WateReuse Foundation looking to test ERDs

Testing manufacturers’ claims about energy-reduction devices for seawater desalination is one of four requests for proposals that have been invited within the next 3-6 weeks by the WateReuse Research Foundation.

Under the foundation’s Solicited Research Program and Feasibility Studies Program, research contractors are selected through a competitive process. Proposals have been invited for:

Emerging Energy-Reducing Technologies for Desalination Applications
WateReuse-11-04
Energy recovery devices (ERDs) have shown the ability to reduce the energy consumption of seawater desalination systems by 50% over comparable systems without ERDs. The project objective is to independently test the most promising desalination process(es) or equipment to verify manufacturer claims of reduced energy consumption in order to accelerate industry adaptation of recently developed commercial products or processes by minimizing the time to widespread application.
Proposals Due: 20 September 2011

Demonstrating the Benefits of Engineered Direct Versus Unintended Indirect Potable Reuse Systems 
WateReuse-11-05
The objectives of this feasibility study are:
· To obtain a more quantitative assessment of the water quality impacts associated with unintentional indirect potable reuse
· To demonstrate how more fully engineered approaches to direct potable reuse will result in water quality benefits.
The findings should help to demonstrate the benefits and importance of engineering direct potable reuse systems as a means of reducing the water quality impacts of unintentional indirect potable reuse.
Proposals Due: 8 September 2011

Develop Best Management Practices to Control Potential Health Risks and Aesthetic Issues Associated with Storage & Distribution of Reclaimed Water 
WateReuse-11-03
The water reuse community would benefit from guidance material to assist operators in identifying and controlling potential health and aesthetic impacts associated with storage and distribution of reclaimed water. The intent of this project is to provide that guidance through a field-ready manual and final report. The main objective of this project is to develop best management practices for storage and distribution of reclaimed water; this will be accomplished through cataloging current state of the science practices and developing a guidance manual.
Proposals Due: 7 September 2011

Real Time Monitoring Tools to Characterize Microbial Contaminants in Reclaimed Water: State of the Science Assessment
 WateReuse-11-06
The purpose of this project is to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of tools for monitoring pathogenic microorganisms or surrogates in reclaimed water systems. The goal is to describe and compare approaches that are commercially available, emerging and/or under development with an emphasis on real-time or near-real-time microbiological monitoring of water reuse applications. The results of this project should be delivered in an easy-to-use format such as an electronic catalogue, database or other product chosen by the proposer.
Proposals Due: 31 August 2011

Click project headings for more details.