Advance Notice

Proposal Management System

The concepts listed below will eventually be available through our proposal management system. Follow the unique, project-specific link to the submission form within each Request for Proposal (RFP).

Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteers are crucial to the success of WRF’s research projects, and there are a variety of ways you can get involved. Every project has a Project Advisory Committee that aids in the development of RFPs, reviews proposals, and monitors project results. In addition, participating utilities can serve as test facilities, provide water samples, share staff expertise, and more. Learn more about how you can get involved.

Upcoming RFPs

The list of concepts below were approved by the Research Advisory Council.
We expect to have these RFPs posted in the Fall of 2024.

> Learn more about our Open RFPs

  • Technology Readiness of Regeneration and Disposal Options for PFAS-Laden Drinking Water Treatment Residuals, Spent Media, and Associated Waste Streams

    Project 5285

    Budget

    $300,000

    Objectives

    • Inform utility decisions when selecting PFAS waste handling options
    • Explore the benefits and limitations of the availability and efficacy of media reactivation/regeneration methods; options for depleted media disposal; reduction of solid and liquid waste volume and potential for further pre-disposal treatment; and leaching and fate of PFAS-laden wastes in municipal waste sites
  • Identification and Valuation of Various Biosolids Products beyond Cake and Dried Material

    Project 5286

    Budget

    $180,000

    Objectives

    • Create tools for utilities to assess how to best evaluate end products of processing solutions
    • Identify various products that can be generated from residuals or biosolids and potential markets
    • Quantify GHG emissions from various uses of these products
    • Quantify the various markets with market size and the perspective value of these products
    • Identify obstacles for product entry into specific potential markets
  • Method Refinement and Standardization for Microplastics Sample Collection and Analysis

    Project 5287

    Budget

    $325,000

    Objectives

    • Identify rigorously evaluated sample collection and analysis methodology for source water, finished water, wastewater and solids matrices that supports reliability and consistency of collected data and allows for meaningful data interpretation and policy implementation
    • Investigate and optimize sample collection and analysis methods with robust QA/QC protocols that water utilities can use to collect meaningful data to inform decision making
  • Tradeoffs Between Process Optimization, GHG Mitigation, and Energy Efficiency

    Project 5288

    Budget

    $200,000

    Objectives

    • Develop a framework for integrated evaluation of the benefits and costs that utilities can apply at a unit operations and systems level
    • Provide a harmonized benchmarking framework to assess the value of existing systems within the current regulatory construct and framework
    • Offer recommendations for reducing GHG emissions through the utilization of established energy-efficient technologies
  • Thinking Outside the Pipe: Comparison of Non-invasive, Non-destructive Condition Assessment Technologies for Distribution Pipe

    Project 5289

    Budget

    $250,000

    Objectives

    • Evaluate how well these new condition assessment methods work, including the benefits, limitations, and applications
    • Examine in particular “false positives” and “false negatives” in estimating the limitations of these methods
  • The Emergence of Artificial Intelligence in the Water Sector: Opportunities and Challenges for Water Resources Planning

    Project 5290

    Budget

    $175,000

    Objectives

    • Identify potential uses and benefits of AI in Water Resources Planning
    • Identify potential challenges associated with AI tool implementation and prepare guidance for utilities to identify areas of focus and begin preparation for future AI use
    • Review utilities utilizing or interested in utilizing these approaches through case-study, interviews, or utility survey, identifying gaps and opportunities
  • Next Generation Analytical Methods for Biological Nutrient Removal Process Understanding, Troubleshooting, and Control

    Project 5291

    Budget

    $250,000

    Objectives

    • Investigate how microbial population monitoring (‘omics’ tools) can be applied for BNR process understanding, optimization, and control
    • Identify cases studies of successful application of microbial population monitoring, with lessons learned
    • Develop a guidance document for use by treatment plant process control and operations staff
    • Identify high priority research gaps that impede robust and consistent application of microbial population monitoring tools for BNR processes
  • Pipeline Infrastructure Replacement Costs Guide

    Project 5292

    Budget

    $150,000

    Objectives

    • Provide the water community with reliable cost data that can be used to evaluate different technologies and different project alternatives and set initial project budgets
    • Present the information in a readily understood format that can be adjusted for regional cost differences and inflation
  • Comprehensive Corrosion Control Strategies for Various Water Infrastructure Materials

    Project 5293

    Budget

    $350,000

    Objectives

    • Develop guidance for corrosion control strategies for various materials commonly found in water distribution and premise plumbing systems
    • Evaluate and compare different corrosion control processes, highlighting their advantages and disadvantages
    • Explore the feasibility of reducing or eliminating orthophosphate-based corrosion control treatments in post-LSL scenarios and assess subsequent impacts
  • Data Management Best Practices: Preparing and Integrating Data Sources for Treatment Optimization and Efficiency Projects

    Project 5294

    Budget

    $250,000

    Objectives

    • Review and compile case studies of tools that utilities use to combine data sets, organize and validate data, and maintain data security before carrying out treatment optimization/efficiency projects
    • Create a best practice guide for utilities that want to integrate their datasets to prepare for ML/AI based treatment optimization/efficiency projects
  • Balancing Human and Natural Assets in a One-Water, Integrated Water Resource Management Framework

    Project 5295

    Budget

    $200,000

    Objectives

    • Review and develop watershed condition metrics and assessment protocols for human and natural asset structures and functions for watershed health and benefits in social-ecological system context
    • Evaluate potential for landscape conservation, recovery, and mitigation management strategies
    • Build a decision-support framework for setting watershed condition goals and targets with user-defined designated use and ecosystem health goals
    • Apply and test the decision-support framework or associated non-monetary social-ecological models
    • Use case studies or hypothetical management application scenarios
    • Identify benefits of balancing human and natural asset management for individual pollutant management
  • Smart and Connected Energy Management

    Project 5296

    Budget

    $150,000

    Objectives

    • Develop a comprehensive understanding of the current state of smart and connected energy management in water and wastewater utilities
    • Recommend tools and guidance for implementing smart water networks to reduce waste and improve overall energy efficiency
  • Implementing Smart Sewer System to Optimize Capacity to Reduce Surface Flooding and Sewer Overflows

    Project 5297

    Budget

    $200,000

    Objectives

    • Establish a methodology to assess and optimize the use of existing storage and conveyance elements within the system
    • Compile best practices for identifying problem areas in the system
    • Provide recommendations on the location and type of sensors required based on drainage area and on the type of information collected
    • Develop guidance on identifying the areas that the flow can be diverted to in a gravity fed system and where to avoid
  • Benchmarking Microbial and Chemical Contamination in Source Water Using Hyperspectral Microscopy

    Project 5298

    Budget

    $250,000

    Objectives

    • Develop a state of the science for hyperspectral imaging and highlight its applicability to the municipal One Water sector
    • Assess sensitivity and accuracy of hyperspectral microscopy to detect microbial pathogens in different source waters and water quality types
    • Assess applicability of machine learning to predict microbial species based on hyperspectral imaging
    • Investigate if hyperspectral microscopy can detect chemicals in source water
  • Assessment of Corrosion Control Treatment (CCT) Pipe Rig Study Data Compared to Distribution System Lead Levels

    Project 5299

    Budget

    $150,000

    Objectives

    • Assess how data generated from pipe rig studies represent full-scale distribution system conditions
    • Identify potential variables to significant disparities between pipe rig and system results compared to systems where pipe rig and full-scale results are similar
    • Provide guidance on the interpretation and application of pipe rig study results to full-scale system implementation, considering their implications for costly and potentially permanent CCT decisions
  • Recognizing Institutional and Organizational Capacity for Effective Workforce Development Programs

    Project 5300

    Budget

    $200,000

    Objectives

    • Understand existing ways workforce development is incorporated into the organizational and strategic structure of water and wastewater utilities across varying geographies and scales
    • Identify institutional and organizational barriers for implementing workforce development programs
    • Identify opportunities for growth in supporting workforce development programs through capacity building
  • Integrating Requirements, Drivers, and Technologies for Enhanced Distribution System Water Quality Monitoring

    Project 5301

    Budget

    $350,000

    Objectives

    • Evaluate existing distribution system water quality monitoring programs designed for different purposes to identify opportunities for integration
    • Develop comprehensive guidance for designing, implementing, and utilizing distribution system water quality monitoring programs
    • Provide actionable recommendations for water utilities and regulators to enhance distribution system water quality monitoring programs and practices
  • What Does ‘Growth Pays for Growth’ Mean? Understanding the Practices, Policy, and Impact of System Development Fees

    Project 5302

    Budget

    $175,000

    Objectives

    • Conduct a representative sample of system development fees under different utility governance structures
    • Investigate utilities’ different system development fee methodologies and their impact on the customer base
    • Evaluate the pros/cons of different methods for collecting developer funds
    • Evaluate the differences in pay-as-you-go approaches vs. depreciation accounting and ratemaking practices and the impacts
  • Integrating Equitable Outcomes into Diversifying and Alternative Water Projects

    Project 5303

    Budget

    $200,000

    Objectives

    • Equipping utilities and decision-makers to holistically assess an alternative water system’s potential social, environmental, and economic benefit and/or impact on different types of communities
    • Quantifying or operationalizing equitable impacts from alternative/diversifying water systems
    • Identifying metrics to assess and inform decision-making processes for equitable implementation of diversifying water systems
  • Optimizing Nature-based Solutions at the Watershed Scale with Real-time Sensing and Controls

    Project 5304

    Budget

    $300,000

    Objectives

    • Determine the placement of sensors and controls at the watershed/sewershed scale to optimize the performance of NbS
    • Optimize NbS implementation for cost efficiency, contaminant pulses, and flow modulation
    • Determine the feasibility of matching contaminant peaks with infiltration-based measures for enhanced performance
  • Operationalizing and Measuring the Benefits of Nature-based Solutions to Inform Decisions in a Changing Climate

    Project 5305

    Budget

    $250,000

    Objectives

    • Assemble quantitative metrics and synthesize these with existing qualitative metrics used across disciplines to link the benefits of NbS to design criteria and implementation
    • Compare a variety of innovative NbS applications to conventional approaches
    • Assist decision-makers with more accurately valuing the benefits and tradeoffs of NbS as part of their holistic water management strategy
  • The Foundations of Water Resources Planning: Establishing Water Utility Service Level Standards, State of the Field and Guidance

    Project 5306

    Budget

    $175,000

    Objectives

    • Review current national and international practices for the establishment of utility service level standards
    • Develop guidance for how utilities can establish their own service level standards
    • Develop guidance for internal and external communications of service level standards to achieve better understanding/alignment of staff and the community
  • Investigating Progression Pathways Across the Water Workforce

    Project 5307

    Budget

    $200,000

    Objectives

    • Identify progression programs or approaches that organizations can explore
    • Establish and document career ladders between occupations that align with similar skillsets
    • Identify silos for professional development in the water sector
  • Assessing Changing Salinity in Water Sources (aka Let’s Get Salty)

    Project 5308

    Budget

    $150,000

    Objectives

    • Conduct a regional assessment of salinity impacts to drinking water sources, treatment processes, and water reuse applications leading to a One Water categorical overview of risk types
    • Review current measurement parameters, research, and assessments based on risk types
    • Understand sources and their contributions to drinking water sources
    • Develop communication materials for use by the water sector to educate about the risks of increased salinity and recommended efforts to reduce the problem
  • Developing a Protocol for Evaluating Pathogen Concentrations in Secondary Effluent

    Project 5309

    Budget

    $200,000

    Objectives

    • Summarize existing approaches for evaluating and characterizing pathogen concentrations in secondary wastewater effluent at the site-specific level
    • Evaluate water professional interpretation of pathogen characterization approaches and resulting standards for implementation
    • Develop best practices and an accepted sampling protocol for measuring pathogens in secondary effluent for potable reuse with additional application to non-potable reuse
  • “Head-to-Head-to-Head” GHG Measurement Comparisons: Plant-wide and Process-specific Quantification Methods Evaluation

    Project 5310

    Budget

    $350,000

    Objective

    • Perform GHG measurements using multiple techniques at the same time at two or more WRRFs to inform the industry as to the advantages and disadvantages of each technique.