American Water received two new research contracts from the Water Research Foundation (WRF). Both projects aim to help develop multi-year research agendas that will guide future WRF programs.
The first project, titled “Defining Attributes and Demonstrating Benefits of Intelligent Distribution Systems,” will examine technologies to develop smart water networks for both potable water and wastewater systems. Dave Hughes, water research manager, will be the principal investigator. The total funding for the project is $73,559 with $35,000 in support from WRF, under project number 4614, and $14,886 in funding from the Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF), under project number SENG4C15. American Water will provide $23,673 as in-kind support.
The second project, titled “Research Plan for Management of Emerging Pathogens in Distribution Systems and Premise Plumbing,” will examine the occurrence and control of microbes that grow in distribution systems and in the plumbing systems of buildings. Dr. Mark LeChevallier, director of innovation & environmental stewardship, will be the principal investigator, and Dr. Zia Bukhari, senior research scientist, and Dr. Nicholas Ashbolt, professor at the University of Alberta will serve as co-investigators. The project total cost is $93,205 with $30,000 in funding from WRF, under project number 4650, and $30,000 from American Water Works Assn. American Water will provide $33,206 as in-kind support.
Both projects will feature workshops to solicit input from industry experts including utilities, academics, consultants, government agencies, and other interested stakeholders to develop detailed research plans that will set the research agendas in these areas for years to come. The projects will be completed by the end of 2015 and will be used by WRF to guide future research funding.
“American Water is pleased to be selected as a partner in guiding the industry in these important areas of research,” LeChevallier said. “Developing intelligent water systems that can better meet the needs of our customers, while simultaneously ensuring the highest quality and safety of the water supplies is of paramount importance to the water industry.”
Source: American Water
