Towards Innovation-Stimulating Regulations-Nutrient Regulations: a Global Perspective with Implications for the United States

Technological innovation in the wastewater industry is significantly driven by local regulations, some of which stimulate innovation while others inhibit innovation and lead to excessive conservatism and cost. This project will illustrate the impact of regulations on the optimal technological approach. Using a simulation of a realistic case study, the project will evaluate how differing permit structures lead to a range of approaches for designing/operating water resource recovery facilities, and how those affect water quality. The research team will compare effluent permitting structures, assess equivalent permit structures under variable conditions, and review design practices and advanced treatment aspects of innovation-stimulating permit structures.

Originally funded as WERF project NUTR-17-06.