Water Research Foundation Awarding Grants for Aging Infrastructure Projects
The Water Research Foundation (WaterRF) is issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP) that generate science and engineering knowledge to improve and/or evaluate promising innovative technologies and techniques to reduce the cost and improve the effectiveness of operation, maintenance, management and replacement of deteriorating water infrastructure.
The $500,000 in grants to be issued in 2012 represents the third year of a four-year research program collaboration between WaterRF and Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF). The program is funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) though its Innovation and Research for Water Infrastructure for the 21st Century program.
Aging and deteriorating water infrastructure is a priority for EPA. A 2008 Clean Water Needs Survey estimated that more than $298 billion in capital investments in water utilities will be needed over the next 20 years. WaterRF and WERF collaborated on a successful proposal to work on this research program, under which WaterRF focuses on potable water infrastructure and WERF focuses on wastewater and storm water infrastructure.
WaterRF intends to fund as many high-impact potable water projects as possible under this RFP. The RFP and complete instructions are available on the foundation’s website. Collaboration with water utilities is encouraged. WaterRF will allocate funds in a manner that proposed research outcomes will be of immediate and beneficial use to the water community.
Source: Water Research Foundation