Framework for the Development of a Utility Research Program

Today’s water utilities face a range of challenges, such as aging infrastructure, contaminants of emerging concern, extreme events, rising energy costs, changing regulations, and workforce changes. In some cases, utilities create groups within their organization to undertake the tasks of conducting or overseeing these challenges. For this research, the project team gathered information from a group of utilities with preexisting research groups. The insights gathered in this work can provide guidance for utilities that wish to initiate a Utility Research Program. Facilitated Research Partner: Philadelphia Water Department. Published in 2023.