Grantee Research Project Results
2023 Progress Report: Unlocking the Nationwide Potential of Water Reuse
EPA Grant Number: R840462Title: Unlocking the Nationwide Potential of Water Reuse
Investigators: Bloxom, Lyndsey , Linden, Karl G. , Cath, Tzahi , Hacker, Miriam
Current Investigators: Bloxom, Lyndsey , Linden, Karl G. , Dickenson, Eric , Cath, Tzahi , Hacker, Miriam
Institution: Water Research Foundation , Southern Nevada Water Authority , University of Colorado at Boulder , Colorado School of Mines , University of Pennsylvania
EPA Project Officer: Ludwig-Monty, Sarah
Project Period: September 1, 2022 through May 7, 2025
Project Period Covered by this Report: September 1, 2022 through August 31,2023
Project Amount: $3,245,999
RFA: NATIONAL PRIORITIES: WATER INNOVATION, SCIENCE, AND ENGAGEMENT TO ADVANCE WATER REUSE (2021) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Water Quality , Water , Water Treatment
Objective:
This research aims to unlock the full nationwide potential of water reuse by aligning the development of science and technology with advances in social and organizational development of opportunities and barriers. Activities for this project are organized into four major research areas, the expected results of which will provide practitioners with user-friendly tools and materials to advance water reuse in their own community. At the end of Year 1, the project is approximately 15% complete.
Progress Summary:
Task A: Safeguarding public health through risk assessment
· Recommendations and contextualization of DPR pathogen LRV regulations were made to AZDEQ and published in AWWA Water Science.
· Data analysis is underway on SNWA pathogen data, with final data to be shared in its raw form in a published paper in the next reporting year.
Task B: Treatment models and risk mitigation techniques
· A four-page document, Contaminants of Concern for Reuse, was developed and sent for review by the research team and advisory committee. The document contains a list of specific compounds (and microbes) that are relevant for reuse based on state regulations and guidance, including surrogates.
· The research team started to engage with utility partners for data collection to support updating existing predictive algorithms for the Integrated Water Reuse Treatment Plant Model (WrTP).
· Colorado School of Mines is operating the DPR trailer 24/7 and generating water quality and operating data. In mid-April, the team conducted a thorough water quality analysis throughout the treatment train and generated more than 1500 data points for regulated and unregulated chemicals.
Task C: Social development and community engagement
· A conceptual framework was developed for how to quantify various drivers for water reuse applications and a technical advisory committee was formed for additional oversight.
· News media was collected and analyzed for patterns in how water reuse has been messaged and communicated to the general public across the United States. Findings are being synthesized into a publication.
· Existing academic and industry literature was collated into a review for community engagement and outreach practices related to water reuse in the United States.
· Initial outreach to utility partners has begun to identify organizations interested in partnering for identifying community engagement best practices for water reuse.
Task D: Successful and sustainable water reuse adoption pathways
· A systematic literature review was conducted to characterize drivers of and barriers to water reuse implementation globally. Factors from peer-reviewed literature were coded qualitatively and collated to begin understanding differences and similarities across studies and contexts.
· Based on the analysis of the literature review, we drafted a research protocol, including a data collection and analysis plan for our case study analyses with various water reuse projects. We also identified the first three case studies.
· We created and conducted a survey of the U.S. - relevant and quantifiable enablers and barriers to identify their relative importance for analysis with the subsequent national cast study analysis and comparison. That survey was completed by 10 water reuse experts. Then, an expert panel discussion, following a modified Delphi approach with the experts was planned.
Future Activities:
Task A: Safeguarding public health through risk assessment
· Data analysis is underway on SNWA pathogen data, with final data to be shared in its raw form in a published paper in the next reporting year.
· Pathogen data will be fit to distributions as well in a form that can be used in the DPR web application and distributions will be shared in a published paper in the next reporting year.
· The DPR web application with expanded reuse scenarios including agricultural reuse scenarios will be created and shared next year.
Task B: Treatment models and risk mitigation techniques
· Continue to analyze treatment data and algorithms that predict the performance processes under drinking water conditions.
· Begin to integrate predictive algorithms into a comprehensive model: Water Reuse Treatment Plant (WrTP) model and Trace Organic Compound (TrOC) model.
· Continue developing advanced control system and integrate techno-economic analysis (TEA) module into the SCADA system.
Task C: Social development and community engagement
· Begin to compile and analyze data for integration into the drivers-based index for water reuse potential.
· Interview utilities to create a baseline understanding for community engagement practices across a variety of water reuse applications.
· Organize and facilitate regional workshops for utilities, community organizations, and other key stakeholders for a co-production of best practices and research needs on engagement for water reuse projects.
Task D: Successful and sustainable water reuse adoption pathways
· Systematic literature review: We will analyze the literature review data, including the evaluation of relative frequency and co-occurrence of themes for barriers and drivers to successful water reuse implementation.
· Expert panel: We will facilitate discussions during an expert panel; the discussion will include an in-depth discussion of each factor and case study data collection methodology.
· Case studies: We will update our case study data collection and analysis protocols based on expert panel discussion. Then we will begin our interviews with case studies.
Journal Articles on this Report : 1 Displayed | Download in RIS Format
| Other project views: | All 3 publications | 1 publications in selected types | All 1 journal articles |
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Gerrity D, Crank K, Steinle‐Darling E, Pecson BM. Establishing pathogen log reduction value targets for direct potable reuse in the United States. American Water Works Assocation Water Science 2023;5(5):e1353. |
R840462 (2023) |
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Supplemental Keywords:
Water reuse, public health, risk mitigation, treatment, community engagement, sustainability assessmentRelevant Websites:
Unlocking the Nationwide Potential of Water Reuse Exit
Water Reuse Foundation Project Page Exit
Progress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractThe 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.