DENVER, CO -- The Water Research Foundation (WRF) will soon post Requests for Proposals (RFPs) and is seeking volunteers for seven 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 are developed by expert advisory committees and are then 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. Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for these projects will be posted in early August.
Research Area | Project Title & Number | Research Program Manager | Funding Amount |
Waterborne Pathogens | Understanding the Mechanisms of Chlorine and Chloramine Impact on Opportunistic Pathogens in Distribution Systems (5118) | Grace Jang | $250,000 |
Lead & Copper Management | Using Phosphate-Based Corrosion Inhibitors and Sequestrants to Meet Multiple Water Treatment Objectives (5119) | Jonathan Cuppett | $250,000 |
| Cyanobacterial Blooms & Cyanotoxins | Assessment of Molecular Techniques to Detect and Predict Cyanotoxin-Producing Blooms (5120) | Erin Swanson | $100,000 |
| Nutrients Treatment | Development of Innovative Predictive Control Strategies for Nutrient Removal (5121) | Stephanie Fevig | $200,000 |
| Emerging Disinfection Byproducts | Technologies and Approaches to Minimize Brominated and Iodinated DBPs in Distribution Systems (5122) | Katie Spahr | $250,000 |
| Linkages in Receiving Water Quality | Establishing Seasonal Targets for Receiving Waters: Rethinking Wet Weather versus Dry Weather Expectations (5123) | Lola Olabode | $200,000 |
| PFAS in Water | PFAS One Water Risk Communication Messaging for Water Sector Professionals (5124) | Mary Smith | $100,000 |
The Research Advisory Council also prioritized the following projects for funding:
Research Area | Project Title | Research Program Manager | Funding Amount |
| Advanced Treatment for Potable Reuse | Demonstration of Innovation to Improve Pathogen Removal, Validation, and/or Monitoring in Carbon-Based Advanced Treatment (CBAT) for Potable Reuse | Erin Partlan & Katie Spahr | $200,000 |
Nutrients Treatment | Advancement of Densification to Implement and Achieve More Efficient BNR Processes: Granule Generation, Retention, and Management | Stephanie Fevig | $200,000 |
| Stormwater & Flood Management | Holistic Wet Weather Management through Adaptive Volume and Pollutant Source Control at a Community Scale: Finding the Sweet Spot | Harry Zhang | $150,000 |
| Water Infrastructure Resiliency | Enhancing Life Cycle Resilience for Water Infrastructure Systems | Jian Zhang | $200,000 |
WRF invites organizations with an interest in partnering to co-fund any of the prioritized projects to reach out to John Albert, WRF Chief Research Officer, at [email protected] or 303-734-3413. WRF anticipates posting RFPs for additional prioritized projects later this year.
