The Water Research Foundation Wins Three EPA Grants to Support Healthy and Resilient Communities

Oct 11, 2021
Press Release

The Water Research Foundation (WRF) is proud to announce the award of three U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grants totaling nearly $4M.

Unregulated Organic Chemicals (UOCs) in Biosolids: Prioritization, Fate, and Risk Evaluation for Land Applications 

(EPA’s National Priorities Program) $1.49M Award

This research will prioritize UOCs in biosolids based on their occurrence, mobility, persistence, and bioaccumulation. WRF will lead the project team, which includes Purdue University (IN), University of California Riverside, and University of Cincinnati (OH).*

Advancing Safety and Reliability to Protect Public Health: Identifying Quantitative Reductions of Viral Pathogens and Surrogates for Water Reuse Applications 

(EPA Science to Achieve Results Program) $1.24M Award

This project will develop quantitative data on the removal of viral pathogens and surrogates by treatment processes to improve health outcome forecasts and aid in decision-making for enhanced water reuse treatment applications. The project team will be jointly led by WRF and the University of Arizona’s Water & Energy Sustainable Technology Center.* Utility partners include Orange County Water District (CA), Pima County Wastewater Reclamation (AZ), Gwinnett County (GA), Aurora Water (CO) and Loudoun Water (VA). This work will leverage and expand the current WRF research project, Indicator Viruses to Confirm Performance of Advanced Physical Treatment (4955).

Innovation Applied: Streamlining Access and Approval of Technology for Small Systems and Private Wells 

(EPA) ~$1M Award

This project will develop and validate programmatic approaches to obtain approval for new or alternative technologies for very small water systems, and find ways to ensure that approvals could transfer across states without compromising public health protection. The project team will be led by the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators, joined by WRF, the Rural Community Assistance Partnership, and University of Massachusetts Amherst.*

“We are thrilled to partner with so many leading researchers and innovative utilities on these vital research efforts to benefit communities across the U.S.,” said Dr. Peter Grevatt, WRF CEO.

If you have questions about these grants, contact John Albert, WRF Chief Research Officer, at jalbert@waterrf.org.

*pending contract negotiations  

About WRF

The Water Research Foundation (WRF) is the leading research organization advancing the science of all water to meet the evolving needs of its subscribers and the water sector. WRF is a nonprofit, educational organization that funds, manages, and publishes research on the technology, operation, and management of drinking water, wastewater, reuse, and stormwater systems—all in pursuit of ensuring water quality and improving water services to the public.