DENVER, CO, Sept. 22, 2004 -- The AWWA Research Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the science of drinking water, announced today that proposals are being requested for five new research projects. The projects, with more than $1.5 million in funding available, are being sponsored by the Foundation with one or more partner research organizations.
Requests for proposals (RFPs) for the projects will be available on the Foundation's Web site (www.awwarf.org) on Sept. 30. Guidelines for submitting a proposal are also available on the site.
The following descriptions outline the objective of each proposed project:
* "Reservoir Control and Maintenance" (RFP 3037) - Will identify and prioritize reservoir control and maintenance issues. The maximum funding available from the Foundation and the United Kingdom Water Industry Research (UKWIR) is $437,500.
* "Assessment of Physical Security Technologies for Water and Wastewater Utilities" (RFP 3044) - Will provide detailed information on commercially available security technologies and products to help utilities make sound buying decisions. The maximum funding available from the Foundation, the United Kingdom Drinking Water Inspectorate (UKDWI), and the Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF) for this project is $250,000.
* "Thermodynamic Evaluation of Advanced Water and Wastewater Treatment Technologies" (RFP 3056) - Will document the energy consumption and efficiencies of water and wastewater unit operations. The maximum funding available from the Foundation and the California Energy Commission (CEC) for this project is $250,000.
* "Risk Assessment of Water Utility Energy Management Practices" (RFP 3058) - Will identify risks and benefits associated with energy management or energy conservation practices used by drinking water utilities and risk-mitigation approaches. The maximum funding available from the Foundation and the California Energy Commission (CEC) for this project is $350,000.
* "Water Consumption Forecasting to Improve Energy Efficiency of Pumping Operations" (RFP 3066) - Will identify, test, and evaluate available methods and tools for making short-term water consumption forecasts, necessary for optimizing pumping schedules and energy use, to support the implementation of an Energy and Water Quality Management System (EWQMS). The maximum funding available from AwwaRF and the California Energy Commission (CEC) for this project is $250,000.
The proposals must be received by the Foundation no later than December 15, 2004, except for RFPs 3037 and 3056, for which proposals will be due January 15, 2004. All projects, unless otherwise indicated, must include 25% of the total project budget as in-kind or cash contribution.
In-kind contributions can be in the form of labor, materials, or laboratory and other services, and may come from project participants such as water utilities, consulting firms, and universities. For each project, an appointed project advisory committee will evaluate proposals based on responsiveness to the RFP, scientific and technical merit, and qualifications of the researchers.
The AWWA Research Foundation is a member-supported, international, nonprofit organization that sponsors research to enable water utilities, public health agencies, and other professionals to provide safe and affordable drinking water to consumers. With close to 900 subscriber members in the U.S. and abroad, the Foundation has funded and managed more than 800 projects valued at more than $340 million.
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