Seven potable reuse study schemes win US$ 1 million funding

The WateReuse Research Foundation has approved funding for seven new direct potable reuse (DPR) research projects, valued at more than US$ 1 million.

The foundation’s board approved unanimously the seven projects recommended by its Research Advisory Committee following determinations by an expert group convened by the on California State Water Resources Control Board. The decision took the year’s tally of new projects approved for funding by the foundation to 11.

The projects and their funding were:

From sewershed to tap: resiliency of treatment processes for DPR (US$ 200,000);

Framework for public health monitoring: workshop (US$ 75,000);

Application of bioanalytical tools to assess biological responses associated with water at DPR facilities (US$ 300,000);

Operational, monitoring, and response data from unit processes in full-scale water treatment, IPR, and DPR (US$ 200,000);

White paper on the application of molecular methods for pathogens for potable reuse (US$ 50,000);

Ensuring stable microbial water quality in DPR distribution systems(US$ 25,000); and

Predicting RO removal of toxicologically relevant unique organics (US$ 225,000).

The Foundation said that it had awarded US$ 4.5 million to fund 26 DPR research projects since 2011, and with in-kind contributions and services, this research is valued at US$ 11.5 million and counting.

The Foundation’s Direct Potable Reuse Initiative is supported by 71 water agencies, consulting firms, and manufacturers that have pledged more than US$ 6 million to support research to advance DPR and to support California regulatory agencies in evaluating DPR as a potential water source in the state.

Project advisory committees are being formed for the seven new projects and requests for proposals will be released in late 2014 and early 2015.