The Research Priority Program enables WRF to address broadly relevant subscriber issues, challenges, and opportunities with targeted strategic plans for priority research topics. It is WRF’s flagship research program. The program is organized around 5 themes and 15 subtopics, spanning near-term operational issues and longer-term emerging challenges. Expert groups within each subtopic meet every year to share insights, identify gaps in existing knowledge, and articulate where new research can deliver the greatest value to subscribers and the broader sector. Oversight and strategic guidance for the program are provided by WRF’s Board-appointed Research Advisory Council (RAC). The RAC plays a critical role in reviewing and approving projects for funding, refining priority research needs, and ensuring alignment with subscriber priorities. Sixty percent of WRF’s annual research budget is allocated to this program.
Overview
The Research Priority Program is comprised of five research themes approved by WRF's Board of Directors. Each theme has three to four research topics. WRF uses a two-year research planning cycle to identify high-priority issues under each topic. Research themes and topics are:
- Healthy Communities & Environment: Holistic Watershed Management & Integrated Planning, Monitoring Tools at Watershed & Sewershed Scale, and Receiving Water Quality Management
- Treatment: Innovation & Optimization: Treatment & Process Optimization, Nature-based
Solutions, and Diversifying Water Systems - Efficient Resource Use & Recovery: Climate Change Mitigation: Addressing Greenhouse Gases, Nutrient Removal & Recovery, and Solids Management
- Resilient Infrastructure: Asset Management, Distribution System Integrity & Water Quality, and Collection Systems Integrity & Water Quality Impacts
- Utility Operations & Management: Water Resource Planning, Workforce Management, and Financial Management
The Research Priority Program is governed by a Board-appointed Research Advisory Council (RAC) that meets twice per year. In the spring, the RAC reviews and approves projects that stem from the research topics. Every other year, the RAC evaluates the research topics and recommends new research topics.
Selection Criteria
The RAC uses the following criteria for evaluating research topics (these are not the criteria used for evaluating individual projects/proposals):
- Importance: Does the topic address a current or emerging issue of importance to WRF subscribers?
- Broad Relevance: Does the topic address an issue of regional or national significance to WRF subscribers?
- Feasibility: Are the topic descriptions aimed toward successful outcomes? Will a research investment from WRF make a meaningful impact?
- Suitability: Is WRF the right organization to take on this subtopic (what is the research needed)? Would WRF stakeholders expect WRF to take on this research?
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2024
- Available Options for Regeneration or Disposal of PFAS-Laden Drinking Water Residuals, Media, and Waste Streams (5285)
- Identification and Valuation of Innovative Wastewater Residual Products Beyond Conventional Biosolids (5286)
- Method Refinement and Standardization for Microplastics Sample Collection and Analysis (5287)
- Tradeoffs Between Process Optimization, Greenhouse Gas Mitigation, and Energy Efficiency (5288)
- Thinking Outside the Pipe: Comparison of Non-invasive, Non-destructive Condition Assessment Technologies for Distribution Pipe (5289)
- The Emergence of Artificial Intelligence: Opportunities and Challenges for Water Resources Planning (5290)
- Next-Generation Analytical Methods for Understanding Biological Nutrient Removal Process (5291)
- Pipeline Infrastructure Replacement Costs Guide (5292)
- Comprehensive Corrosion Control Strategies for Various Water Infrastructure Materials (5293)
- Data Management Best Practices: Integrating Data Sources for Treatment Optimization and Efficiency (5294)
- Balancing Human and Natural Assets in a One-Water, Integrated Water Resource Management Framework (5295)
- Smart and Connected Energy Management (5296)
- Implementing a Smart Sewer System to Optimize Capacity to Reduce Surface Flooding and Sewer Overflows (5297)
- Benchmark Microbial and Chemical Contamination in Source Water using Hyperspectral Microscopy (5298)
- Assessment of Corrosion Control Treatment (CCT) Pipe Rig Study Data Compared to Distribution System Lead Levels (5299)
- Recognizing Institutional and Organizational Capacity for Effective Workforce Development Programs (5300)
- Integrating Requirements, Drivers, and Technologies for Enhanced Distribution System Water Quality Monitoring (5301)
- Understanding the Practices, Policy, and Impacts of System Development Fees and Upgrade Requirements (5302)
- Optimizing Nature-based Solutions at the Watershed Scale Using Real-time Sensing and Controls (5304)
- Operationalizing the Benefits of Nature-based Solutions to Inform Decisions in a Changing Climate (5305)
- The Foundations of Water Resource Planning: Guidance for Establishing Water Utility Service Levels (5306)
- Investigating Progression Pathways Across the Water Workforce (5307)
- Assessing Changing Salinity in Water Sources (5308)
- Head-to-Head GHG Measurement Comparisons: Plant-wide and Process-specific Quantification Methods (5310)
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2023
- Ozone Nanobubbles Technologies for Water Treatment (5237)
- Best Practices to Attract and Retain a Skilled & Diverse Water Workforce (5238)
- Optimization of Sensor Network and Advanced Sensing Techniques for Enhanced Collection Systems Management (5239)
- Enhancing Collection Systems Integrity and Capacity through Application of Emerging Assessment Methods (5240)
- Technology and Innovation for Assessing Operability and Full Closure of High Consequence Valves (5241)
- Residential End Uses of Water, Version 3: A Single-Family and Multi-Family Study (5242)
- Advancing the Disinfection from Wet Weather-Driven Sewer Overflows: Best Practice and Case Studies (5243)
- Validation of an Integrated Framework of Wastewater and Stormwater Treatment Options for Source Control, Cost Effectiveness Analysis, and BMPs of CECs (5244)
- Unlocking the Advantages of Internally Stored Carbon for Nutrient Removal (5245)
- Quantifying the Performance of Source Water Protection Measures to Improve Utilities’ Decision Making and Accountability (5246)
- Case Studies for Successful Watershed and Sewershed Monitoring and Decision Making (5247)
- Integrating Nature-based Solutions and Conventional/Gray Infrastructure to Optimize Treatment Performance (5248)
- Integrating Energy Data into Water and Wastewater Utility Operations: Best Practices and Challenges around Components (5249)
- Approaches to Build Strong Partnerships and Solidify Successful Interagency Reuse Projects (5250)
- Advancing the Understanding of the Next Largest Source of Utility GHG Emissions through Enhanced Whole-Plant Monitoring and Quantification (5251)
- Advancing Anoxic Phosphorus Uptake for Highly Efficient Simultaneous Nitrogen and Phosphorus Removal (5252)
- Maximizing and Accounting for the Value of Natural Assets and Green Infrastructure at Watershed Scale (5253)
- Evaluation and Demonstration of Molecular Microbial Tools for Improved Operation and Optimization of Biofiltration (5254)
- Developing GHG Emission Library for Unit Processes by Water and Wastewater Utilities and Decentralized Systems (5255)
- Regionalized and Integrated Solutions for Brine Management and Recovery (5256)
- Advancing Nature-based Solutions by Assessing Long‐term Performance of Natural and Engineered Media (5257)
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2022
- Developing Sustainable Technologies and Assessing Innovative Treatment Options for Biosolids (Includes Destruction of PFAS in Biosolids) (5169)
- State of the Science and Regulatory Acceptability for PFAS Residual Management Options (5170)
- Cost-effective Approaches for Control of Multiple Contaminants and Constituents of Emerging Concern (CECs) (5171)
- Feasibility of Full-Scale Implementation of LED UV Disinfection (5173)
- Applicability of Remote Sensing Technology for WQ Monitoring and Ecological Assessment (5174)
- Navigating One Water Planning through Municipal Water Programs and Holistic Watershed Management: Meeting Multiple Objectives and Regulatory Challenges (5175)
- Integrating Climate Change Impacts with Wet Weather Management, Capital Improvement, and Stream Network Enhancement (5176)
- Preparing the Water Sector to Embrace Technology: Skillsets and Enterprise Management Approaches for the Digital Age (5178)
- Feasibility and Applicability of Emerging Utility-led Innovations in Addressing Affordability (5179)
- Incorporating Equity and Social Dimension into Community Climate Adaptation Planning and Watershed Management: What It Means to Water Utilities (5180)
- Improved Equity & Environmental Justice in Asset Management (5181)
- Integrating Wastewater-based Epidemiology and Clinical Surveillance to Support Public Health Decision Making and Utility Operations (5182)
- Advancing Partial Denitrification/Anammox (PdNA) Full-scale Applications (5183)
- Back to the Future: Guidance for Adaptive and Scenario Supply Planning Approaches (5184)
- Fate of Microplastics in Drinking Water Treatment Plants (5185)
- DE&I Best Practices for the Water Sector Workforce (5186)
- Beyond Net Zero Carbon: Advancing Carbon Offset and Interdependencies Between Utility GHG Emission Reductions and Water-Energy-Food Nexus (5187)
- Establishing Industry-Wide Guidance for Water Utility Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Emission Inventories (5188)
- Quantifying the Impact of AI/ML-Based Approaches to Utility Performance Optimization (5189)
- Improved Risk Management from Condition Assessment Data (5190)
- Innovative Technologies to Improve Monitoring of Assets (5191)
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2021
- Urban Stormwater BMP Database Update (4968)
- Understanding the Mechanisms of Chlorine and Chloramine Impact on Opportunistic Pathogens in Distribution Systems (5118)
- Using Phosphate-Based Corrosion Inhibitors and Sequestrants to Meet Multiple Water Treatment Objectives (5119)
- Utility Field Guide for Developing a Cyanobacteria and Cyanotoxin Monitoring Program (5120)
- Development of Innovative Predictive Control Strategies for Nutrient Removal (5121)
- Technologies and Approaches to Minimize Brominated and Iodinated DBPs in Distribution Systems (5122)
- Establishing Seasonal Targets for Receiving Waters: Rethinking Wet Weather versus Dry Weather Expectations (5123)
- PFAS One Water Risk Communication Messaging for Water Sector Professionals (5124)
- Demonstration of Innovation to Improve Pathogen Removal, Validation, and/or Monitoring in Carbon Based Advanced Treatment (CBAT) for Potable Reuse (5129)
- Advancement of Densification to Implement and Achieve More Efficient BNR Processes: Granule Generation, Retention and Management (5130)
- Holistic Wet Weather Management through Adaptive Volume and Pollutant Source Control at a Community Scale: Finding the Sweet Spot (5131)
- The Impact of Pre-Chlorination and GAC Treatment on DBP Formation and Overall Toxicity in Drinking Water (5140)
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2020
- Linking Nutrient Reductions to Receiving Water Responses (5078)
- Assessing Water Quality Monitoring Needs, Tools, Gaps, and Opportunities for Potable Water Reuse (5079)
- Assessment of Vulnerability of Source Waters to Toxic Cyanobacterial Outbreaks (5080)
- Guidance for Using Pipe Loops to Inform Lead and Copper Corrosion Control Treatment Decisions (5081)
- Investigation of Alternative Management Strategies to Prevent PFAS from Entering Drinking Water Supplies and Wastewater (5082)
- Advancing Low Energy Biological Nitrogen and Phosphorus Removal (5083)
- Holistic and Innovative Approaches for Flood Mitigation Planning and Modeling under Extreme Wet Weather Events and Climate Impacts (5084)
- Impact of a Haloacetic Acid MCL Revision on DBP Exposure and Health Risk Reduction (5085)
- Case Studies on Water Sector Interdependencies (5086)
- Implementation of Innovative Biological Nutrient Removal Processes through Improvement of Control Systems and Online Analytical Measurement Reliability and Accuracy (5087)
- Defining Exposures of Microplastics/Fibers (MPs) in Treated Waters and Wastewaters: Occurrence, Monitoring, and Management Strategies (5088)
- Developing a Framework for Quantifying Energy Optimization Reporting (5091)
- Advancing Benefits and Co-Benefits Quantification and Monetization for Green Stormwater Infrastructure: An Interactive Guidebook for Comparison Case Studies (5105)
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2019
- Occurrence of PFAS Compounds in US Wastewater Treatment Plants (5031)
- Analysis of Corrosion Control Treatment for Lead and Copper Control (5032)
- Demonstrating the Effectiveness of Flushing for Reducing the Levels of Legionella in Service Lines and Premise Plumbing (5033)
- Assessing the Microbial Risks and Potential Impacts from Stormwater Collection and Uses to Establish Best Management Practices (5034)
- Impact of Bromate Control on Ozone Oxidation and Disinfection and Downstream Treatment In Potable Reuse (5035)
- Technical Brief: Compounds of Current and Future Interest and Implications for One Water (5036)
- Evaluation of Existing Source Separated Organic Feedstock Pre-Treatment and Management Practices (5037)
- 2019 Roadmap Workshop on Prioritizing Permitting and Linkages Research in Water Quality (5038)
- Definition of Data-driven Utility - How to be Digital Utility and the Framework for an Intelligent Water System (5039)
- Decentralized Reuse and Treatment Systems: Case Studies of Successful Implementation (5040)