In 2018, the WQRF is seeking research proposals that will benefit the water treatment industry and support one of the following WQRF research agenda topics: Emerging Contaminants and Regulatory Affairs. WQRF research grants are awarded through a competitive process. Proposals will be mainly evaluated based on value by rating the potential (positive) impact of the research compared to the cost. The researcher’s credibility, previous experience, qualifications and publications will also be taken into consideration. Additional factors will be considered where applicable.
A total of up to $50,000 has been made available for 2018. The RFP and required Executive Summary attachment are listed below. Proposals will be accepted until February 16, 2018. Any follow up questions will be directed to applicants in April and May with the final notice of grant awards to be announced in October 2018.
A total of up to $50,000 has been made available for 2018. The RFP and required Executive Summary attachment are listed below. Proposals will be accepted until February 16, 2018. Any follow up questions will be directed to applicants in April and May with the final notice of grant awards to be announced in October 2018.
| executive_summary_2018_wqrf_grant_program_proposal.docx |
| 2018_wqrf_grant_program_rfp.pdf |
Emerging Contaminants
Research to aid or support implementation of technologies to provide cost effective options for emerging contaminants.
Examples of previous studies that the WQRF has funded under the “Emerging Contaminants” research agenda category include:
Chloroform Surrogate Study – This study compared the performance of various carbon filters using a chloroform challenge water versus challenge water prepared with several other regulated organic contaminants. The study was performed to lay the ground work in NSF/ANSI standard 53 which would allow carbon filter manufacturers to test performance of their product using only chloroform as a surrogate for those other contaminants, and yet still accurately extrapolate what the performance of their product would be for those other contaminants. This study significantly reduced the cost to test and certify carbon filters for performance claims. The study was conducted by NSF International.
Household POU Filters: Tools for Long-term, Large Volume Monitoring of Tap Water Quality and Human Health Risks – This study is just launching as of October, 2017 and will be led by Dr. Kelly Reynolds from the University of Arizona. The study will explore the concept of using Point-of-Use filters as data collection devices to monitor for the presence of viral and bacterial contaminants in large volumes of tap water over long periods of time. Approximately 75 filters will be collected at or near their end of life expectancy, and then analyzed for fecal bacteria and infectious human enteroviruses. Based on previous studies, it is anticipated that approximately a third of the household POU filters will test positive for tap water quality indicators or infectious human pathogens. Pathogen data will be used to develop quantitative risk assessment models to compare human health risks of infection in the presence and absence of a POU device. This study will extend the work of the WQRF Final Barrier Cost/Benefit study to develop a risk based assessment model which could then be used to demonstrate the health benefits of household POU devices which are capable of removing pathogenic organisms.
Regulatory Affairs
Research to support efforts to defeat ill-conceived codes and rules or promote technologies in highly regulated areas.
Examples of previous studies that the WQRF has funded under the “Regulatory Affairs” research agenda category include:
Reduction of Effluent Chloride Study – This study was done in collaboration with the Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) and Abigail F. Cantor, P.E. Chemical Engineer - Process Research Solutions, LLC. The MMSD set out to determine through this study if they could work with the local drinking water treatment dealers to reduce the chloride contribution from water softeners, and thereby aid the wastewater utility in meeting wastewater discharge limits. A reduction of 15% in the chloride discharge levels was needed. The final conclusions were that on average, softener optimizations could reduce the concentration of chlorides by 27% while replacement with systems meeting 4,000 grains/lb. salt efficiency could reduce the concentration of chlorides by 47%. The study can be used as a model approach for utilities to work with the local drinking water treatment dealers in reducing chloride discharge.
Characterization of Heterotrophic Bacterial Populations in Point-of-Use Water Treatment Systems - WQRF cooperatively sponsored and funded the NSF/World Health Organization (WHO) International Symposium on Heterotrophic Plate Count (HPC) Bacteria in Drinking Water Public Health Implications, convened in Geneva, Switzerland in April 2002. The WHO Expert Committee’s resulting conclusions are that "increases of HPC (microorganisms) (due to growth) in these (domestic water devices, including water softeners, carbon filters, etc.) therefore, do not indicate the existence of a health risk." A review of research presented at the symposium showed that if the average consumer in the United States uses a point-of-use (POU) water treatment device at home on a weekly basis, they will ingest less than 2 percent of their total bacterial intake from the POU-treated water. The literature review also demonstrated that the same types of HPC bacteria are common in foods. Thus, extensive scientific evidence has objectively and consistently verified that HPC bacteria from point-of-use and point-of-entry treatment devices are not harmful.
Environmental Impact Study - This study was undertaken to investigate the effect that residential cation-exchange water softeners may have on the performance of onsite septic tanks. The research was conducted by Dr. John T. Novak of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. The study showed that the use of efficiently operated water softeners (at or above ~3000 gr/lb salt efficiency) actually improves septic tank performance, while the use of very inefficient home softeners (at or below ~1000 gr/lb salt efficiency) may have a slight negative effect on solids discharge to the drain field.
Research to aid or support implementation of technologies to provide cost effective options for emerging contaminants.
Examples of previous studies that the WQRF has funded under the “Emerging Contaminants” research agenda category include:
Chloroform Surrogate Study – This study compared the performance of various carbon filters using a chloroform challenge water versus challenge water prepared with several other regulated organic contaminants. The study was performed to lay the ground work in NSF/ANSI standard 53 which would allow carbon filter manufacturers to test performance of their product using only chloroform as a surrogate for those other contaminants, and yet still accurately extrapolate what the performance of their product would be for those other contaminants. This study significantly reduced the cost to test and certify carbon filters for performance claims. The study was conducted by NSF International.
Household POU Filters: Tools for Long-term, Large Volume Monitoring of Tap Water Quality and Human Health Risks – This study is just launching as of October, 2017 and will be led by Dr. Kelly Reynolds from the University of Arizona. The study will explore the concept of using Point-of-Use filters as data collection devices to monitor for the presence of viral and bacterial contaminants in large volumes of tap water over long periods of time. Approximately 75 filters will be collected at or near their end of life expectancy, and then analyzed for fecal bacteria and infectious human enteroviruses. Based on previous studies, it is anticipated that approximately a third of the household POU filters will test positive for tap water quality indicators or infectious human pathogens. Pathogen data will be used to develop quantitative risk assessment models to compare human health risks of infection in the presence and absence of a POU device. This study will extend the work of the WQRF Final Barrier Cost/Benefit study to develop a risk based assessment model which could then be used to demonstrate the health benefits of household POU devices which are capable of removing pathogenic organisms.
Regulatory Affairs
Research to support efforts to defeat ill-conceived codes and rules or promote technologies in highly regulated areas.
Examples of previous studies that the WQRF has funded under the “Regulatory Affairs” research agenda category include:
Reduction of Effluent Chloride Study – This study was done in collaboration with the Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) and Abigail F. Cantor, P.E. Chemical Engineer - Process Research Solutions, LLC. The MMSD set out to determine through this study if they could work with the local drinking water treatment dealers to reduce the chloride contribution from water softeners, and thereby aid the wastewater utility in meeting wastewater discharge limits. A reduction of 15% in the chloride discharge levels was needed. The final conclusions were that on average, softener optimizations could reduce the concentration of chlorides by 27% while replacement with systems meeting 4,000 grains/lb. salt efficiency could reduce the concentration of chlorides by 47%. The study can be used as a model approach for utilities to work with the local drinking water treatment dealers in reducing chloride discharge.
Characterization of Heterotrophic Bacterial Populations in Point-of-Use Water Treatment Systems - WQRF cooperatively sponsored and funded the NSF/World Health Organization (WHO) International Symposium on Heterotrophic Plate Count (HPC) Bacteria in Drinking Water Public Health Implications, convened in Geneva, Switzerland in April 2002. The WHO Expert Committee’s resulting conclusions are that "increases of HPC (microorganisms) (due to growth) in these (domestic water devices, including water softeners, carbon filters, etc.) therefore, do not indicate the existence of a health risk." A review of research presented at the symposium showed that if the average consumer in the United States uses a point-of-use (POU) water treatment device at home on a weekly basis, they will ingest less than 2 percent of their total bacterial intake from the POU-treated water. The literature review also demonstrated that the same types of HPC bacteria are common in foods. Thus, extensive scientific evidence has objectively and consistently verified that HPC bacteria from point-of-use and point-of-entry treatment devices are not harmful.
Environmental Impact Study - This study was undertaken to investigate the effect that residential cation-exchange water softeners may have on the performance of onsite septic tanks. The research was conducted by Dr. John T. Novak of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. The study showed that the use of efficiently operated water softeners (at or above ~3000 gr/lb salt efficiency) actually improves septic tank performance, while the use of very inefficient home softeners (at or below ~1000 gr/lb salt efficiency) may have a slight negative effect on solids discharge to the drain field.
For additional questions, please contact Eric Yeggy at eyeggy@wqa.org.