competencies, including design, communication, teamwork, grant-writing, budget management, and leadership.

EEE 49500 has been offered three times to date, linking students to seven community partners: Cary Home for Children, Christ United Methodist Church, Fire Station #8 (Lafayette), Food Finders Food Bank, Imagination Station, Oakland High School, and Tecumseh Middle School. Projects have resulted in the installation of 28 stormwater management projects including rain gardens, rain barrels, bioswales, and native savannas that also serve as educational demonstration sites for the public. The projects collectively divert nearly a half-million gallons of stormwater per year and reduce nitrogen-, phosphorous-, and sediment-loading of the Wabash River by over 15 lbs/yr, nearly 15 lbs/yr, and over 1,200 lbs/yr, respectively. Additionally, these efforts engaged 45 Purdue students and over 500 community members with the support of nearly $150,000 in federal and industry funding.