WRF Funds Seven New Projects – Volunteers Needed!
The Water Research Foundation (WRF) will soon post Requests for Proposals (RFPs) and is seeking volunteers for seven new research projects funded through WRF's Research Priority Program. This strategic research program enables us to address broadly relevant subscriber issues, challenges, and opportunities with targeted research. The project concepts are developed by expert advisory committees and are then prioritized and approved for funding 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. Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for these projects will be posted in early August.
Research Area
Project Title
Research Program Manager
Funding Amount
Waterborne Pathogens
Understanding the Mechanisms of Chlorine and Chloramine Impact on Opportunistic Pathogens in Distribution Systems (5118)
Grace Jang
$250,000
Lead & Copper Management
Using Phosphate-Based Corrosion Inhibitors and Sequestrants to Meet Multiple Water Treatment Objectives (5119)
Jonathan Cuppett
$250,000
Cyanobacterial Blooms & Cyanotoxins
Assessment of Molecular Techniques to Detect and Predict Cyanotoxin-Producing Blooms (5120)
Erin Swanson
$100,000
Nutrients Treatment
Development of Innovative Predictive Control Strategies for Nutrient Removal (5121)
Stephanie Fevig
$200,000
Emerging Disinfection Byproducts
Technologies and Approaches to Minimize Brominated and Iodinated DBPs in Distribution Systems (5122)
Katie Spahr
$250,000
Linkages in Receiving Water Quality
Establishing Seasonal Targets for Receiving Waters: Rethinking Wet Weather versus Dry Weather Expectations (5123)
Lola Olabode
$200,000
PFAS in Water
PFAS One Water Risk Communication Messaging for Water Sector Professionals (5124)
Mary Smith
$100,000
The Research Advisory Council also prioritized the following projects for funding:
Research Area
Project Title
Research Program Manager
Funding Amount
Advanced Treatment for Potable Reuse
Demonstration of Innovation to Improve Pathogen Removal, Validation, and/or Monitoring in Carbon-Based Advanced Treatment (CBAT) for Potable Reuse
Erin Partlan & Katie Spahr
$200,000
Nutrients Treatment
Advancement of Densification to Implement and Achieve More Efficient BNR Processes: Granule Generation, Retention, and Management
Stephanie Fevig
$200,000
Stormwater & Flood Management
Holistic Wet Weather Management through Adaptive Volume and Pollutant Source Control at a Community Scale: Finding the Sweet Spot
Harry Zhang
$150,000
Water Infrastructure Resiliency
Enhancing Life Cycle Resilience for Water Infrastructure Systems
Jian Zhang
$200,000
WRF invites organizations with an interest in partnering to co-fund any of the prioritized projects to reach out to John Albert, WRF Chief Research Officer, at jalbert@waterrf.org or 303-734-3413. WRF anticipates posting RFPs for additional prioritized projects later this year.
We also encourage utilities to participate in these new research projects through the Utility Participation in Research (UPIR) Process. Utilities can serve as test facilities, provide samples, respond to surveys, loan equipment, or share staff expertise on research projects of interest. The 2021 UPIR application deadline for the currently funded projects is June 25.
Additionally, subject matter experts are urged to volunteer to serve on Project Advisory Committees (PACs) that will oversee each funded project. The 2021 PAC application deadline for the currently funded projects is June 8.
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.