WRF Funds 22 New Projects to Advance the Science of Water
The Water Research Foundation (WRF) will soon post Requests for Proposals (RFPs) and is seeking volunteers for 22 new research projects funded through WRF's Research Priority Program. This strategic research program enables WRF to address broadly relevant subscriber issues, challenges, and opportunities with targeted research. The project concepts have been prioritized, approved, and funded by our Board-appointed Research Advisory Council. The diverse research projects listed below will benefit all areas of the One Water cycle—drinking water, wastewater, stormwater, and recycled water – in an integrated fashion. Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for these projects will be posted in late September. Additional information on project objectives can be found here.
We encourage utilities to participate in these new research projects through the Utility Participation in Research (UPIR) Process. Utilities can serve as a test facility, provide samples, respond to surveys, loan equipment, or share staff expertise on research projects of interest. The 2022 UPIR application deadline for the funded projects is September 22.
Additionally, subject matter experts are urged to volunteer to serve on Project Advisory Committees (PACs) that will oversee each funded project. The 2022 PAC application deadline for the funded projects is July 11.
Project Title
Budget
Developing Sustainable Technologies and Assessing Innovative Treatment Options for Biosolids
$175,000
State of the Science and Regulatory Acceptability for PFAS Residual Management Options
$150,000
Cost-effective Approaches for Control of Multiple Constituents of Emerging Concern (CECs)
$250,000
Cost-effective PFAS Mitigation Strategies for Communities
$200,000
Feasibility of Full-Scale Implementation of LED UV Disinfection
$250,000
Applicability of Remote Sensing Technology for Water Quality Monitoring and Ecological Assessment
$150,000
Navigating One Water Planning through Municipal Water Programs: Meeting Multiple Objectives and Regulatory Challenges
$200,000
Integrating Climate Change Impacts with Wet Weather Management, Capital Improvement, and Stream Network Enhancement
$200,000
Preparing the Water Sector to Embrace Technology: Skillsets and Enterprise Management Approaches for the Digital Age
$150,000
Feasibility and Applicability of Emerging Utility-led Innovations in Addressing Affordability
$200,000
Incorporating Equity and Social Dimension into Community Climate Adaptation Planning and Watershed Management
$150,000
Improved Equity and Environmental Justice in Asset Management
$200,000
Integrating Wastewater-Based Epidemiology and Clinical Surveillance for Public Health Decision Making and Utility Operations
$225,000
Advancing Partial Denitrification/Anammox (PdNA) Full-Scale Applications
$250,000
Back to the Future: Guidance for Adaptive and Scenario Supply Planning Approaches
$250,000
Fate of Microplastics in Drinking Water Treatment Plants
$250,000
DE&I Best Practices for the Water Sector Workforce
$125,000
Beyond Net Zero Carbon: Advancing Carbon Offset and Interdependencies through the Water-Energy-Food Nexus
$200,000
Establishing Industry-Wide Guidance for Water Utility Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Emission Inventories
$150,000
Quantifying the Impact of AI/ML-Based Approaches to Utility Performance Optimization
$350,000
Improved Risk Management from Condition Assessment Data
$150,000
Innovative Technologies to Improve Monitoring of Assets
$150,000
If you have any questions about these projects or the Research Priority Program, please contact John Albert, WRF Chief Research Officer, at jalbert@waterrf.org or 303-734-3413.