Water Environment Research Foundation Accepting Pre-Proposals To Fund Pioneering Research

The Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF) is currently accepting pre-proposals under its 2015 Unsolicited Research Program. WERF is funding pioneering research that significantly advances our understanding of recently's most pressing water quality issues and provides practical solutions to the challenges facing wastewater and stormwater programs. WERF will also consider proposals that take existing research closer to implementation.

Proposers are invited to submit pre-proposals on topics consistent with WERF's ongoing efforts to advance science and technology addressing water quality issues as they impact water resources, the atmosphere, the land, and quality of life. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to, conveyance systems; wastewater treatment; reuse; solids management; condition assessment and infrastructure management; energy efficiency; decentralized collection and treatment systems; risk assessment and communication; watershed management and water quality; and other emerging issues.

The 2015 Unsolicited Research Program also encourages submittals of applications to test and evaluate innovative technologies at wastewater and stormwater facilities. The launch and growth of the joint WERF/ WEF Leaders Innovation Forum for Technology (LIFT) program has placed an increased emphasis and urgency on moving new technologies into practice and accelerating innovation. LIFT’s high priority technology areas currently include: Biosolids to Energy, Energy from Wastewater, Digestion Enhancements, Nutrient Removal, P-Recovery, Collection Systems, and Green Infrastructure.

Visit WERF's website at www.werf.org to search for a list of ongoing, completed, and planned research, as this will help proposers avoid duplication. The call for pre-proposals and complete instructions are available online at www.werf.org/funding.