DENVER, Colo., March 1, 2002 --The Awwa Research Foundation (AwwaRF), a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the science of water, announces the selection of 46 new research projects approved for funding in 2002.
AwwaRF sponsors practical, applied research for the drinking water community, and since 1983, has funded and managed 710 projects valued at $258 million. Requests for proposals (RFPs) for 26 of the new projects will be available on the AwwaRF Web site (http://www.awwarf.com/newprojects/rfppage.htm) in mid-March.
The AwwaRF Board of Trustees approved $7.43 million to sponsor these projects.
Below, grouped by strategic research goal, is a list of the RFPs that will be offered.
Goal: Efficient and Customer Responsive Organization
• Asset Management Planning and Reporting Options for Water Utilities (RFP 2848)
• Strategic Planning and Organizational Development for Water Utilities (RFP 2849)
• Succession Planning for a Vital Workforce in the Information Age (RFP 2850)
• Water Utility Collaboration with the Health Community to Enhance Communications on Drinking Water Issues (RFP 2851)
Goal: Environmental Leadership
• Advancement of Early Warning System Technologies (RFP 2852)
• Decision Support System for Sustainable Water Supply Planning (RFP 2853)
• Stakeholder Perceptions of Utility Role in Environmental Leadership (RFP 2854)
• The Value of Water in a Changing Economy (RFP 2855)
New drinking water research projects
Goal: High Quality Water
• Application of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points for Distribution System Protection (RFP 2856)
• Critical Assessment of On-Line Monitoring (RFP 2857)
• Characterization of Particles in Filter Effluents (RFP 2858)
• Innovative Treatment Alternatives to Minimize Residuals Containing Nitrate, Perchlorate, and Arsenic (RFP 2859)
• Development of Improved Methods to Detect Human Caliciviruses in Water (RFP 2860)
• Integrating UV Disinfection into Existing Water Treatment Plants (RFP 2861)
• Methods for Real-Time Measurement of THMs and HAAs in Distribution Systems (RFP 2873)
• Microbial Responses to Disinfectant Changes in the Distribution System (RFP 2862)
• Occurrence of Manganese in Drinking Water and Benefits of Enhanced Manganese Control (RFP 2863)
• Optimization of MF/UF Membrane Treatment for Direct and Clarified Water Filtration (RFP 2864)
• Predictive Models for Water Quality in Distribution Systems (RFP 2865)
• Qualitative Procedures for Identifying Particulate Matter in Distribution Waters and at the Customer's Tap (RFP 2866)
• Risk Based Prioritization of Disinfection By-Products (RFP 2867)
• Watershed Sources and Long-Term Variability of BDOM and NOM as Precursors (RFP 2868)
Goal: Infrastructure Reliability
• Criteria for Valve Location and System Reliability to Optimize Continuity of Water Supply (RFP 2869)
• Customer Acceptance of Infrastructure Reliability (RFP 2870)
• Workshop on Non-Interruptive Condition Assessment Inspection Device(s) for Water Transmission Mains (RFP 2871)
• Non-Disruptive Tools for Remaking Connections after Pipe Rehabilitation (RFP 2872)
Proposals submitted in response to the RFPs must be postmarked by May 6 for all projects with budgets up to $250,000 in AwwaRF funds. Proposals for RFPs with budgets of $250,000 or more in AwwaRF funds must be postmarked by July 15.
New drinking water research projects unless otherwise indicated, must include 25 percent of the total project budget as in-kind or cash contribution. In-kind contributions can be in the form of labor or laboratory services, and may come from utilities, consulting firms, and universities.
Each appointed AwwaRF project advisory committee (PAC) will determine whether there is a successful proposal among those submitted for a given project. Proposal evaluations will be based on responsiveness to the RFP, scientific and technical merit, and qualifications of the researchers.
