Fighting for Water Sustainability

J.P LaBrucherie’s family has farmed in southern California for generations, but he’s uncertain about their future there. After years of drought, the 2002 law graduate is struggling to get enough water for his crops, which supply our supermarkets, our favorite restaurants, and our plates.

But two Notre Dame professors believe they have an innovative solution for the global issue of water scarcity. Tengfei Luo, an engineer, and Brandon Ashfeld, a chemist, have worked together to create technology that can desalinate seawater or purify unclean water. Importantly, their method is more energy- and cost-effective than existing options. That potential offers hope to folks like J.P., and all of us who rely on clean water to eat, drink, bathe and more.