Grantee Research Project Results
Innovation Applied: Streamlining Access and Approval of Technology for Small Systems and Private Wells
EPA Grant Number: WT840243Title: Innovation Applied: Streamlining Access and Approval of Technology for Small Systems and Private Wells
Investigators: Roberson, Alan , Reckhow, David A. , Ferguson, Christobel , Oxenford, Jeff
Current Investigators: Roberson, Alan , Reckhow, David A. , Ferguson, Christobel , Oxenford, Jeff , Kumpel, Emily
Institution: Association of State Drinking Water Administrators , Water Research Foundation (VA) , University of Massachusetts Amherst , Rural Community Assistance Partnership
EPA Project Officer: Aja, Hayley
Project Period: August 1, 2021 through July 31, 2024 (Extended to July 31, 2025)
Project Amount: $936,049
RFA: Deployment of Innovative Water Technologies for Very Small Drinking Water Systems, Areas Served by Private Wells and Source Waters (2021) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Water Quality , Water
Description:
Effective deployment of innovative water technologies for very small public drinking water systems has been challenging due to multiple technical, institutional, social, and cultural barriers. In recent years, state drinking water programs have been challenged by reviewing (and approving) new technologies in a timely manner while ensuring public health protection from the specific treatment technology. The state primacy agencies must ensure that a specific treatment technology will remove the desired contaminant(s) from a specific drinking water source at full scale.
Objective:
The primary objective of this project is to develop and validate programmatic approaches through research and technical assistance for obtaining approval for new or alternative technologies for very small water systems in a state, and how to ensure that, or to the greatest extent possible with technical assistance, approvals could transfer from state to state without compromising public health protection.
Approach:
A research team led by the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators (ASDWA), including two non-profit associations, one university, and one contractor, will collaborate on developing and validating multiple approaches and/or solutions to meet the objectives detailed in the project.
Expected Results:
The three-year timeframe for the project provides the opportunity to develop a thorough understanding of the technical, institutional, social, and cultural barriers to innovative technology deployment from the perspectives of multiple water stakeholders – state primacy agencies, water systems, technical assistance providers, technology providers, and others. Through this thorough understanding and the collaboration of the stakeholders, approaches and/or solutions for approvals will be tested and validated with water suppliers and at the state agencies. Once validated, the approaches and solutions will be disseminated to the broader water sector.
Supplemental Keywords:
water technologies, treatment, state, approvalsProgress and Final Reports:
The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.