WERF: Joint Water Reuse Task Force awards concentrate disposal projects

ALEXANDRIA, VA, Sept. 2, 2004 -- The Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF) and its partners on the Joint Water Reuse Task Force (JWRTF) recently awarded four new research projects addressing the emerging issue of disposing of concentrate from advanced water and wastewater treatment processes.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), concentrate is the continuous waste stream -- typically consisting of concentrated dissolved solids -- resulting from certain membrane treatment processes, an accepted alternative technology for removing particulate matter and pathogens from water. Disposal of concentrate, which is often more concentrated than other treatment wastes, can pose a significant problem for utilities.

The four projects addressing this issue are sponsored by the JWRTF, a coalition of organizations committed to conducting research in the area of water reclamation and reuse. The JWRTF partners on these projects are: WERF, the WateReuse Foundation, AWWA Research Foundation and U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.

The four newly awarded projects are as follows:
* Zero Liquid Discharge and Volume Minimization for Water Utility Applications (project number 03-CTS-17aCO) -- awarded to Mickley & Associates of Boulder, CO.
* Beneficial and Nontraditional Uses of Concentrate (03-CTS-17bCO) -- awarded to CH2M Hill.
* Impacts of Membrane Process Residuals on Wastewater Treatment (03-CTS-17cCO) -- awarded to Black & Veatch;
* Investigation of Regional Solutions for Disposing of Concentrate (03-CTS-17dCO) -- awarded to Carollo Engineers.

"For wastewater treatment plants that are accepting concentrate in their sewer system, the membrane project [03-CTS-17cCO] in particular will be helpful in assessing and mitigating any adverse impacts on treatment processes or the beneficial uses of products from treatment," said WERF program director Jeff Moeller.

The projects are scheduled to begin within the next two months.

About WERF
The Water Environment Research Foundation, a not-for-profit organization, addresses water quality issues with a commitment to environmental protection, economic conservancy, and enhanced quality of life. WERF subscribers consist of wastewater utilities representing more than 70% of the U.S. sewered population and corporations sharing concerns for water quality issues.

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