The Water Research Foundation (WRF) is excited to announce an open call for the Validation of an Integrated Framework of Wastewater & Stormwater Treatment Options of CECs Project. This initiative addresses a critical need for research that can validate an integrated approach to treating constituents of emerging concern (CECs) in wastewater and stormwater. Utilities, regulators, and policymakers are in search of quantitative information to formulate policies that support the most effective and cost-efficient solutions for managing CECs. By developing a stakeholder-driven, multi-criteria analysis that considers the triple bottom line, this project aims to enhance our understanding of cost-effective approaches to handling multiple CECs in various water sources.
Project Objectives
The primary objectives of this project are as follows:
1. Validate Cost-Effective Strategies: Demonstrate and validate cost-effective strategies for managing and controlling CECs in all water sources.
2. Utility Benefit/Cost Guidance: Provide utilities with benefit/cost guidance for determining viable treatment options, whether at the water resource recovery facility (WRRF) or at the source.
3. Address Research Gaps: Address current research gaps in the One Water framework, including analytical techniques and screening tools, characterization and predictive modeling, and potential health impacts.
Budget
Applicants have the opportunity to request up to $200,000 in WRF funds for this project.
Project Duration
The anticipated project duration is 24 months from the contract start date.
Expected Deliverables
The project will yield several important deliverables, including:
1. Demonstration/Validation and Documentation: Provide a demonstration/validation and documentation of an approach or strategy.
2. Decision Matrix/Tool: Develop an easy-to-implement, tested decision matrix or tool for wastewater and stormwater treatment options that supports source control and cost-effective management strategies. This tool should be based on consensus from key water quality stakeholders, including both traditional and non-traditional stakeholders.
3. Alternative Deliverables: Proposers are encouraged to suggest alternative deliverables that align with the project's objectives and benefit the water quality community.
Desired Outcomes
The project envisions several desired outcomes:
1. Triple Bottom Line Guidance: Establish a well-tested, reproducible, and documented stakeholder-driven multi-decision criteria analysis that ensures triple bottom line guidance to utilities. This will enhance the water sector's knowledge of cost-effective approaches to managing multiple CECs in all types of water.
2. Cost/Benefit Guidance: Provide utilities with vetted and demonstrated cost/benefit guidance for selecting treatment options, whether at the WRRF or the source. This will be informed by case studies on cost-effective management strategies.
3. Decision Support System: Develop a decision support system to assist utilities in screening and communicating CEC risks at their sites. This system will offer quantitative information to support the best and most cost-effective solutions and benefit utilities, the water quality community, regulators, and policymakers.
4. Consensus-Based Framework: Establish a consensus-based framework that integrates various approaches and incorporates the latest field-tested tools, resources, and outputs.
Eligibility Criteria
Proposals are welcome from both U.S.-based and non-U.S.-based entities, including educational institutions, research organizations, governmental agencies, and consultants or other for-profit entities.
It's important to note that researchers who are behind schedule on any ongoing WRF-sponsored studies without approved no-cost extensions are not eligible to participate in any proposals.
WRF actively encourages participation from water utilities and other organizations in its research. This can take various forms, including direct participation, in-kind contributions, or in-kind services.
Join us in advancing innovative solutions for the treatment of CECs in wastewater and stormwater, contributing to a cleaner and more sustainable water future! 🌊💧🌱
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