Open RFPs

Project Objectives

• Identify rigorously evaluated sample collection and analysis methodology, including QA/QC protocols, 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.
• Evaluate the suitability of surrogate methods to provide more rapid and cost-effective measures of microplastic occurrence.

Project Objectives

• To provide the water community with reliable cost data that can be used to evaluate different technologies, different project alternatives, and set initial project budgets.
• To present the information in a readily understood format that can be adjusted for regional cost differences and inflation.

Project Objectives

• Establish a methodology to assess and optimize the use of existing storage and conveyance elements within the system.
• Provide a utility-facing guidance on:
  a. Best practices for identifying problem areas in the system.
  b. Recommendations on the location and type of sensors required, data communication strategies, and physical infrastructure/assets based on drainage area.
  c. Recommendations on the type of data and information collected (e.g., depth, velocity, rain gauge, weather radar).
  d. Identifying the areas where the flow can be diverted to in a gravity-fed system and where to avoid.
  e. Controlling Infiltration and Inflow (I/I) into systems through alternative stormwater management practices and discharges/contributions to sanitary sewer.
  f. Determining the minimum requirements when selecting a Real-Time Control (RTC) logic and SCADA integration for stormwater and wastewater management.

Project Objectives

• Assess the degree to which data generated from pipe rig studies represent full-scale distribution system conditions.
• Identify potential variables contributing and not contributing to significant disparities between pipe rig and system results compared to systems where pipe rig and full-scale results are similar.
• Provide guidance on interpreting and applying pipe rig study results to full-scale system implementation, considering their implications for costly and potentially permanent corrosion control treatment (CCT) decisions.
• Provide context for management, regulator, and public expectations of the results for recommended changes in treatment.

Project Objectives

• Conduct a representative sample of system development fees under different utility ownership and governance structures (i.e. municipal utility vs. private utility, water vs. sanitary vs. storm).
• Outline which states have state-enabling legislation that dictates what they can do with system development fees.
• Investigate the different system development fee methodologies utilized by utilities and their impact on their existing ratepayers and new customer base.
• Evaluate the pros/cons of different methods of collecting funds from developers.
• Evaluate the differences in pay-as-you-go approaches vs. depreciation accounting and ratemaking practices (terminology differences, tax implications, etc.) and how this impacts the magnitude of development fees collected and practices used in the community to validate that the funds collected are used for growth related assets.

Project Objectives

• Conduct a regional assessment of salinity impacts to drinking water sources, treatment processes (e.g., high versus low pressure membranes), and water reuse applications to produce a One Water categorical overview of risk types.
• Provide a review of current real-time measurement parameters, research, and assessments by national and international organizations (e.g., United States Geological Survey (USGS)) as well as river commissions and regional working groups (e.g., Delaware River Basin Commission, South Platte Salinity Stakeholder Group, Southern California Salinity Coalition, Adirondack Road Salt Reduction Task Force, etc.) based on the risk types identified in the objective above, including utility-specific case studies and investigations.
• Understand the sources of salinity and their relative contributions to drinking water sources via case study investigations or modeling.
• Develop communication materials for use by the water sector to educate the public—including customers, staff, and other community stakeholders—about the risks of increased salinity and efforts recommended to reduce the problem.

Project Objectives

This project will inform utility decisions when selecting PFAS waste handling options by exploring the benefits and limitations of the following:

• 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.
• Leaching and fate of PFAS-laden wastes in municipal waste sites.

Project Objectives

• To provide utilities with a better understanding of the benefits and limitations of low-cost, non-invasive pipeline condition assessment technologies and how they may be applied to make better distribution pipeline renewal/replacement decisions.
• To examine “false positives” and “false negatives” in estimating the limitations of these technologies.

Project Objectives

• Using a combination of literature review, utility surveys/case studies, and lab study, investigate how wastewater monitoring using next-generation analytical methods (i.e., amplicon sequencing, genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics) can be applied for understanding, optimization, troubleshooting, and control of biological nutrient removal (BNR) processes.
• Identify case studies of successful application of microbial population monitoring for wastewater treatment processes using next-generation methods, with remediation strategies and lessons learned.
• Develop an up-to-date guidance document for use by treatment plant process control and
  operations staff to implement next-generation analytical methods.
• Identify high-priority research gaps that impede robust and consistent application of next-generation analytical methods for understanding and monitoring BNR processes.

Project 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 wanting to integrate their datasets to prepare for Machine Learning (ML)/Artificial Intelligence (AI) based treatment optimization/efficiency projects.

Project 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.

Project Objectives

• Review and establish a consistent definition of service levels (service level standards, service level assumptions, levels of service, etc.), differentiate from key performance indicators, identify the appropriate uses of service levels, and recommend consistent terminology for the water sector.
• Review and document current national and international practices for the establishment of utility service levels, including the impetus and process for how they are established, and the different business functions included (e.g., water supply planning, water use planning, engineering, operations, water treatment, etc.).
• Develop a guidance framework for utilities establishing their own water resource planning service levels that aligns with organizational performance goals and objectives (considering utility size, community types served, geographic region, financial and political drivers/constraints, climate change, and social equity, etc.). Include guidance for aligning capital investment decision-making with established service levels.
• Develop guidance for engaging stakeholders during the service levels setting process and for internal and external communications to achieve better understanding and alignment of staff, the community, and service levels.