The goal of the Coliform Research Project is to develop practical guidelines that will help utilities manage and respond to total coliform and Escherichia coli (E. coli) occurrences in the distribution system. Key research issues include evaluation of microbial source tracking tools and their usefulness for water distribution systems and development of a distribution system microbial integrity toolbox. HDR will lead a team including American Water, Dalhousie University, Clancy Environmental and Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal. Participating utilities to date include 13 utilities in the United Sates, Canada, France and the United Kingdom. The research project is anticipated to take 24 months to complete.
The stated goal of the 30-month Inorganic Contaminant Research Project is to “investigate the accumulation of regulated inorganic contaminants and naturally occurring radionuclides in distribution system pipeline scales and sediments and residential/institutional plumbing systems.” HDR will lead a team including the University of Iowa and the University of Washington. To date, nine participating utilities and two state regulatory agencies have committed time and/or funding to the project.
HDR is an architectural, engineering and consulting firm composed of more than 4,400 employee-owners, including architects, engineers, consultants, scientists, planners and construction managers, in over 100 locations worldwide.
Source: HDR
