Bureau of Reclamation and HeroX Launch “Seal Team Fix Challenge” to Safeguard Water and Power in the American West

Seeking breakthrough solutions for rapid, high-pressure seals to control failed dam conduits — with $575,000 in prizes for top ideas

HOUSTON, July 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — HeroX, the leading platform and open marketplace for crowdsourced solutions, today announced the launch of the “Seal Team Fix Challenge” on behalf of the Bureau of Reclamation, with support from the NASA Tournament Lab (NTL). This competition seeks innovative designs for a rapid-deploying, high-pressure seal capable of controlling failed dam conduits– protecting critical water supplies and power generation infrastructure across the American West.

When primary gates controlling large water conduits fail—whether due to mechanical issues, debris, or system faults—thousands of cubic feet of water can surge uncontrolled, threatening public safety, storage, and power generation. A robust, quickly deployable seal could mean the difference between a manageable incident and a catastrophic emergency.

“One of the most significant vulnerabilities across our facilities is the failure of the primary gates that regulate water flow through massive conduits,” said Bureau of Reclamation’s Prize Competition Administrator Christine VanZomeren. “When a gate fails, rapid, reliable intervention is critical to protect downstream communities, conserve water resources, and maintain control of vital infrastructure.”

For over a century, the Bureau of Reclamation has played a foundational role in developing and managing water and power systems throughout the American West. Today, it operates more than 330 reservoirs storing over 140 million acre-feet of water, supporting agriculture, energy production, ecosystems, and communities across 17 states.

At the heart of this infrastructure are large conduits– engineered channels designed to move vast volumes of water through dams and reservoirs. Maintaining their integrity is central to Reclamation’s mission and to the safety and prosperity of millions of Americans.

The Challenge: The Seal Team Fix Challenge calls on engineers, fabricators, inventors, and creative problem-solvers worldwide to design a temporary seal that can be deployed underwater in conduits ranging from 3 to 25 feet in diameter. The solution must withstand high differential pressures and reduce flow by 95–98% — all without relying on trash racks or other non-structural surfaces for support.

The Prize: Up to five participants will share a total prize purse up to $575,000, progressing through three phases: an initial concept white paper, a funded prototype build, and a lab-scale hydraulic demonstration.

Eligibility to Compete and Win Prize(s): The prize is open to anyone aged 18 or older participating as an individual or as a team. Individual competitors and teams may originate from any country, as long as United States federal sanctions do not prohibit participation (some restrictions apply).

Join the Seal Team Fix Challenge and help safeguard water and power for millions. Learn more and sign up at www.herox.com/SealTeamFix

ABOUT HEROX

HeroX is a platform and open marketplace for crowdsourcing innovation and human ingenuity, co-founded in 2013 by serial entrepreneur, Christian Cotichini and XPRIZE Founder and Futurist, Peter Diamandis. HeroX offers a turnkey, easy-to-use platform that supports anyone, anywhere, to solve everyday business and world challenges using the power of the crowd. Uniquely positioned as the Social Network for Innovation, HeroX is the only place you can build, grow and curate your very own crowd.

Explore the latest challenges at www.herox.com

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SOURCE HeroX