WRF Funds 22 New Projects to Advance the Science of Water

Jun 11, 2022
Press Release

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.