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Addresses the dynamic requirements for improved water quality and the growing demands for safe and reliable reclaimed wastewater and stormwater. The need for more cost-effective wastewater treatment technologies is being driven by many factors. There is a growing challenge to more effectively manage and treat peak wet weather flows at wastewater treatment plants. New and emerging contaminants, such as endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs), pharmaceuticals and personal care products, present challenges not only relating to their fate through a wastewater treatment plant, but to their potential capacity to interfere and inhibit treatment effectiveness. The control of nitrogen and phosphorus is a growing priority. There is an ever present demand for wastewater treatment technologies that are more energy efficient and produce smaller volumes of residuals. The use of reclaimed wastewater and stormwater is increasing at a rapid pace around the country. Depending on the nature of the "source" water and the intended reuse application, treatment requirements may exceed tertiary levels and demand the use of advanced filtration and membrane technologies.
Research Questions
- Can emerging and innovative treatment technologies, for both municipal wastewater and water reuse, be identified, evaluated, verified and demonstrated in field settings to improve our understanding of their applicability, cost-effectiveness, technical performance, and reliability?
- Can knowledge of the performance and reliability of municipal wastewater treatment technologies and systems be transferred to the application of these technologies or the development of new technologies in meeting the water quality requirements for water reuse.
- Can new and innovative treatment technologies and systems be evaluated based on the performance of full-scale installations to better inform utilities and regulators and provide reliable, objective technical assessments?
- Can established treatment technologies and system design, operation and maintenance practices be updated based on information on the performance, cost-effectiveness, and reliability of new and innovative technologies?
Outputs from Research Activities
- Nutrient Control Seminars
- State-of-the-technology review report for nutrient control systems at wastewater treatment plants
- Updated engineering design guidance for the treatment of nitrogen and phosphorus at municipal wastewater treatment plants
- State-of-the-technology report on advanced drainage designs and system configurations
- National assessment reports on the effects of climate conditions on water infrastructure
- Data and synthesis reports on water reuse
- Cooperative agreements
- EPA sponsored workshops
- Journal articles
Research Projects
| Innovative and Research for Water Infrastructure for 21st Century (PDF) (2pp, 476 KB, About PDF) EPA No. 600/F-09/028 |
| State-of-the Technology on Advanced Drainage Concepts (PDF) (2 pp, 288 KB, About PDF) EPA No. 600/F-09/040 |
| Nutrient Control Design Manual (PDF0(2 pp, 543 KB, About PDF) EPA No. 600/F-09/036 |
| Nutrient Control Seminars (PDF) (2 pp, 505 KB, About PDF) EPA No. 600/F-09/035 |
| Total Water Management (PDF) (2 pp, KB, About PDF) EPA No. 600/F-09/033 |
| Advanced Decentralized Water/Energy Network Design for Sustainable Infrastructure (PDF) (2 pp, 208 KB, About PDF) EPA No. 600/F-09/016 |
| Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Treatment Technology Evaluation and Development (PDF) (2 pp, 213 KB, About PDF) EPA No. 600/F-09/015 |
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