South Bend’s wastewater system has been called “the smartest sewer in the world,” a claim once highlighted by former mayor and U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg. This talk explores how Notre Dame’s first tech startup partnered with the City of South Bend beginning in 2004 to deploy advanced monitoring, control, and data-driven optimization across the city’s sewer network. Through novel algorithms, real-time sensing, and strategic engineering, the collaboration cut sewer overflows by 80%, reduced E. coli pollution in the St. Joseph River by 58%, and lowered projected environmental compliance costs by $450 million. Students will see how civil engineering, computer science, and innovation can converge to transform urban infrastructure.
Tim Ruggaber (Notre Dame ’03, ’06) is the chief delivery officer and co-founder of HydroDigital, a global leader in applying digital technologies to water infrastructure. His work spans sewer, drinking water, and treatment systems around the world. Throughout his career, Tim has helped more than 40 utilities prevent over 20 billion gallons of sewer overflow while avoiding more than $4 billion in new infrastructure costs. His experience demonstrates how data, modeling, and engineering can reshape the future of water systems.